In this episode of The Innovators & Investors Podcast, host Kristian Marquez sits down with Martin van Kroenenburg, founder of BW Ventures, to explore the nuanced journey of building a venture fund focused on early-stage innovation.

Martin shares his experiences navigating startup programs, corporate innovation, and investor relations, emphasizing the critical importance of validating value propositions before product development. He candidly discusses past challenges, including a costly acquisition that led to liquidation and the necessity of pivoting towards a sustainable business model driven by paying customers rather than early investor funding.

The conversation delves into the emotional dynamics behind decision-making in B2B sales and how understanding these human factors can dramatically improve traction and conversions. Martin also highlights differences in market approaches across cultures and geographies, advocating for focused niche strategies before expansion. The episode touches on how AI is reshaping innovation processes, speeding up data analysis and prototyping while underscoring that authentic customer conversations remain irreplaceable.

Listeners gain practical insights on managing cash flow, iterating with small bets, and the evolving roles of investors and founders. The discussion concludes with reflections on mentorship, mental models inspired by Charlie Munger, and the personal resilience required to succeed in the innovation ecosystem. This episode offers a rich perspective for founders, investors, and corporate innovators aiming to bring meaningful products to market effectively.

Learn more about BW Ventures' work at: https://www.bw.ventures/

Connect with Maarten on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartenvankroonenburg/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show?

Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work?

Check out his website at https://finstratmgmt.com