Lightspeed partners Claire Zau and Josh Machiz are using Instagram, TikTok, and direct-message recruiting to reach early-stage founders [1].
This shift in outreach reflects a broader change in how venture capital firms identify talent. By targeting "tech-curious" entrepreneurs on visual and short-form platforms, Lightspeed aims to build trust and credibility before these founders move toward traditional networking hubs like tech-Twitter [1].
Zau and Machiz said this strategy during an appearance on the Equity podcast with host Dominic-Madori Davis [1]. They said they engage founders where they already spend their time, rather than waiting for them to enter the established venture capital ecosystem [1].
The firm utilizes these platforms to establish a relationship early in a founder's journey. This approach allows the firm to secure access to new projects before the founders migrate to the more crowded and competitive environment of tech-Twitter [1].
Direct-message recruiting serves as a primary tool in this strategy. By bypassing formal application processes and traditional networking events, the partners can initiate more personal and immediate conversations with potential entrepreneurs [1].
This methodology acknowledges that the discovery phase for many founders now begins on platforms designed for creators and general audiences. By positioning themselves on TikTok and Instagram, Lightspeed targets a demographic that may not yet identify as a "tech founder" but possesses the skills and ideas the firm seeks [1].
“Lightspeed is targeting "tech-curious" entrepreneurs on visual and short-form platforms.”
The move by Lightspeed signals a diversification of the venture capital sourcing funnel. As the 'tech-Twitter' ecosystem becomes saturated and highly competitive, VCs are moving upstream to capture founders at the moment of ideation. This suggests that social media platforms previously viewed as consumer-centric are becoming critical infrastructure for professional B2B networking and early-stage investment discovery.
