Passionate. Insightful. Curious.

I’m Alastair, a San Francisco Bay Area-based independent journalist specializing in content creation and media training for founders and investors. With 30+ years of business journalism experience, I’ve covered every corner of the venture community, from sector trends and tech startups to venture firms, limited partners and corporate VCs.

My knowledge of venture capital and storytelling has allowed me to create compelling narratives that resonate with readers and clients alike. I also leverage my background to provide media training to help founders and investors refine their messaging, sharpen their pitches and connect with their audiences more effectively. Here’s an example from one of my case studies.

As the editor of Venture Capital Journal for more than a decade, I won awards, shaped the industry’s narrative, mentored reporters who moved on to top publications like TechCrunch and Bloomberg, and I became a trusted voice in venture media. Prior to that, I was managing editor of PE Week, contributed to PEHub and Reuters, and covered tech, venture and finance for the Silicon Valley Business Journal, where I was on the beat during Netscape’s IPO in August 1995. I also reported on the business of sports for the SportsBusiness Journal and served as the founding editor of California CEO.

Today, I provide content and consulting services, host The Venture Variety Show podcast, and write The Venture Lens newsletter on Substack, where I explore venture trends, platform strategies and startup dynamics. I also publish thought pieces on Medium, sharing my personal views on the dynamic venture community.

I’ve been instrumental in recruiting top industry leaders for conferences and events. Here’s another case study example on my event work. I’ve moderated keynotes, panel discussions, webinars and pitch sessions, creating engaging conversations that connect investors, founders and innovators alike. Meeting emerging entrepreneurs, spotting trends and engaging with investors continues to inspire me.