The VentureFizz Podcast: Eric Tarczynski - Founder & Managing Partner of Contrary Capital banner image

The VentureFizz Podcast: Eric Tarczynski - Founder & Managing Partner of Contrary Capital

Episode #234 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Eric Tarczynski, Founder & Managing Partner at Contrary Capital.

If you look across the investing landscape for companies, there are firms that typically specialize in each stage like seed, Series A, growth rounds, etc. Some firms even provide capital through the full lifecycle.

However, what if the foundation of your firm was even earlier. I mean, even before the entrepreneur has an idea. What if you built your firm on the thesis of taking a long term approach to identify and invest in the world’s top talent by building a community of incredibly bright, driven, and entrepreneurial individuals. In this scenario, you can provide these individuals with the resources and network to push their career and eventually their idea forward with access to capital.

As a headhunter for several years focused on product management and marketing talent, I have a deep appreciation for Eric’s firm Contrary Capital and their approach to this unique way of thinking and leverage community to build their competitive advantage.

In this episode of our podcast, we cover:

  • Key factors that people are looking for when starting to build out a career.
  • Eric’s background growing up, including his time at Northeastern and a look at the startups he worked on while there - one of which was a Toast competitor.
  • How Eric came up with the idea for Contrary Capital and a deep dive into the firm’s unique model and how it all works.
  • The details on their second fund and the stage of investments they are targeting, as well as portfolio examples.
  • How the firm has been able to achieve a high level of diversity of cohorts.
  • And so much more.


Keith Cline is the Founder of VentureFizz. Follow him on Twitter: @kcline6.