Trailblazing Achievement in the Venture Capital World
In a groundbreaking move that shattered glass ceilings, Terri Burns made history at Google Ventures (GV) by becoming not only the firm’s first Black female partner but also its youngest partner ever at the remarkable age of 26.
Her promotion in 2020 was a testament to her exceptional talent and unwavering determination.
Challenging the Status Quo and Embracing Innovation
During her tenure at GV, Burns witnessed a troubling trend within the venture capital industry – a reliance on the “heat” generated by other investors before committing to a deal.
This approach often led to a lack of true innovation and a perpetuation of the status quo.
“A lot of investors are driven by heat, versus being driven by true innovation,” Burns told Fortune. “[Founders are] talking to amazing investors, they’re getting some interest, but no one’s really willing to take the leap to anchor a deal unless they see that other people are involved.”
Launching Type Capital: A New Era of Venture Investing
Driven by a desire to challenge this mindset, Burns is now launching her own venture capital firm, Type Capital. With a fresh approach, Type Capital aims to move swiftly and efficiently, writing checks without waiting for signals from other investors.
“I want to move quickly and move efficiently and not over-index on heat,” Burns stated. “Not being super caught up in this ecosystem of heat that is really popular right now is the path to winning, and also the path to more collaboration and respect from founders.”
Empowering Early-Stage Startups and Gen Z Founders
Type Capital’s focus lies in pre-seed and seed investments, particularly in areas like digital consumer platforms, developer tools, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Burns is especially interested in ventures led by Gen Z founders, recognizing their unique perspectives and innovative ideas.
Her strategy is geared towards finding and supporting founders before they become widely recognized in the venture capital ecosystem, nurturing their growth from the ground up and assisting them in securing follow-on investments.
