About this episode
Why have consumer startups fallen out of favor and why might that be the biggest opportunity of the next decade?
In this episode, I talk with Brian O’Malley, founder of Tactile Ventures, about why consumer investing is deeply misunderstood and how AI is unlocking a new wave of products that improve everyday American lives. Brian shares lessons from two decades investing at Accel, Battery, and Forerunner, why incentives—not talent—drive venture outcomes, and how the best consumer companies blend technology, business models, and human behavior. We also explore why AI is moving out of its “toy phase,” why humans still need to stay in the loop, and how early-stage investors win by giving founders something large platforms can’t: time.
Highlights:
Why consumer investing has declined despite driving most historic IPO winners
The difference between “seven deadly sins” products and durable everyday utilities
Why consumer companies are often less capital-intensive than people assume
How to invest in consumer startups before traction exists
Why AI is leaving its “toy phase” and moving into real-world applications
The power of human-in-the-loop models for trust and adoption
How incentives inside VC firms shape decision-making and returns
Why large venture platforms struggle as they scale
How Tactile competes with mega-funds by showing up earlier and more prepared
The rise of AI-powered services and digitally native franchises
Why the best early-stage investors act like “the second-and-a-half cofounder”
Guest Bio:
Brian O’Malley is the founder of Tactile Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm backing founders who combine emerging technologies with new business models to solve everyday problems for Americans. Before launching Tactile, Brian spent more than 20 years investing in consumer and technology companies as a managing partner at Forerunner Ventures, an early-stage partner at Accel, and a general partner at Battery Ventures. He has partnered with founders behind companies spanning travel, commerce, healthcare, and financial independence, and previously helped build multiple startups that were acquired by Motorola, Oracle, and IBM. Brian is a frequent writer and contributor to Fortune, Forbes, and LinkedIn, and a regular guest on leading investment podcasts. He is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Our Podcast now receives more than 300,000 downloads a month. Are you interested in sponsoring an episode? Please email David Weisburd at david@weisburdcapital.com.
Sponsor:
AlphaSense is the AI-powered market intelligence platform trusted by 85% of the S&P 100, helping investment professionals make faster, more confident, data-driven decisions. Built for hedge funds, asset allocators, private venture capital firms, and in
