The Real Reason Jeff Crusey Walked Away From Brazil’s Solar Boom Demo Day podcast

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The Real Reason Jeff Crusey Walked Away from Brazil’s Solar Boom

10h ago 51:18

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How do top VCs really pick winners, and what’s the “fine print” every founder misses? In this Demo Day episode, we go deep inside the investing mind of Jeff Crusey, EVP at Blacklake Group—one of the most unique and active voices in deep tech, defense, and venture capital.

Jeff Crusey’s journey moves from building batteries in his garage to becoming a leader at Blacklake Group, where he now guides founders and scouts the “thick tail” of defense technology startups. Jeff opens up about the habits that separate great investors from the crowd—including why reading the legal and technical fine print is a repeatable, unfair advantage in venture capital.

You’ll hear candid stories about Jeff’s investment process—from corporate VC in climate tech to navigating the corruption of emerging markets, bouncing back from failure, and ultimately shaping the next generation of defense, energy, and deep tech founders. Jeff also debunks common venture myths: it’s not always the best product or team that wins, but resilience, timing, and a willingness to start over as a beginner.

Whether you’re fundraising for a startup, considering a shift into deep tech, or aiming to decode what real founder success looks like, this episode is packed with actionable strategies and mindset shifts—from evaluating defensible markets to fostering low-ego, high-intellect teams. Jeff’s honest blueprint for bouncing back from failed ventures, focusing on true value creation, and the future rise of AI in deep tech is a must-listen for anyone in the startup or VC world.

Don’t miss Jeff’s practical tips for both angel investors and founders, inside stories from Blacklake Group, and a discussion of which defense innovations are set to reshape national security, from missile technology to next-gen satellite navigation.

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