"Betting on the Overlooked: How Mac Conwell Is Rewriting the Rules of Venture Capital"

🎧 Episode Description: In this powerful episode of Patent Insider Secrets, host Tariq Najee-ullah sits down with McKeever “Mac” Conwell, the founder and managing partner of RareBreed Ventures, for a deep and unfiltered look at how grit, vision, and strategy intersect in the world of venture capital.

Mac takes us on a journey from his early days as a software engineer and founder in Baltimore’s tech scene to becoming one of the most respected voices in early-stage investing. You’ll hear how life lessons, including advice from his father and early startup setbacks, helped shape his VC mindset—and how he’s using that insight to back overlooked founders who are changing the game.

💡 This episode is packed with insights on:

• How to break into tech with no roadmap

• Why intellectual property is the silent driver of startup success

• What founders must do to attract early capital

• Why resilience + relationships are the key to startup survival

Whether you're a founder, investor, or builder, Mac’s story is a masterclass in flipping the script—and why betting on underestimated people leads to world-changing outcomes.

[00:00] – Intro to the Episode

• Welcome by host Tariq Najee-ullah

• Who is McKeever “Mac” Conwell and what makes RareBreed Ventures so unique?

[03:00] – Origin Story: From Tech Kid to Entrepreneur

• Mac shares childhood influences and how early tech exposure sparked his journey

• Lessons from his father that shaped his mindset

[10:00] – First Startup + Baltimore’s Ecosystem

• Founding Given.to and the real-life highs and lows of being a Black founder

• Navigating a startup world that wasn’t built for him

[20:00] – Power of Networking & Strategic Resilience

• The Christine Johnson story: how one conversation changed everything

• Why relationships are the most undervalued startup currency

[30:00] – Why IP Is Essential to Innovation

• Mac on intellectual property as a strategic moat, not just a legal checkbox

• How founders can think differently about IP and value creation

[40:00] – Breaking Into Venture Capital

• Behind the scenes at TEDCO and why Mac started RareBreed

• Why overlooked founders are his focus—and his thesis for investing in them

[50:00] – Straight Talk for Founders

• What VCs like Mac really look for

• “Know your numbers. Know your worth.”

[55:00] – Closing Wisdom & Resources

• Why betting on yourself isn’t just motivation—it’s a strategy

• Final takeaways and how to connect with Mac

• Twitter: @MacConwell

• LinkedIn: McKeever Conwell

• Website: rarebreed.vc

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