Webinar
Masterclass: Inside the Deal—Why We Said Yes to Circle
Join Alumni Ventures Managing Partner Chris Sklarin for an exclusive masterclass exploring how our team sourced, evaluated, and ultimately invested in Circle—a rising star in the fintech and digital currency infrastructure space that recently completed a successful IPO.
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Circle, the company behind the USDC stablecoin, is backed by top-tier investors including BlackRock, Fidelity, and Goldman Sachs. As a pioneer in regulated digital payments, Circle is shaping the future of global finance and enabling secure, scalable crypto transactions across the internet economy.
In this behind-the-scenes session, Chris will break down the sourcing process, outline key diligence criteria, and explain how Circle stood out among a crowded fintech landscape. Attendees will get an inside look at how venture capitalists evaluate disruptive opportunities and build conviction around transformational companies.
Whether you’re already investing in crypto or just exploring the fintech frontier, this webinar offers real-world insights into backing bold innovation. Don’t miss this deep dive into one of the most consequential bets in financial infrastructure.
Why Attend?
- HomeDeal Breakdown: Get an inside look at the full sourcing and diligence process behind our investment in Circle.
- HomeVC Best Practices: Learn how top venture firms evaluate innovation in highly regulated, fast-moving markets.
- HomeReal-World Insights: Hear directly from Managing Partner Chris Sklarin about what it takes to back a fintech disruptor.
Alumni Ventures is America’s largest venture capital firm for individual investors.
About your presenter
Chris has 30+ years of experience in venture capital, product development, and sales engineering. As an investor, he has deployed over $100 million into companies across all stages, from seed to growth/venture. At AV, Chris has built Castor Ventures from Fund 2 – 9 to over 150 portfolio companies. Prior to Castor, Chris was a Vice President at Edison Partners, where he focused on Enterprise 2.0 and mobile investments. Previously, Chris served as Director of Business Development at a biomedical venture accelerator and at an early-stage venture firm. Earlier in his investing career, as part of JumpStart, a nationally recognized venture development organization, Chris sourced and executed seed-stage investments. Chris received his SB in Electrical Engineering from MIT in 1988 and his MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.