Risk Appetite: The Psychology of Investing in Breakthrough Ideas - Light Dao Salon

Risk Appetite: The Psychology of Investing in Breakthrough Ideas A Light Dao NYC Salon with Amsal Madhani | Investor, Venrex What makes someone see extraordinary potential where others see risk? And how do you recognize the next breakthrough before the rest of the world catches on? Join us for an intimate evening with Amsal Madhani, pre-seed and seed investor at Venrex, for a candid exploration of frontier technologies, founder psychology, and the courage to challenge conventional thinking. Amsal's journey into venture capital is anything but traditional. Trained in neuroscience at Columbia University, she spent years conducting research at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital before making the leap into early-stage investing. Today, she invests across AI, frontier technology, and consumer innovation, backing ambitious founders and ideas that don't always fit the conventional venture capital playbook. Her investment philosophy is deeply personal. As she recently shared, she takes risks on people because three people once took a risk on her - and changed her life. In a world where AI hype and herd mentality can overshadow genuine innovation, Amsal believes the greatest opportunities often lie in seeing what others miss. Together, we'll explore: The psychology of exceptional founders: What neuroscience and human behavior can teach us about identifying extraordinary entrepreneurs. Beyond the AI hype: How to distinguish genuine technological breakthroughs from compelling narratives. The contrarian mindset: Why the most promising founders and ideas are sometimes the ones everyone else rejects. Investing at the frontier: From robotics and space technology to AI, where the next generation of transformative innovation may emerge. The human side of risk: Why intuition, conviction, and the willingness to believe in others matter as much as data. We'll also hear stories from Amsal's unconventional career journey and explore how her experiences have shaped