Episode Summary:
Tune into this episode to hear from Kevin Spain, General Partner at Emergence Capital. Kevin’s background in both VC and corporate development over the last 20 years brings a unique perspective on how M&A have changed, the trends he is seeing in this space along with great advice for entrepreneurs looking to go public.
What is Uncovered:
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Kevin Spain:
Working closely in a team of equals is what drew Kevin to Emergence. The mission of the firm excited him, and he loved the culture they wanted to build.
Early in his career, he co-founded and was CEO of atMadison.com. Founding and running a company in the heat of the dot-com bubble was an exciting and challenging experience that strongly influenced his decision to ultimately enter the venture business. Today, he enjoys the high of creating new businesses vicariously through the entrepreneurs he invests in.
He has also spent time as a senior member of the corporate development teams at Microsoft, and was part of the group that launched Electronic Arts’ original online gaming business. During that part of his career, he learned an incredible amount about digital media, online services, and software businesses from some of the most successful executives in the technology industry.
Kevin earned his MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and completed his undergraduate education at the University of Texas at Austin. He is also a graduate of the Kauffman Fellows Program.
As a native Texan and foodie, he’s always trying to find great barbecue and southern food joints (though unfortunately there are few in the Bay Area). Kevin lives in Palo Alto and loves spending time with his wife and two sons.
Emergence Capital
Quotes:
This episode was recorded on October 14, 2020