Leandro Bedolla
Founder of VCFamilia
Jefferson City, Missouri
Overview
Work Experience
Private Markets Investment Analyst III
2025 - Current
MOSERS is a $9B+ pension plan fund for most Missouri state employees' retirement, life insurance, and long-term disability benefits. The private markets team invests in private equity buyout, co-investments, private credit, private real estate, and private real assets. I primarily focus on private equity buyout and co-investments.
Senior Associate
2019 - 2025
• Employee #2 at generalist Pre-Seed and Seed VC firm where I gained experience in most aspects of VC and firm operations. M25 has 100+ portfolio companies (2 Unicorns) that raised $1.6B+ of follow-on investment capital • Evaluated 58 investments closed in Pre-Seed and Seed startups from various industries (72% B2B SaaS, led 68% of rounds), and 77 follow-ons in portfolio companies at Seed to Growth Equity • Responsibilities included: sourcing, analyzing all firmwide dealflow, managing CRM, conducting first meetings with founders, debriefing our team, leading due diligence, conducting reference checks + customer feedback meetings, writing investment memo, aiding board member Partner with supporting portfolio company founders including preparation for their next fundraise and introductions to potential investors. As well as building relationships with ecosystem stakeholders throughout the nation, assisting Managing Partner in manager selection meetings with potential LPs, and representing the firm while traveling to ecosystems and industry conferences • Previously led our firm's portfolio monitoring & reporting for 3 years across 3 Funds and 120 portfolio companies: tracked fund metrics and portfolio company KPIs, created quarterly + annual LP update reports, annual audit, AGM slides, and interacted with fund admin, tax, audit, and legal counsel • Conducted in-depth research for 6 annual Midwest Startup City Rankings comprised of 64 Midwest cities (CBSA’s) across 25 variables M25 is a Chicago based VC firm investing in Midwest based (14 states) Pre-Seed and Seed startups (from pre-revenue to $750K of annual revenue run rate) across most industries (no life sciences or vices). Leading, co-leading, and participating in $500K-$2.5M rounds with a check size of $250K-$750K for an ownership target of ~10%. We have backed 140+ teams including 2 Unicorns, and we’re one of the most active VC firms in the Midwest.
M25 is the most active early-stage VC firm investing in Midwest headquartered startups (14 states, 100+ companies) across most industries
Associate | Techstars Anywhere Accelerator
2019 - 2019
• Supported one of Techstars' most experienced accelerator Managing Director and Program Manager as the Anywhere program's sole Associate • Helped founders of 10 startups test assumptions, refine pitches, research potential investors, improve financial models, coordinated operations (including day-off, week-long lodging changes for 30 people due to a giant snow storm), and community events in NYC, LA, and Boulder • Went through the Techstars program and curriculum alongside the cohort learning foundational founder skills • Participating teams included: Plural, ($1.3M Seed led by M25, $10M Series A led by S3), Parabol ($4M Seed led by CRV, $8M A led by M12), and echo3D ($4M A led by Konvoy, $5.5M led by Qualcomm) "Techstars Anywhere is a (mostly) virtual accelerator - no relocation necessary. It follows the proven Techstars approach while being designed for exceptional founders who have a business or personal constraint that would prevent them from relocating to a new city. The investment we make in each company in capital, time, and network is the same world class caliber as an in-person Techstars program."
Techstars is an accelerator that provides pre-seed investment and mentoring for various early stage startups.
Raised $108,919,999.00 from SVB Financial Group and Foundry Group.
Senior Analyst
2017 - 2019
• Aided the Executive Director and leaders of one of the most active angel investor groups (FKA Tech Coast Angels - San Diego) •Screened tech and life science startups from Pre-Seed to Series A, was on 16 diligence teams including DTx Pharma which was acquired for $500M (up to $1B with earnout targets), and sourced GoSite which we invested in their Seed round in 2018 and went on to raise a $40M Series B led by Left Lane • Sourced deals including 2 Quick Pitch 2018 finalist (San Diego's largest pitch competition with $50K to 1st place) in which I was the only non-accredited investor on the selection committee evaluating 280+ startups to select the semi-finalists (Top 20) • Interviewed potential analysts, upskilled 10 volunteers, and managed social media and community newsletters for the San Diego chapter of 200+ members • Attended monthly learning meetings to discuss various startup investment topics including product market fit, fund mechanics, cap tables, and term sheets "Tech Coast Angels (TCA) is one of the largest and most active networks of angel investors in the US comprising 5 chapters and over 300 members located across southern California. TCA actively supports early-and mid-stage entrepreneurs to turn ideas with high growth potential into successful, sustainable and scalable businesses. Alongside financial support, TCA provides coaching, industry expertise and valuable contacts. TCA typically screens several hundred companies per year in a wide range of industries (SaaS, software, Medical Devices, Molecular Diagnostics, Biotech/Drug Development, Social Media, Digital Marketing, etc.) and funds 30-50 companies per year with overall investments of $10-20M per year."
NuFund Venture Group is a new wave of angel investors.
Associate
2018 - 2018
• Created market map of competitors & potential acquirers, and did deal-centric research on potential investors (VC’s, CVC’s, groups, and individuals) to identify “smart money” investors for client’s next round of fundraising • Conducted pre-call industry research, and met with clients to learn their value proposition, business model, and goals • Assisted our founder/CEO as right hand man in refining our strategies & operations, created client deliverables, presented insights and fundraising best practices, and helped develop an 8-week innovation certificate course for active military service members and veterans on behalf of UC San Diego that received recognition from Congressman Scott Peters and Juan Vargas • Reviewed and recommended improvements on client’s deal room documents (pitch deck, cap table, financial model, pro-forma financial statements, etc) and online presence (website, Angel List, Crunchbase, LinkedIn) • Researched potential acquirers (corporations and PE firms) for VC’s mature portfolio companies and created insightful deliverables "SmartMoney Startups helps entrepreneurs and early stage investors who are frustrated with the 85% startup failure rate. With over 26 years of experience building startup companies, we operate a series of professional development programs that dramatically accelerate fundraising, attract investors that bring more than just cash to the table, and ultimately increase the probability of a successful exit event."
Civic Reflection Facilitator and CAPS Fellow, Institute for Leadership and Service
2016 - 2016
• Led conversations on community and civic issues with a variety of audiences from groups of 5-25 • Selected for competitive fellowship offered to high achieving, service-oriented students to pursue combinations of service and leadership
Lead Student Ambassador - Valpo Career Center
2012 - 2016
• Tailored knowledge, experience, and resources to individually consult 300+ students, and reviewed their resumes, cover letters, and graduate school application essays • Presented on interviewing skills, resume & cover letter essentials, LinkedIn, how to find an internship/job, and career center resources to groups of 80+ people • Was one of the first 4 career centers in the nation to implement Handshake in 2014 and provide feedback • Regularly met with supervisor for strategic planning, brainstormed with other student staff, and helped plan multiple events including career fairs and 60 person Speed Networking Event • Interviewed 10 applicants and mentored 7 in best practices resulting in more effective program • Performed Daily office duties, answered calls, and scheduled appointments for six professionals
Summer Intern
2016 - 2016
• Collaborated with team of 3 interns to create Chicago’s first career guide on CFA Charterholders • Interviewed 13 senior career CFA charterholders from various organizations and specialties (CIO’s, Partners, etc.), and wrote spotlights on them covering their education, career paths, what they do in their roles, and advice for CFA candidates interested in their specialties • Served on various advisory groups: Distinguished Speaker Series, Professional Development, and Social Events • Built relationships with CFA’s, attended multiple events, and gained perspective on various potential finance career paths
CFA Society Chicago is the world's oldest investment analysts society
Business Development Representative and Finance Intern
2015 - 2015
• Assisted startup CEO, CMO, and CRO • Conducted due diligence on competitors and potential clients, cold called and emailed prospects, prequalified potential customers, and created proposals resulting in multiple partnerships for this early stage startup • Created financial forecasts, KPI reports, and improved user experience via feedback and interviews
Customer Service Representative (CSR)
2015 - 2015
• Responsible for transactions, conflict resolution, and uncovering additional service opportunities • Provided excellent customer service and successfully integrated myself at 5 bank branches as a floating Customer Service Representative (CSR) adding coverage to their staff • Proactively sought out opportunities for more responsibility, experience, and knowledge
Sales Engineering Intern
2014 - 2014
• Led 7 private label projects, coordinated with 6 in-house departments, and 2 project managers resulting in 2 private label instruments added to catalog • Performed vendor analysis, competitive analysis, and decision matrices to identify optimum devices and manufacturers • Contacted and managed relationships with domestic and international (LATAM, EU, and Asia) vendors in 5 time zones • Responsible for negotiating prices, contract terms, and building relationships with various representatives, regional managers and vice presidents • Tested multiple technical instruments, wrote the catalog page, technical manual, and news release for products