Bridging government and venture capital with Yanev Suissa of SineWave Ventures
Wed Jan 07 2026
What happens when a venture capitalist brings a deep understanding of government into the startup world? Yanev Suissa, Founder and Managing General Partner of SineWave Ventures, has done just that, carving out a powerful niche by helping commercial-first startups break into government markets. His journey from NEA to the Bush and Obama administrations gives him a perspective few investors can match.
Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:
00:42 Introduction and Guest Overview
01:24 Yanev Suissa's Background and Career Path
02:19 The SineWave Ventures Model
03:33 Navigating the Government Tech Space
05:42 Competing with Mega Funds
07:50 Investment Decision-Making Process
10:24 Evaluating Founders and Teams
16:14 Impact of AI and Investment Landscape
18:23 The Importance of Vision in Entrepreneurship
19:16 AI and Business: Making Money and Saving Money
19:38 Challenges and Realities of AI Implementation
20:20 Future Proofing and Investment Strategies in AI
21:16 The Role of VCs in Supporting Startups
22:21 Debate: The Future Landscape of AI Companies
25:32 VCs and Founders: Building Productive Relationships
29:55 The Rewards and Challenges of Being a VC
31:42 Timeless Advice for Entrepreneurs and Investors
In this episode,
Yanev unpacks how his background in federal investment shaped the founding of SineWave Ventures, a VC firm built to help commercial technology companies win in both the public and private sectors. He explains why many venture-backed startups overlook government as a growth engine, and how SineWave uniquely helps founders access these massive, often hidden, revenue streams. With past investments in Databricks, SentinelOne, and Evolv, Yanev shares what makes a venture truly scalable across sectors.
The conversation dives deep into the challenges of competing with mega-funds, the critical role of team dynamics in startup success, and how Yanev's firm makes concentrated bets in a crowded market. He also offers a candid perspective on the current AI supercycle; including what's hype, what's real, and how to think about sustainable ROI in enterprise AI adoption. Whether you're a founder, investor, or LP, Yanev's insights offer a playbook for navigating venture capital with both conviction and clarity.
Sponsor Host: Affinity
Affinity is a relationship intelligence platform that empowers dealmakers in relationship-driven industries to find, manage, and close more deals. With the most automated relationship intelligence insights and technology, Affinity enables leaders to drive deals and ensure their teams can take action with confidence, knowing the context and history of every relationship.
The Affinity platform, including Affinity CRM, is used by over 3,000 relationship-driven organizations worldwide. Founded in 2014, Affinity is headquartered in San Francisco and backed by leading investors, including Menlo Ventures, Advance Venture Partners, 8VC, and MassMutual Ventures.
Learn more at https://affinity.co
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What happens when a venture capitalist brings a deep understanding of government into the startup world? Yanev Suissa, Founder and Managing General Partner of SineWave Ventures, has done just that, carving out a powerful niche by helping commercial-first startups break into government markets. His journey from NEA to the Bush and Obama administrations gives him a perspective few investors can match. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: 00:42 Introduction and Guest Overview 01:24 Yanev Suissa's Background and Career Path 02:19 The SineWave Ventures Model 03:33 Navigating the Government Tech Space 05:42 Competing with Mega Funds 07:50 Investment Decision-Making Process 10:24 Evaluating Founders and Teams 16:14 Impact of AI and Investment Landscape 18:23 The Importance of Vision in Entrepreneurship 19:16 AI and Business: Making Money and Saving Money 19:38 Challenges and Realities of AI Implementation 20:20 Future Proofing and Investment Strategies in AI 21:16 The Role of VCs in Supporting Startups 22:21 Debate: The Future Landscape of AI Companies 25:32 VCs and Founders: Building Productive Relationships 29:55 The Rewards and Challenges of Being a VC 31:42 Timeless Advice for Entrepreneurs and Investors In this episode, Yanev unpacks how his background in federal investment shaped the founding of SineWave Ventures, a VC firm built to help commercial technology companies win in both the public and private sectors. He explains why many venture-backed startups overlook government as a growth engine, and how SineWave uniquely helps founders access these massive, often hidden, revenue streams. With past investments in Databricks, SentinelOne, and Evolv, Yanev shares what makes a venture truly scalable across sectors. The conversation dives deep into the challenges of competing with mega-funds, the critical role of team dynamics in startup success, and how Yanev's firm makes concentrated bets in a crowded market. He also offers a candid perspective on the current AI supercycle; including what's hype, what's real, and how to think about sustainable ROI in enterprise AI adoption. Whether you're a founder, investor, or LP, Yanev's insights offer a playbook for navigating venture capital with both conviction and clarity. Sponsor Host: Affinity Affinity is a relationship intelligence platform that empowers dealmakers in relationship-driven industries to find, manage, and close more deals. With the most automated relationship intelligence insights and technology, Affinity enables leaders to drive deals and ensure their teams can take action with confidence, knowing the context and history of every relationship. The Affinity platform, including Affinity CRM, is used by over 3,000 relationship-driven organizations worldwide. Founded in 2014, Affinity is headquartered in San Francisco and backed by leading investors, including Menlo Ventures, Advance Venture Partners, 8VC, and MassMutual Ventures. Learn more at https://affinity.co