# How I Built Resilience: Jennifer Neundorfer of January Ventures

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2020-10-03
- Length: 22m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-03-how-i-built-resilience-jennifer-neundorfer-of-january-ventures

## Summary

Jennifer Neundorfer, co-founder and managing partner of January Ventures, explains how her firm addresses the systemic bias in venture capital by focusing on pre-seed and seed-stage investments in tech startups founded by women and people of color. She details the firm's $20 million fund, its strategy of accepting cold pitches to remove network barriers, and its efforts to diversify limited partners. Neundorfer highlights portfolio companies like Planet Forward and Kinside, discussing how they navigate supply chain sustainability and childcare crises during the pandemic.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-03-how-i-built-resilience-jennifer-neundorfer-of-january-ventures#t=0) Introduction: January Ventures and the Bias in Venture Capital
- [2:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-03-how-i-built-resilience-jennifer-neundorfer-of-january-ventures#t=138) Investment Thesis: Pre-seed, Seed, and the Gender Gap in Funding
- [4:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-03-how-i-built-resilience-jennifer-neundorfer-of-january-ventures#t=256) Fund Structure: $20M Fund and Diversifying Limited Partners
- [5:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-03-how-i-built-resilience-jennifer-neundorfer-of-january-ventures#t=326) Sourcing Strategy: Cold Pitches and the 400-Pitch First Week
- [7:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-03-how-i-built-resilience-jennifer-neundorfer-of-january-ventures#t=431) Portfolio Highlights: Planet Forward and Kinside
- [11:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-03-how-i-built-resilience-jennifer-neundorfer-of-january-ventures#t=679) Addressing Bias: Systemic Issues and Founder Diligence
- [14:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-03-how-i-built-resilience-jennifer-neundorfer-of-january-ventures#t=859) Venture Capital Criticisms and Aligning Incentives
- [16:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-03-how-i-built-resilience-jennifer-neundorfer-of-january-ventures#t=966) Fundraising in a Pandemic: Pitch Collective and Market Constraints
- [18:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-03-how-i-built-resilience-jennifer-neundorfer-of-january-ventures#t=1116) Combating Bias: Scripted Questions and Geographic Equity
- [19:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-03-how-i-built-resilience-jennifer-neundorfer-of-january-ventures#t=1188) Pitching Advice: Virtual Presentations and Founder Time
- [22:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-03-how-i-built-resilience-jennifer-neundorfer-of-january-ventures#t=1320) Decision Making: Market Size, Evangelist Customers, and Founder Fit

## Topics

- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- January Ventures (company)
- Planet Forward (company)
- Kinside (company)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Shopify (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Investor Spotlight: Josh Resnick, OpenSky Ventures](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-03-28-investor-spotlight-josh-resnick-opensky-ventures) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Investor Spotlight: Ryan Springer of Midnight Venture Partners](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-09-27-investor-spotlight-ryan-springer-of-midnight-venture-partners) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#70 Angel Investing 101 with Marcia Dawood (+ Uproot Teas)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-11-22-70-angel-investing-101-with-marcia-dawood-uproot-teas) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Oddball's Path From Idea to Funding a Nationwide Target Launch](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-07-11-oddballs-path-from-idea-to-funding-a-nationwide-target-launch) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder + Funder: Fundraising, Founder-Investor Fit, and Building the Next Big Breakfast Brand with Emily Groden of Evergreen and Brian Bernstein of Rich Products Ventures](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-06-20-founder-funder-fundraising-founder-investor-fit-and-building-the-next-big-breakf) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

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