Innovantage Podcast: Mike Sigal on Fintech, VC Trends & Building Unicorns

What separates a good founder from a unicorn founder? How do venture capitalists identify the next billion-dollar company before the world catches on? And what does it take to build a genuinely resilient startup in today’s rapidly changing fintech landscape?

In this episode of the Innovantage Podcast, we sit down with Mike Sigal, a Venture Partner at GPO Fund and MiddleGame Ventures. He has spent over two decades on both sides of the startup ecosystem—as a founder and an investor. He’s seen it all: the ambitious pitches, the near-misses, and the rare game-changing companies that redefine industries.

Mike shares what he looks for when betting on a founder, why resilience is often more important than vision, and how fintech is evolving with trends like Web3, embedded finance, and alternative funding models. He also unpacks the shifts in venture capital—how crowdfunding and tokenization are challenging traditional VC and what this means for investors and entrepreneurs.

If you want to understand what it takes to thrive in fintech, build a high-growth company, or get inside the mind of a seasoned investor, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.

Why Listen?

Mike’s journey from startup founder to venture capitalist gives him a rare dual perspective on what makes businesses succeed or fail. As a mentor to startups worldwide, he offers hard-earned insights on navigating market downturns, securing funding, and building lasting companies.

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