Natan Reddy – Ironspring Ventures
“Industrial tech winners will be determined, not only on their speed of entry, but by how adept they are in their commercialization strategy.”
Connect with Natan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/natan-reddy/
VC Uncovered’s View
The world of making and moving things often feels invisible to the everyday person. But for Natan Reddy, this world is at the forefront every day at industrial-focused VC fund, Ironspring Ventures. Before Ironspring Ventures, Natan was at CB Insights tracking how blockchain might revolutionize maritime shipping or how sensors could optimize a factory floor, eventually establishing and leading supply chain innovation research at the firm.
Now a Principal at Ironspring Ventures in the NYC office, Natan represents the nimble, sector-focused investor who chooses depth over breadth. Ironspring operates as a specialized VC fund for the digital industrial world; the firm focuses on the backbone of the global economy: manufacturing, construction, transport & logistics, and alternative energy.
He understands that you cannot simply apply a software-as-a-service playbook to a construction site or a factory floor. These industries have slow sales cycles and long-standing ways of working. Success here requires what Natan calls “industry DNA.” By investing in early-stage rounds, Ironspring acts as a catalyst across legacy industrial industries and pioneering founders taking on complex challenges to modernize these critical sectors
The relevance of Natan’s work today is clearer than ever. With nearshoring trends bringing manufacturing closer to home and the urgent need for supply chain resiliency as well as increasing physical infrastructure and energy demands fueled by the AI boom, the industrial sector is the new frontier for bold capital. Natan is not just writing checks. He is navigating what it takes to succeed commercially in the ruggedized real-world with out-in-the-field operators across heavy industry.Meet Natan
Q: You can be anywhere. Eating, drinking, and reading your favorite thing. Paint the scene.
A: I’ve been enjoying time on the water and in nature again. I am climbing Mount Kilimanjaro shortly, and that will be a big milestone for me personally. I’m also a huge history and architecture buff, so anything related to that is very interesting to me.
Key Quotes
“Industrial tech winners will be determined, not only on their speed of entry, but by how adept they are in their commercialization strategy.”
“Small Language Models excite our team. I am looking for sector-specific data for ruggedized equipment and factory floors where generalized models often fail.”
“Something that might look hot one day is also guaranteed to go through something tough at one point... remembering ‘this too shall pass’ is very helpful for getting through the ups and downs inherent to venture.”
“After years of leading research on industrial supply chain tech at CB Insights, I wanted a bigger stake and more of a hands-on approach, shy of being an operator myself, in the companies I was researching.”
“Is this someone I want to work with in the long run? When things invariably get tough, is this someone you want to be at the table with?”
Background and Personal Journey
Experiences Shaping My Investment Approach
My path into the industry was a mix of personal happenstance and the people I met along the way. Growing up in Palo Alto with parents in tech gave me a natural inclination toward the industry; however, my specific focus was shaped by an intersection of interests. While I was a generalist at CB Insights, my lifetime love of everything nautical led me to explore the link between blockchain and maritime supply chain back in 2017. Joining (and then helping to run) the New York Supply Chain Meetup community before the pandemic unlocked my passion for industrial tech. This eventually set my path toward an industrial focus and led me to Ironspring Ventures.
Moment Inspiring Venture Capital Career
The move to venture capital was less about the title and more about the depth of involvement. After years of leading research on industrial supply chain tech, I wanted a bigger stake and a more hands-on approach with the companies I was already researching across the industrial space.
Best Advice Received
I often rely on the advice that “this too shall pass.” I apply this to the volatility of venture capital; it provides helpful context for both the high and low points. Something might look hot one day, but it is guaranteed to go through something tough at one point. Remembering that the difficult times will also pass is very helpful for getting through the inherent ups and downs.
Philosophy and Insights
Values When Working with Founders
Integrity is my number one priority when working with founders. I always ask myself if this is someone I want to work with in the long run. When things invariably get tough, I want to know if this is the person I want to be at the table with. Additionally, I look for clear communication. I believe the ability to communicate well and provide consistent updates is highly correlated with a company’s success.
Approach to Risk
I view distribution and go-to-market strategies as two of the primary ways to de-risk an industrial investment. Industrial tech has extremely slow sales cycles; you cannot move at the same pace as other sectors. The major risk is whether a company can outlast the time it takes to break into the industry from a cash perspective. I also look to de-risk by ensuring there is industry DNA on the founding team to navigate specific personas, such as general contractors versus owners in the construction world, for example.
Measuring Success Beyond Returns
I measure success through three tiers of relationships. First, do the founders trust Ironspring enough to refer other founders to us? Second, have we stewarded the capital appropriately to maintain the trust of our LPs? Finally, I look at the ecosystem. I want Ironspring to be the ecosystem glue in the digital industrial space. Have we been able to foster that connectivity for folks even beyond our portfolio?
Trends and Future Vision
Exciting Trends and Technologies
Small Language Models excite our team. I am looking for sector-specific data for ruggedized equipment and factory floors where generalized models often fail. I am also very bullish on Mexico and the Latin American industrial market due to many macro tailwinds. There is a massive opportunity to apply established playbooks to white space in those markets. Finally, I am watching data silo integration. We need technology that actually connects disparate systems such as Warehouse Management, Transportation Management, and ERPs.
Misconception About VCs
A common misconception about the industry is that supply chain or industrial tech is no longer relevant following the collapse of a few high-profile companies. The underlying need for digitization in the physical world is unquestionably a necessity. The winners will be determined by how they are capitalized, execute, and approach go-to-market, not just because a category is deemed exciting or not.
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