Webinar
Unicorn Hunter: Inside the Deal—Why We Said Yes to Groq
Join Chris Sklarin and Evy Chen for an exclusive masterclass detailing how our team sourced, evaluated, and ultimately invested in Groq, one of the most compelling companies in the AI hardware space.
Groq is an exciting startup that TechCrunch recently reported landed $640M to challenge Nvidia, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Intel, and AMD, as they produce chips that run gen-AI models faster than conventional processors. Their breakthrough could reshape the future of AI computing and redefine performance standards across the entire industry.
In this behind-the-scenes session, Chris and Evy will walk through the sourcing process, the key diligence criteria used, and why Groq stood out in a competitive landscape. You’ll gain valuable insight into how venture capitalists assess early-stage opportunities and make high-conviction investment decisions.
Whether you’re an investor eager to understand our process or someone curious about how top-tier startups get funded, this webinar will deliver practical takeaways and real-world context. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to learn how a major deal comes together from start to finish.
Why Attend?
- HomeDeal Breakdown: Get an inside look at the full sourcing and diligence process behind our investment in Groq.
- HomeVC Best Practices: Learn how top venture firms assess high-growth startups in competitive markets.
- HomeReal-World Insights: Hear directly from the team about what it takes to back a breakout company.
About your presenters
Chris has 30+ years of experience in venture capital, product development, and sales engineering. As an investor, he has deployed over $100 million into companies across all stages, from seed to growth/venture. At AV, Chris has built Castor Ventures from Fund 2 – 9 to over 150 portfolio companies. Prior to Castor, Chris was a Vice President at Edison Partners, where he focused on Enterprise 2.0 and mobile investments. Previously, Chris served as Director of Business Development at a biomedical venture accelerator and at an early-stage venture firm. Earlier in his investing career, as part of JumpStart, a nationally recognized venture development organization, Chris sourced and executed seed-stage investments. Chris received his SB in Electrical Engineering from MIT in 1988 and his MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
Principal
Evy is a venture investor, MIT Sloan Fellow, and serial entrepreneur with expertise in behavioral economics and market psychology. Prior to Alumni Ventures, Evy co-founded Nudge Venture, an applied behavioral economics research studio, where she explored overlooked opportunities to drive impactful investments. She was also the Founder and CEO of Evy Tea, pioneering the ready-to-drink cold brew tea category. Evy has served as an Entrepreneur in Residence at EdTech company OneDay and as a visiting mentor at various institutions, focusing on supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs. She holds a Master of Science in Management of Technology from MIT Sloan and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing Communication from Emerson College, where she studied narrative persuasion and consumer decision-making. Beyond her work, Evy is passionate about overlanding and exploring remote natural landscapes.