of Octopus Ventures

CEO reveals how to make critical decisions during four-day crisis

Octopus Ventures CEO Erin Platts discusses the challenge of prioritizing decisions during an intense four-day crisis period. She explains how, without preparation for such extreme situations, leaders must rely on instinct and core values to guide critical decision-making when everything is on the line.

Growing up poor gave this VC CEO crucial perspective on money

Erin Platts reflects on how her background of growing up with very little money has shaped her perspective on financial risk in venture capital. She discusses how founders and investors each have different relationships with money, and how her personal experience provides valuable context when working with entrepreneurs who are taking significant financial risks.

How Octopus Ventures team reacted when their world nearly collapsed overnight

Erin Platts reveals the surprising internal response at Octopus Ventures during a major crisis period. Despite facing potential operational collapse, the team showed remarkable resilience and gratitude rather than panic or complaint. The CEO shares how employees focused on being thankful they could continue supporting the ecosystem and maintain their livelihoods.

Why total transparency kills startups and how to find the right balance

Erin Platts explains why complete transparency isn't always the right approach for CEOs and founders. She discusses the delicate skill of determining the optimal level of transparency with different stakeholders, emphasizing that while communication is crucial for moving fast, oversharing can be counterproductive.

The impossible challenge of building a VC brand that appeals to founders

Erin Platts discusses the complex branding challenge Octopus faces as a multi-sector investment firm. She explores how difficult it is to create a brand identity that appeals to tech founders while simultaneously maintaining credibility in traditional sectors like infrastructure and energy.

I mean, it was an amazing, amazing result in the end. And, so, yeah, hats off to all of you. I wonder what the I mean, you kind of alluded to a few of them, but the sort of leadership lessons that...

to enable founders to, scale as as effectively as as possible is is important. Really leveraging the right source of capital at at the right time is is something that we're we're working on to not...