Mercedes Bent, Lightspeed
A fascinating conversation on the future of VC.
We had the pleasure of hosting Mercedes Bent, partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners recently. The group talked about everything from finding Founder-Investor fit, discovering second order effects of trending technologies, and the potential disruptions AI might bring to VC. When asked about how VC could be improved, Bent posed a thought-provoking hypothesis about investors as sourcing/sales specialists instead of the current structure (everyone doing every part of the funnel always). She also provided the group with valuable insights into investing strategies at each stage, despite information arbitrage being largely eroded.
Beyond her industry insights, Bent’s personal passions offered a glimpse into what drives her innovative thinking. A sci-fi enthusiast, she draws inspiration from futuristic narratives that explore the intersection of technology, energy and society.
Bent's passion for technology can be traced back to her early years, influenced by her father, an early engineer at Apple. His work and the technological environment he fostered at home sparked her curiosity and love for innovation.
In her downtime, Bent is an avid player of Catan and poker. We hope to join her for a game sometime!