Most VCs follow the same playbook. But Maddi Holman never did.
From walking on as a Division 1 athlete at Rice University, to pivoting from pre-med to venture capital without a single finance credential, her career is proof that non-traditional paths build sharper investors.
Now, as Co-Founder & General Partner at Daring Ventures, Maddi Holman is backing overlooked founders and tech businesses that keep the economy running.
In our Planet Positive Podcast, Maddi shared why relationships, not resumes, are the strongest signals for investment.
Here are 3 takeaways from our conversation:
✅ Relationships drive returns.
Founders with authentic networks and resilience outperform those with just pedigrees.
✅ Overlooked markets matter.
From skilled labor to women’s health, innovation happens outside coastal bias.
✅ Early-stage capital must do more than fund.
It must mentor, guide, and stay aligned with founder missions.
This is exactly why I built this podcast: to spotlight investors who prove purpose and profit can move together.
You can check out the full episode on Wallet Max YouTube and other channels:
➡️ YouTube: https://lnkd.in/e-Ett8Zp
➡️ Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and more: https://lnkd.in/dry7zrvE
Because conversations like these must lead to systems change.
🎯 And that’s why I’m bringing founders, funders, and operators to the Emerald Summit on September 19th during ClimateWeekNYC.
We’ll gather allies who are done with business-as-usual. And ready to rewire capital for people and planet.
Be in the room where it happens.
