Instagram DM leads Lightspeed to its newest hire
Venture firm Lightspeed has added investor and content creator Claire Zau to its team after an initial outreach via Instagram. The company is leaning into social media to connect with future founders.
Lightspeed, a venture capital firm, has been expanding its media presence as part of a broader strategy to connect with founders and tech enthusiasts. The firm recently brought on Claire Zau, an investor and popular content creator, after an initial outreach that began with a direct message on Instagram. Zau, who commands a significant following on TikTok and Instagram, produces content that breaks down major technology trends for a wide audience.
In a conversation on the Equity podcast, Zau and Lightspeed CMO Josh Machiz discussed how the hire came about and the thinking behind the firm's growing footprint in social media. The two also co-host the podcast Lightwork, which reflects a wider movement among venture firms to take on a more active role in storytelling, especially as traditional journalism faces cutbacks and consolidation. Machiz noted that startups now have fewer outlets to share their news, so firms like Lightspeed aim to offer an additional platform.
Zau described her role as helping people who are enthusiastic about technology but lack easy access to facts. She sees herself as part of a new generation of venture operators who engage with audiences online, whether those audiences are simply tech-curious or potential founders seeking funding. The firm has already observed benefits: connecting with early-stage founders and receiving real-time feedback on investments. Zau shared an example where the enthusiasm inside Silicon Valley for AI startups clashed with feedback from her online audience, suggesting that Gen Z holds a more skeptical, even anti-AI, perspective. She called the experience humbling but valuable, as it provides direct insight into how people are using new technologies.
Looking ahead, Machiz and Zau are considering additional formats, including another podcast or even a television show. Their goal, Machiz said, is to become a go-to place for future founders to learn about the venture ecosystem. For now, he acknowledged, the effort is still in its early stages.
