Discover how an accidental career leap led to investing across global gaming, consumer apps, and beyond. In this compelling episode of Female VC Lab, Barbara Bickham sits down with Phylicia Koh, GP at Play Ventures, to unpack the journey from startup growth roles to leading one of the most forward-thinking early-stage funds in gaming and consumer tech. Whether you’re a founder, investor, or aspiring VC, this episode is packed with insights on embracing serendipity, the evolution of VC, and the art and science of finding product-market fit.

Why listen? You’ll learn what makes a VC distinctive, how Play Ventures disrupts itself, and why consumer apps are the new frontier for gaming’s best practices. Phylicia Koh also offers a candid look at founder hustle, the realities of raising VC money, and bold predictions about the future of venture capital—including the rise of new investment vehicles and retail investor participation.

Guest Information Guest Name: Phylicia Koh

Bio: Phylicia Koh is a General Partner at Play Ventures, an early-stage global venture fund focused on gaming, consumer apps, and infrastructure. Drawing upon nearly a decade in startup growth and product leadership, she brings a unique founder’s eye to investing, prioritizing curiosity, adaptability, and operational experience.

Links:

• X: @pphyl
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phyliciakoh/
• Play Ventures: https://www.playventures.vc/

Host & Show Info Host Name: Barbara Bickham

About the Host: Barbara Bickham is the Host of the Female VC Lab and an experienced technologist, investor, and advocate for diversity in early-stage startups.

Podcast Website: https://femalevclab.com

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In this episode of the Female VC Lab podcast, host Barbara Bickham sits down with Kristina Chapple, General Partner at 11 Tribes VC. Kristina shares her journey into venture capital, driven by a passion for supporting founders beyond just financial returns. She discusses 11 Tribes’ unique thesis: investing not only in business outcomes but also in founder well-being, allocating capital specifically for founder resilience initiatives such as coaching, therapy, and even marriage counseling.

Kristina dives into why a founder’s personal health, relationships, and identity are crucial for long-term business success, and how 11 Tribes underwrites for sustainable, middle-market exits rather than chasing billion-dollar unicorns. The conversation touches on industry shifts, with founders raising less and pursuing earlier, impactful exits. Kristina also shares her current reading—Katherine Graham’s autobiography—and reflects on identity and confidence themes that resonate both with her work and personal growth.

Tune in for an insightful look at how venture capital can evolve to truly put founders first, and why “founder outcome” might just be the next big metric in investment success.

Ready to discover how venture capital can drive real impact for emerging markets—and what true leadership looks like in the investment world? In this episode of Female VC Lab, host Barbara Bickham sits down with Eva Yazhari, Managing Partner at Beyond Capital Ventures, for an unfiltered conversation on building a mission-driven VC fund, why conscious leadership matters, and how investing in Africa and India’s rising middle classes creates incredible opportunities for transformation. Tune in to hear Eva share how she moved from finance into venture capital, her relational approach to due diligence, why formalizing informal markets like smallholder farming is a game-changing thesis, and how she’s fostering community and alignment by giving GP carry to all team members—and even founders. Whether you’re an aspiring investor, a founder in emerging markets, or simply passionate about sustainable growth, you’ll walk away inspired and equipped with fresh insights into where VC is headed next.

Guest Information
Guest Name: Eva Yazhari
Bio: Eva Yazhari is the Managing Partner of Beyond Capital Ventures, a purpose-driven venture capital firm investing in seed to Series A rounds across Africa and India. With roots in institutional finance, Eva brings a wealth of experience in fund management, deep due diligence, and impact investing, focusing on technologies and services that uplift the “need to haves” through conscious leadership and stakeholder alignment.

Links:

• Beyond Capital Ventures
• LinkedIn – Eva Yazhari
• Instagram – @consciousinvestor
• The Good Your Money Can Do (Book)
  
  

Episode Outline
How Eva Yazhari Entered VC & Built Beyond Capital Ventures
Hear Eva’s unconventional journey from math major to fund-of-funds to founding her own emerging markets VC, and the unique skill set she carried into her new role. Resource: Beyond Capital Ventures Team

Formalizing Informal Markets in Emerging Economies
Explore “formalizing the informal,” and learn how Beyond Capital Ventures invests in businesses that empower smallholder farmers and aggregate resources for scalable, sustainable impact, featuring a spotlight on agritech company Cinch.
Resource: Portfolio Companies

Conscious Leadership & Redefining VC Alignment
Gain insight into Eva’s approach to authentic, stakeholder-centered leadership, including her innovative decision to share GP carry with both her team and portfolio founders—creating alignment and community while driving results.
Resource: The Good Your Money Can Do

Related Episodes & Additional Resources

• Book Recommendation: The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle – Eva’s pick for building strong, collaborative cultures

Host & Show Info
Host Name: Barbara Bickham
About the Host: Barbara Bickham is the founder and Managing Partner of Trailyn Ventures, technology executive, and passionate advocate for diversity and innovation in venture capital.
Podcast Website: femalevclab.com

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Primary CTA: Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – This is the most impactful way to support the show. https://taplink.cc/femalevclab

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Comment on LinkedIn, send us a message at femalevclab@trailyn.com, or share your key takeaways using #FemaleVCLab.
Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway.