Ross Fubini on Finding the Wave Behind Breakout Startups

What separates a great founder from a great company? For XYZ Venture Capital Founder and Managing Partner Ross Fubini, execution is only part of the equation. The company also needs to find its “wave.”

In this episode of Technoventure, Fubini joins Peter High to unpack the investment philosophy behind XYZ’s bets on founder networks, defense technology, and AI. Drawing on his experience as an engineer, entrepreneur, executive coach, and investor, he explores:

Why XYZ built an early thesis around the Palantir talent network

What Fubini saw in Anduril before other investors embraced defense technology

Why exceptional execution still needs a market “wave”

How AI changes software development, defensibility, and venture investing

Why forward-deployed engineers are becoming increasingly important

Fubini also shares how he personally uses AI to research, challenge investment theses, and sharpen his thinking.