From Bioengineering to VC | Jonathan Lehr managing partner Work-Bench | Betting on New York

Founder Storiez

In this episode, we speak with Jonathan Lehr, General Partner and Co-founder of Work-bench, a VC firm that placed an early, bold bet on New York's enterprise tech scene. Drawing from over a decade of venture capital experience, Jon offers a masterclass in VC, startups, and life.

Episode Highlights:

- How Workbench recognized NYC's unique position as an enterprise tech hub

- The power of diverse industries in shaping innovation

- Why gratitude and kindness are competitive advantages in VC

- Building a firm that reflects personal values while delivering returns

- How NYC's diverse industry landscape creates unique opportunities for enterprise tech

- The role of personal values in shaping institutional success

- Why relationship-building trumps transactional networking

- Balancing ambition with authenticity in venture capital

[00:00] Meet Jon

[01:11] The Workbench origin story: From concept to reality

[04:09] NYC's secret weapon: Industry diversity driving innovation

[07:24] Navigating career pivots and embracing uncertainty

[10:28] Investment philosophy: The Workbench approach

[16:58] Partnership dynamics: Building a complementary team

[19:02] Daily rituals and mindset management

[20:38] Differentiation in a crowded VC landscape

[22:50] The gratitude advantage in venture capital

[23:04] Evolving with the market: Workbench 2.0

[23:24] Spotting trends before they emerge

[24:37] The art of relationship building in tech

[26:53] Fundraising wisdom: Lessons from the trenches

[34:42] Values-driven leadership: Family, authenticity, impact

[39:46] Beyond returns: Creating lasting value

[42:02] Words of wisdom for the next generation

Connect with Jon

LinkedIn

Twitter

Work_bench

Blog

Twitter

Connect with Ephraim

LinkedIn

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