EP11 Rebecca Kaden of Union sq Ventures

🎙️ Human Unicorn Podcast — Episode Title:

"Conviction Over Consensus: Rebecca Kaden on Backing What Others Miss"

📄 Episode Description:

In this episode of Human Unicorn, Nihal Mehta talks with Rebecca Kaden, General Partner at Union Square Ventures, about how to spot — and stick with — breakthrough ideas before they’re obvious.

Rebecca shares how her path from journalism to VC shaped her investment lens, what it takes for a company to be truly venture scale in 2025, and why some of the most transformative businesses don’t look like obvious winners at the start.

They explore:

• How she defines "venture scale" today: speed, markets, and return potential
• The difference between consensus picks and conviction bets
• What founders should know before pitching USV
• Lessons from early investments in companies like Etsy, Carta, and Helium
• Why storytelling and point-of-view matter more than ever in crowded markets

If you're a founder looking to raise — or an investor sharpening your filter — this episode delivers real insight into how top-tier VC decisions get made.