On Campus Ventures with Ken Horenstein, Pack Ventures

Sound Investments: Exploring Seattle's VC Scene with Ken Horenstein In this episode of Sound Investments, host Ed Barker delves into the Pacific Northwest venture capital ecosystem with Ken Horenstein, Founder and Managing Partner at Pack Ventures. Ken shares his personal journey in venture capital, from his educational roots at the University of Washington to his role in supporting Seattle-based startups. The discussion covers the founding and principles behind Pack Ventures, the fund's focus on UW-affiliated ventures, and the broader Seattle startup scene. Key topics include the diversification of investment sectors, the evolution of the venture space in Seattle, and the future potential driven by AI, biotechnology, and robotics. Ken also emphasizes the importance of building a community and sharing insights to foster innovation. The episode offers perspectives for anyone interested in venture capital, startups, and the dynamic technologies shaping the future. 00:00 Introduction to Sound Investments 00:13 Meet Ken Horenstein: Founder at Pack Ventures 01:35 Ken's Entrepreneurial Journey 04:23 The Birth of Pack Ventures 05:54 Fund 1: Proof of Concept 10:00 Fund 2: Doubling Down on UW Ecosystem 12:45 Investment Strategy and Focus Areas 20:08 The Role of LPs and Fund Structure 25:31 Seattle's Unique Venture Ecosystem 26:58 AI and Local Capital Dynamics 29:47 Challenges and Opportunities in Life Sciences 32:05 Future of AI and Data in Healthcare 39:08 Exciting Projects and Investments 41:02 Staying Informed and Connected 44:50 Final Thoughts About Your Host Ed Barker has enjoyed a weird and varied career. Ed is a Brit now resident in Seattle and has started three startups, enjoyed a long career in corporate strategy, and most recently was a VC. He's now building a podcast production company. Sound Investments is a small attempt to shine some light on the fantastic work being done in the Pac NW entrepreneurial community. Ken Horenstein A founder at heart, Ken has supported dozens of entrepreneurs in their fundraising over the last 5+ years. An alum of M12 - Microsoft's Venture Fund, Ken cofounded the Venture Out community and accelerator. He has also angel invested in multiple companies in the Seattle area. Ken is a Double Dawg with both a BA and MBA from the University of Washington. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.