From Talk Show to Term Sheets: Investing in Female Entrepreneurs -- Jesse Draper (Founding Partner, Halogen Ventures)

All Things Video

Jesse Draper is the Founding Partner of Halogen Ventures, an early stage VC fund focused on female-founded consumer technology companies. Jesse started her career in entertainment, landing a part as a series regular on a Nickelodeon show before launching her own program: “The Valley Girl Show.” The Emmy nominated talk show, which started on YouTube and later transitioned to television, featured interviews with legendary entrepreneurs like Mark Cuban, Sheryl Sandberg, Jessica Alba, and Eric Schmidt. Jesse also interviewed many aspiring female entrepreneurs and began angel investing before raising her first venture fund.

In this episode, Jesse shares her early experience in media as well as her frustration with the industry’s outdated business models. She calls for alternatives to sponsorship-based monetization, highlighting the success of her portfolio company The Skimm’s hybrid model of ads and paid subscriptions. Finally, Jesse explains how Halogen’s mission to invest in women-led startups is good for business, as female leaders typically raise half as much money, exit one year earlier, and double the average returns of their male counterparts.

Host: James Creech

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ABOUT THE SHOW

All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with founders, executives, and thought leaders from the world’s leading media companies and engage in thought-provoking debates about the issues shaping the next generation of entertainment. From the short-form content revolution to the fragmentation of video viewership in an always-on world, All Things Video reveals the key trends and insights from the world of digital media.

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ABOUT THE HOST

James Creech is an entrepreneur focused on technology, online video, and digital media. He is the Co-Founder & CEO of Paladin, the essential influencer marketing platform for media companies, agencies, and brands.