How Lightspeed Found Their Newest Hire… Via Instagram DM

Earlier this year, Lightspeed made headlines when it announced that Claire Zau, an investor and popular tech content creator, would join the venture firm. With over 100,000 followers on TikTok and more than 250,000 on Instagram, Zau breaks down the latest tech trends for a broad audience, making complex topics accessible to the tech-curious. Lightspeed partners Josh Machiz and Zau recently sat down with the Equity podcast to discuss the strategy behind their growing social media presence, their podcast Lightwork, and how it all started with a simple Instagram direct message. "A lot of people want to participate in the future and are excited about technology," Zau told Equity. "They just don't have the facts presented to them in an accessible way. So that's hopefully the role I feel very lucky and privileged to play." Zau represents a new class of venture operators using social media to reach new audiences—from tech enthusiasts to future founders who may one day seek funding from Lightspeed. The podcast she co-hosts with Machiz, Lightspeed's CMO, is part of a broader trend among venture firms that are increasingly taking on a role in helping portfolio companies share their stories with the world. "There's less and less traditional journalism out there because of layoffs and the consolidation in media," Machiz said. "If you're a startup, it's harder to get your story out there. There are less places to go to get it out. There's now pretty heavy bars to get your funding story out. And so we hope to also be able to provide in the new media world another opportunity to tell your story." So far, the duo—and the firm—see tangible benefits from expanding Lightspeed's media footprint. The primary advantage is connecting with early-stage founders, but being actively online also provides real-time feedback on investments and emerging technologies. For instance, Zau noted that within the Silicon Valley bubble, everyone was eager to fund AI startups, but her online conversations revealed that Gen Z was actually quite anti-AI. "It was, I would even say, humbling," she said of the direct feedback she receives on her videos. "It's so helpful to have basically real-time visibility into how people are using these technologies and what kinds of narratives are hitting." Looking ahead, Machiz and Zau shared their ambitions for the future of Lightspeed's media efforts. Could another podcast or even a TV show be on the horizon? "Our goal is to be the place where hopefully future founders learn about venture, understand the ecosystem," Machiz said. "We're still early days." As the media landscape continues to evolve, Lightspeed's approach highlights the growing importance of direct engagement and content creation in venture capital. By leveraging social media, the firm is not only recruiting talent but also fostering genuine connections with the next generation of innovators.

via TechCrunch