Deal Decoder

Deal Decoder is an investor insight series that goes inside the minds of investors and venture capitalists to unpack how great deals are recognized, evaluated, and built. Each episode features a leading investor who shares their investing philosophy, decision framework, and real-world perspectives on emerging technologies, markets, and founders.

Rather than focusing only on outcomes, Deal Decoder explores how investors think — how they assess risk, spot signals early, evaluate teams, and form conviction in uncertain environments. Guests also share their forward-looking vision: where industries are heading, what trends matter most, and what founders should prepare for next.

Designed for founders, builders, and anyone interested in innovation and capital formation, Deal Decoder turns investor thinking into practical insight — revealing not just what gets funded, but why.

How Semiconductor Startups Scale from Idea to Impact | Laura Swan (Silicon Catalyst)

In this talk, Laura Swan, General Partner at Silicon Catalyst Ventures, shares a clear and practical view of what it takes to scale semiconductor startups from early concepts to real-world impact. Drawing on decades of engineering and venture experience, she explains why hardware and semiconductors scale differently from software, how founders should think about timing, capital, and ecosystem support, and why Taiwan’s semiconductor supply chain is critical in helping startups

How Semiconductor Startups Scale Globally | Janis Skriveris (Plug and Play Ventures)

In this talk, Janis Skriveris, Principal and Deeptech Lead at Plug and Play Ventures, breaks down what it really takes to scale semiconductor and deep-tech startups from early innovation to global impact. Drawing on years of experience running accelerator programs and investing in frontier technologies, he explains how ecosystems, corporate partnerships, and cross-border collaboration—especially between Silicon Valley and Taiwan—enable startups to move beyond prototypes into

Inside the Playbook for Scaling AI & Semiconductor Startups | Andy Lombard (Tesoro VC)

In this talk, Andy Lombard, Founder and Managing Partner of Tesoro Venture Capital, shares a candid look at what it truly takes to scale AI and semiconductor startups. Drawing on decades of experience as a serial founder, investor, and former Motorola executive, he explains why deep-tech companies face fundamentally different challenges than software startups—and how global supply chains, capital strategy, and cross-border partnerships, especially between Silicon Valley and T

What is After AI? | A Strategic Conversation from Silicon Valley at 2025 Taiwan Demo Day

As artificial intelligence saturates the headlines and dominates investment portfolios, the most forward-looking voices in tech and venture are already asking a deeper question: what comes after AI? This panel, filmed at Willow Workplace in Menlo Park as part of Taiwan Demo Day 2025, convenes three of the sharpest minds at the intersection of research, startup acceleration, and deep-tech foresight to unpack that very question.

Deal Decoder

How Semiconductor Startups Scale from Idea to Impact | Laura Swan (Silicon Catalyst)

How Semiconductor Startups Scale Globally | Janis Skriveris (Plug and Play Ventures)

Inside the Playbook for Scaling AI & Semiconductor Startups | Andy Lombard (Tesoro VC)

What is After AI? | A Strategic Conversation from Silicon Valley at 2025 Taiwan Demo Day

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