AI Insights – NextStar Venture Partners

27 Jul 26

The Founder Is the Catalyst: Why We Invest in People First

The Founder Is the Catalyst: Why We Invest in People First For many years, I have had the privilege of working at the heart of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through venture firms, on boards, and alongside founders building ambitious companies, I have watched what separates the ideas that endure from the…

15 Jul 26

National AI Day and the Case for Trust

National AI Day and the Case for Trust July 16th is National AI Day. I will admit I did not know that until recently. But Jon Swartz did, and he wrote a thoughtful piece for Techstrong.ai about why we might actually need one. Reading it, I found myself returning to…

16 Jun 26

Grounded at DCA: What a Night on the Runway Reveals About AI and Critical Infrastructure

What a Night on the Runway Reveals About AI and Critical Infrastructure Last Sunday evening I was sitting on a fully loaded Alaska Airlines aircraft at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, engines running, positioned on the taxi runway and ready for departure to San Francisco. Then everything stopped. Air traffic…

20 Aug 25

AI Is Redefining Critical Industries

From generative AI to agentic systems, vertical adoption is just beginning. Startups addressing mission-critical problems have the opportunity to define new categories, while corporates must act now to avoid disruption.