Collin West - Rowing across the Arctic, Near Death Experiences, and Venture Capital

The Boost VC Podcast

Join Boost VC’s Adam Draper as he chats with Collin West, founder of Ensemble VC, about his incredible journey rowing across the Arctic Ocean and how it changed his approach to decision-making and team management. Learn how this experience influences Ensemble’s data-driven approach to assessing startups. Adam and Collin dive into the evolution of venture capital and reflect on their near-death experiences. Tune in for laughs, insights, and a fresh perspective on adventure and opportunity in VC!

Collin is the Founder and Managing Partner of Ensemble VC, which focuses on using data to identify top teams building companies that can impact a billion people. Collin is also a Guinness World Record holder for leading the first-ever crossing of the Arctic Ocean. His team of four rowed non-stop and unsupported for 41 days through the biggest storm season in Arctic history - this is where he learned just how important a great team is pursuing a mission that's never been done before. Collin's prior investments include Zoom Video (NASDAQ: ZM), Carta, Groww, ICON, Saronic, Sidecar Health, and many others. Previously, Collin was a founder of the Kauffman Fellows VC fund and on the founding fund team at the pioneering data-driven VC firm Correlation Ventures. An avid competitor, Collin spends his free time training Brazilian jiu-jitsu, mountain biking, and climbing mountains.

Connect with Collin West

Ensemble VC https://www.ensemble.vc/home/#ensemble

Ensemble VC on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/ensemblevc/

Collin on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/collinwest/

Collin on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/collinrwest/?hl=en

Connect with Boost VC

Boost VC LinkTree https://linktr.ee/boostvc