Suggestions
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:
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
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:
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.
