The Future of Venture in the Age of AI with Jenny Fielding of Everywhere Ventures

What happens when technology evolves faster than the venture capital model built to fund it?In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend Jenny Fielding, Cofounder and General Partner of Everywhere Ventures, to explore how venture capital is adapting to a world where competitive advantages can disappear faster than ever.We discuss what it takes to raise a pre-seed round in today’s market, why traditional assumptions around defensibility are being challenged, and how AI is reshaping the economics of software companies.Jenny also shares lessons from her time as a Managing Director at Techstars and explains why Everywhere Ventures built a community-driven approach to investing — leveraging founder networks and real-time market insight to identify breakout companies at the earliest stages.Whether you’re a founder raising capital, an investor navigating a changing market, or simply curious about where technology is headed, this conversation offers a practical look at how venture is evolving for the next generation of companies.Special thanks to Jenny for joining the show and sharing her perspective on the future of venture.⏱️ Chapter Markers:00:00 - Introduction and studio acoustics01:05 - Generalist investing shift02:09 - Redefining modern pre-seed criteria04:26 - Global Slack diligence network06:31 - Check sizing and syndicate structures07:20 - Conviction-led turnaround speeds09:21 - Venture capital's existential model crisis11:48 - Defensibility against quantum technology13:17 - Sourcing wisdom from international founders16:01 - Evaluating the accelerator landscape17:26 - Clear milestones for founder success19:39 - Moving targets in the Series A gap21:05 - Evolution of emerging tech hubs23:32 - Retaining global talent via immigration reformLinks:Jenny Fielding: LinkedIn, XEverywhere Ventures: Website, LinkedIn, XInterplay: Website, LinkedIn, XMPD: LinkedIn, X