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Kevin Berardinelli

Head of Portfolio Success at Point72 Ventures

Kevin Berardinelli is the Head of Portfolio at Point72 Ventures, a role in which he focuses on helping portfolio companies solve problems, grow faster, and enjoy their journey.1 His career path has been diverse and impressive, spanning various sectors within the tech industry.

Education and Career

Kevin completed his high school education at Avon Old Farms School before earning a Bachelor's degree from Wake Forest University and a Master's degree from Georgetown University. His professional journey includes:

  • Current Role: Head of Portfolio at Point72 Ventures12
  • Previous Positions:
    • Growth team member at Plaid (first dedicated growth hire)1
    • Portfolio management leader at In-Q-Tel, the strategic investment arm of the CIA and U.S. Intelligence Community1
    • Roles at TechOp Solutions International
    • Co-founder of Intercept Analytics Group

Professional Expertise

Kevin has extensive experience in:

  • Software engineering
  • Product management
  • National security programs
  • Growth strategies
  • Portfolio management1

Personal Traits and Interests

Kevin is described as an optimist and a curious individual who is always seeking insights and asking questions. He enjoys:

  • Writing poetry
  • 90s music
  • Painting
  • Camping
  • Gardening1

Kevin identifies his enneagram type as a combination of Type 2 (Helper) and Type 3 (Achiever), which he summarizes as loving fulfilling work and making work fulfilling for others.1

Social Media Presence

Kevin maintains an active presence on professional networks:

  • LinkedIn: His profile can be found under the username kberardinelli2
  • Twitter: He uses the handle @kberardinelli3

In his role at Point72 Ventures, Kevin strives to bring unexpected people together to solve impactful problems, embodying his passion for technology and innovation in the venture capital space.1

Highlights

Jul 17 · linkedin

I’m terrible at handstands. I can stay up for maybe 2 seconds. But I still try it at least once a year. Why?

Because for me sometimes it’s easier — and more fun — to see the world upside down. 🙃

So much so that I wrote a post about it, and how if you’re a startup founder, inverted thinking could help save you time and maximize your potential for success.

Check it out here:

Jun 7 · linkedin

The world needs more lighthouses.

Well really, startups do. In my many years of helping early-stage startups, one of the most common mistakes I’ve seen is thinking the bigger your ideal customer profile (ICP), the better.

We made this mistake at my first startup. Before we hit $500k in ARR, we were selling to insurance companies, reinsurers, government agencies, hospitals, retailers, and global manufacturers. We thought all should love our product equally. The bigger our bullseye, the better! This was wrong.

We failed spectacularly. 🤦 

IMO, your goal early-on is to make your ICP as small as possible. 1 company, not 100. Find the customer – a lighthouse customer -- whose problem you solve best. And they can’t live without you. They’ll lead you to your next customers.

Starting with a broad target customer base may seem appealing, but in my experience it can lead to a scattered approach and diluted efforts.

A narrow ICP can help you understand your customers' needs, preferences, and pain points in-depth. I believe this knowledge is essential to creating a product that truly resonates with them and gains real traction.

My advice to startups: Keep your bullseye small. 🎯

At the earliest stages, you’re a ship sailing the stormy seas in the dark of night. Find your lighthouse. Let it light the way forward.

Fun stat 👉 According to the Guinness Book of World Records, there are over 20k lighthouses in the world. There are 670 still standing in the U.S.

Related Questions

What are some of the key projects Kevin Berardinelli has led at Point72 Ventures?
How did Kevin Berardinelli's role at Plaid influence his work at Point72 Ventures?
What is Kevin Berardinelli's approach to helping portfolio companies grow faster?
Can you share more about Kevin Berardinelli's experience at In-Q-Tel?
What inspired Kevin Berardinelli to transition into portfolio management?
Kevin Berardinelli
Kevin Berardinelli, photo 1
Kevin Berardinelli, photo 2
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Experience

Head of Portfolio Success at Point72 Ventures since Jun 2018
Growth at Plaid, Head of Program Management at In-Q-Tel, Co-Founder at Intercept Analytics Group, Associate Director at TechOp Solutions International, Product Manager at Veratect Corporation, Softwar at Project Argus, Georgetown University

Education

M.S. from Georgetown University, B.A. from Wake Forest University, High School Diploma from Avon Old Farms School

Location

Seattle, Washington, United States