In his book about the history of LGBTQ venture capital, Jackson Block keeps a card from Gunderson Dettmer that reads: “Nothing good comes out of just staying in your comfort zone. Be uncomfortable and create.” That philosophy has helped guide the co-founder and CEO of LGBT + VC as he bridges finance and social impact. With host Natalie Pierce, Jackson shares how he created the first nonprofit dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ representation in venture capital. From launching at Netflix to partnering with the New York Stock Exchange in under three years, Jackson discusses his mission to empower 10,000 LGBTQ+ and ally investors by 2030. He explores creative capital's role in reshaping venture investing, from art tech to Broadway tech, demonstrating how purpose and profit work in tandem to build inclusive innovation ecosystems.

• While teaching venture capital at City College of New York, Jackson discovered that curricula across 20 universities referenced mostly male venture capitalists and excluded the 300 women-led VC firms documented by industry journals, inspiring him to write his book exploring the history of LGBTQ+ venture capital.
• Jackson partnered with Acrylic Robotics, founded by an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur, to commission custom art pieces using robots that replicate artists' painting strokes at scale, demonstrating how technology can enable artists to focus on creativity while expanding their reach and financial rewards.
• Jackson describes what he calls “creative capital” – encompassing user design, media, entertainment, and gaming – as sectors where LGBTQ+ communities find strong representation, noting that approximately 75% of LGBTQ+ people identify as gamers who often seek safer virtual worlds and forms of escapism.
• Jackson emphasizes that entrepreneurship requires stepping outside comfort zones, explaining that demographics drive destiny in venture capital and that intersecting creative fields with traditional finance brings fresh perspectives.

Name: Natalie Pierce

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer

Connect: LinkedIn

Name: Jackson Block

Organization: LGBT + VC

Connect: LinkedIn

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This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal or investment advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an...

Even in high school, Katherine Mizrahi Rodriguez was interested in arts, crafts – and chemistry. Now co-founder and Chief Implementation Officer at Osmoses, she is revolutionizing clean energy production through a breakthrough membrane technology. In this installment of “The FutureWork Playbook” series spotlighting founders on Forbes’ “30 Under 30,” Katherine discusses her past and looks to the future with host Natalie Pierce. Osmoses has developed molecular filters 100,000 times smaller than human hair to replace century-old, energy-intensive gas separation processes. With pilot programs launching in Canada and partnerships with global petrochemical companies, Osmoses could reduce the 15% of global energy consumption currently devoted to industrial gas separations. “We’ve always seen that value and potential for the market, which is something that drives us,” Katherine says.

• A native of Venezuela who immigrated to the United States at age 12, Katherine participated in – and founded – initiatives that support underrepresented minorities in science.
• At MIT, Katherine studied Material Science and Engineering, which allowed her to merge her interest in arts and crafts with her love of science and chemistry.
• Osmoses was born through the National Science Foundation’s iCorps program, where Katherine and her co-founders conducted over 100 customer interviews to validate market need for their membrane technology.
• Industrial gas separations consume 15% of the world's energy, creating an opportunity for Osmoses' molecular filters to reduce energy consumption in applications from medical oxygen generation to renewable natural gas production.
• The company has secured non-recurring engineering revenue from a global petrochemical company and has two pilot programs launching in Canada at landfill and anaerobic digester sites.
• Katherine emphasizes the importance of cross-functional collaboration and mentorship in cleantech, explaining that diverse expertise is needed “so that a common problem can be solved because the complexity of these challenges is just so large.”

Name: Natalie Pierce

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer

Connect: LinkedIn

Name: Katherine Mizrahi Rodriguez

Organization: Osmoses

Connect: LinkedIn

☑️ Connect with us: LinkedIn | X | Gunderson Dettmer

☑️ Subscribe to the FutureWork Playbook in your preferred podcast app so you never miss an episode.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with...

Host Natalie Pierce updates listeners on two past guests and introduces them to a new one.

First, she highlights Daniel Robinson, a guest from the first episode of “The FutureWork Playbook” in 2021. Daniel is the co-founder and CEO of Red 6, a company that has revolutionized pilot training by bringing live in-cockpit AR training to the US Air Force. Red 6 has been “outrageously successful” since Daniel’s visit, Natalie explains, including securing major contracts with the US Air Force and partnering with Northrop Grumman.

Second, she spotlights Samir Menon, CEO at Dexterity AI. When he visited back in the first season, Dexterity AI was doing groundbreaking work on how robotics could support and power human capabilities. It has since “transformed from a promising robotic startup into a global leader in warehouse automation,” Natalie says. Earlier this year, for example, the company secured $95 million in funding, reflecting strong investor confidence and accelerating development.

Finally, Natalie welcomes Megan Ruan for the latest installment of the podcast’s series featuring 30 Under 30 industry partners.

As the child of Asian immigrants, Megan remembers a pivotal early-career moment when she was invited to a dinner packed with leaders from across industries, all focused on elevating Asian entrepreneurs. That night, surrounded by changemakers from entertainment to publishing, she knew she wanted in. “I just wanted to join the movement—whatever that looked like,” she tells Natalie.

Megan went on to help build Gold House Foundation’s venture arm, Gold House Ventures. By championing founders from the Asian and Pacific Islander community, the team has invested in 78 startups, powered an accelerator supporting over 115 companies, and helped unlock more than $2 billion in follow-on capital. Tune in to hear Megan’s story and how she guides founders to tell their stories that generate investor commitment.

1. Gold House Ventures works hand-in-hand with Gold House Foundation, routing fund profits to support the nonprofit’s efforts to move the needle for Asian Pacific Islander and diverse communities.
2. The team blends “cultural insight and distribution advantage” with the usual investment metrics, putting founder-market-culture fit front and center rather than just product-market fit.
3. As AI streamlines product development, Megan is clear: Founders need to show traction before fundraising. "You need to go out and test and iterate. With so many prototyping tools at your disposal, raising a pre-seed round without having tested the market is near impossible."
4. Portfolio companies like Weee! and ChowBus tap into cultural affinity and nostalgia, forging strong loyalty among underserved users.
5. Gold House focuses on “hidden giant markets”— industries overlooked by others where startups can gain a foothold before the bigger players take notice.

Name: Natalie Pierce

Organization: Gunderson Dettmer

Connect: LinkedIn

Name: Megan Ruan

Organization: Gold...