# Axel Bichara | How to Work with VCs to Build An Engineering Business

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2023-03-31
- Length: 46m
- Episode: 13
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-31-axel-bichara-how-to-work-with-vcs-to-build-an-engineering-business
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/axel-bichara-how-to-work-with-vcs/

## Summary

Axel Bichara, Co-Founder and General Partner at Baukunst, explains how his engineering background at MIT and experience founding Premise informs his approach to venture capital. He details Baukunst's strategy of acting as 'company builders' rather than passive investors, emphasizing the importance of founding team quality, capital efficiency, and founder-market fit. Bichara discusses specific criteria for investment, such as the preference for multiple founders to share the burden, the necessity of capital efficiency (achieving product-market fit within 12-18 months), and the critical role of open communication and humility in the founder-investor relationship.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-31-axel-bichara-how-to-work-with-vcs-to-build-an-engineering-business#t=0) Introduction: Axel Bichara and Baukunst
- [2:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-31-axel-bichara-how-to-work-with-vcs-to-build-an-engineering-business#t=134) Bichara's Engineering Background and Path to VC
- [6:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-31-axel-bichara-how-to-work-with-vcs-to-build-an-engineering-business#t=363) Investing in SolidWorks and Onshape
- [9:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-31-axel-bichara-how-to-work-with-vcs-to-build-an-engineering-business#t=597) Team Quality and Company Building Philosophy
- [12:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-31-axel-bichara-how-to-work-with-vcs-to-build-an-engineering-business#t=739) Founder-Market Fit and Authentic Storytelling
- [13:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-31-axel-bichara-how-to-work-with-vcs-to-build-an-engineering-business#t=807) Investment Criteria: Team, Market, and Capital Efficiency
- [17:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-31-axel-bichara-how-to-work-with-vcs-to-build-an-engineering-business#t=1048) The Value of Multiple Founders and Coaching
- [21:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-31-axel-bichara-how-to-work-with-vcs-to-build-an-engineering-business#t=1294) VC as Coach vs. Passive Investor
- [27:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-31-axel-bichara-how-to-work-with-vcs-to-build-an-engineering-business#t=1635) Valuation, Returns, and Capital Structure
- [35:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-31-axel-bichara-how-to-work-with-vcs-to-build-an-engineering-business#t=2108) Red Flags: Humility, Communication, and Capital Waste

## Topics

- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Baukunst (company)
- SolidWorks (product)
- Onshape (product)
- Premise (company)
- GrabCAD (product)
- Simscale (product)
- Vention (company)
- Dragon Innovation (company)
- Tempo Automation (company)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Investor Spotlight: Bill Schultz, Beliade Consumer Partners](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-05-16-investor-spotlight-bill-schultz-beliade-consumer-partners) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#261 - What Makes Brands Investable at Founders & Funders? with Hannah Dittman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-08-11-261-what-makes-brands-investable-at-founders-funders-with-hannah-dittman) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [An Interview with Ben Einstein](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-08-06-an-interview-with-ben-einstein) (The Amp Hour)
- [Investor Spotlight: Nick Giannuzzi, Humble Growth](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-12-13-investor-spotlight-nick-giannuzzi-humble-growth) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Investor Spotlight: Andrew Montgomery, Partner at Collaborative Fund](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-08-23-investor-spotlight-andrew-montgomery-partner-at-collaborative-fund) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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