Itamar Novick, founder and General Partner at Recursive Ventures, explains how a repeat-founder’s playbook shapes better early-stage investing. Itamar draws on 25 years of startup experience (including executive roles at Gigya and Life360) to describe the firm’s disciplined pre-seed focus, how he evaluates founders and markets, and why AI applications built on first-party data will create the next wave of meaningful enterprise value. He shares concrete advice on what founders should share with VCs before/during the first meeting, how Recursive filters opportunities, what makes an investable TAM, and the common reasons he passes after initial interest.In this episode, you’ll learn:[<a href="https://podcast.sure.ventures/episodes/tsse177-ai-is-becoming-service-first-itamar-novick?t=3m18s">03:18</a>] The journey from founder to VC and back again[<a href="https://podcast.sure.ventures/episodes/tsse177-ai-is-becoming-service-first-itamar-novick?t=7m42s">07:42</a>] How Recursive defines “pre-seed” and why focus matters[<a href="https://podcast.sure.ventures/episodes/tsse177-ai-is-becoming-service-first-itamar-novick?t=12m51s">12:51</a>] What Itamar looks forward to in the first call with a founder[<a href="https://podcast.sure.ventures/episodes/tsse177-ai-is-becoming-service-first-itamar-novick?t=18m34s">18:34</a>] Data defensibility and AI applications: where value is created[<a href="https://podcast.sure.ventures/episodes/tsse177-ai-is-becoming-service-first-itamar-novick?t=25m7s">25:07</a>] The math and reasons behind saying no[<a href="https://podcast.sure.ventures/episodes/tsse177-ai-is-becoming-service-first-itamar-novick?t=31m40s">31:40</a>] What founders misunderstand about TAM sizing[<a href="https://podcast.sure.ventures/episodes/tsse177-ai-is-becoming-service-first-itamar-novick?t=36m58s">36:58</a>] Staying emotionally resilient as a founderThe nonprofit Itamar supports: <a href="https://www.adl.org/?utm_source=the-sure-shot-entrepreneur-podcast&utm_medium=episode-177&utm_campaign=service-first-AI">Anti-Defamation League (ADL)</a><hr /><h3>About Itamar Novick</h3>Itamar Novick is the founder and General Partner at Recursive Ventures, a pre-seed focused venture firm investing in AI-driven applications and data-advantaged software products. Before becoming an investor, Itamar spent over two decades as a founder and operator, including leadership roles at Gigya (acquired by SAP) and Life360. His approach to venture blends hands-on operator judgment with disciplined portfolio construction and deep founder support.<hr /><h3>About Recursive Ventures</h3><a href="https://www.recursiveventures.com/?utm_source=the-sure-shot-entrepreneur-podcast&utm_medium=episode-177&utm_campaign=service-first-AI">Recursive Ventures</a> is a founder-GP led fund specializing in pre-seed and seed companies building AI-powered applications with strong data defensibility. The firm operates with a focused portfolio model, quick decision cycles, and direct founder support — avoiding the AUM-driven growth strategies common in larger firms. Recursive backs founders who combine technical depth, market insight, and authentic obsession. Portfolio companies include Life360, Ring, Tile, DataJoy, Armory, Placer.ai, Deel, May Mobility, Akash Network, Tomato AI, Anjuna Security, Harmony.ai among others.<a href="https://podcast.sure.ventures/">Subscribe</a> to our podcast and stay tuned for our next episode.

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