Founder-First VC: Equity, Access & Real Signals | Ep. 39 w/ Christina Quinn (SSC VP)
Founder-First VC: Equity, Access & Real Signals
General Partner Christina Quinn (SSC Venture Partners) sits down with Adam W. Barney to move beyond the panel talk and into practice: which signals actually earn a second meeting, how to translate messy early traction into credible proof, and concrete ways funds and founders can widen the on-ramp for underrepresented builders...without performative theater.
In this episode:
- Signals VCs trust: customer pull, learning velocity, and the right kind of focus
- Noise to ignore: vanity metrics, bloated roadmaps, and “partnerships” that aren’t
- Equity → operations: process changes that expand access (deal flow, diligence, support)
- Deck clarity: the 6-slide path that respects everyone’s energy and still lands the point
- EnergyOS move: one weekly habit to protect momentum while fundraising
3 takeaways you can use today
- Clarity > volume. Lead with one sharp problem, one real customer proof, one next milestone.
- Access needs a system. Make inclusion a process, not a press release—change sourcing and the first-meeting gate.
- Protect your energy. Schedule your recharge/review loop before you ship; it’s how you keep signal high for the long game.
Guest
• Christina Quinn, General Partner - SSC Venture Partners
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinamquinn/
• Firm: https://sscventurepartners.com/
• Email: christina@sscventurepartners.com
Host
Adam W. Barney - Transition Leadership Coach & host of Is Anything Real?, the Reality-First Leadership show for builders who optimize for proof over theater.
👉 Book a 20-min Foundation Call: https://calendly.com/adamwbarney/foundation-call-20min
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Chapters
00:00 Why founder-first still wins
02:11 Real signals vs. theater
07:08 Equity into operations
12:45 Turning early traction into proof
18:10 Deck clarity and decision hygiene
23:40 EnergyOS habit for momentum
26:55 Next steps for founders
Creators and Guests
Host
Adam W. Barney
Adam W. Barney helps transitioning leaders navigate career and leadership inflection points with clarity and momentum. Author of Make Your Own Glass Half Full and creator of EnergyOS. Based in Boston, fueled by family and music.
