What’s Inside
Why the role of platform teams in VC is getting more strategic
How AI is changing startups and venture firms
What founders should ask before taking an investor’s Money
Venture firms have long offered more than just checks, but the rise of platform roles in the last decade+ has turned that “extra” into a strategic function. Olivia O’Sullivan, Partner and COO at Forum Ventures, has been at the forefront of this shift.
In this episode of The Venture Variety Show, we talk about how platform teams are maturing, why founder experience is a Growth lever, and how AI is reshaping startups and the VCs who fund them.
“Too many founders forget that they’re choosing investors, too.” — Olivia O’Sullivan
When O’Sullivan joined Forum over six years ago, platform roles were still loosely defined. Today, they’re foundational.
Her team spans pre-investment brand building and post-investment support like GTM strategy, sales Coaching and fundraising prep.
Forum’s platform team now contributes significantly to deal flow, as 44% of last year’s investments came from platform-led initiatives. So that’s not just “nice-to-have” territory. The platform is a core business driver.
Their work goes beyond decks and events. It includes tactical support like customer intros, investor targeting, and a growing emphasis on productized tools and AI-powered insights.
“We think a lot about how to democratize access to capital and demystify the venture process.”
AI is changing the way startup teams, and the VC firms themselves, operate.
Founders are delaying hires and leaning into automation. O’Sullivan calls this trend “seed-strapping” where the validating and scaling happen early and with small teams, without jumping straight onto the venture treadmill. Thanks to AI, these founders can do more with less.
On the investor side, Forum and others are using AI for early signals and operational efficiency. Some firms are even testing algorithmic decision-making, but O’Sullivan raises a caution about pattern-recognition bias. Many exceptional founders, she notes, don’t look like the data might suggest.
And while automation is rising, she predicts a pendulum swing back toward human connection, including in-person gatherings, curated experiences and building community as a key differentiator.
🔶 Platform roles in VC are no longer ad hoc, they’re strategic and productized
🔶 Founders should treat fundraising like hiring and ask questions
🔶 AI is helping startups scale leaner and changing VC decision workflows
🔶 “Seed-strapping” is a growing trend, featuring small checks, big ambition
🔶 Even as automation rises, human connection is still the real differentiator
If this conversation with Olivia O’Sullivan resonated, I’d Love it if you’d share it with a founder, investor,or platform operator in your network.
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And if you’re curious to learn more of how AI is reshaping the future of work, check out my other podcast on YouTube, The AI Cognitive Shift, produced in collaboration with AiNews.com.
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Thanks for tuning in!
