Alina Truhina is the CEO and Managing Partner of The Radical Fund, an early-stage VC fund supporting and investing in entrepreneurs building climate adaptation and decarbonization solutions.

The Fund has announced their first close in July this year, and has made its recent investments, to be announced shortly. 

‍

👋🏼 How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

My role is to invest capital and technical expertise in brilliant people who have developed and are growing innovative solutions to the challenges of climate change across Southeast Asia. 

‍

🧐 What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

Something surprising that not many people know about me is that my first proper job was as a dental nurse. 

When I finished school, I applied twice to get into medical school. And while I passed all the stringent exams, I didn't get in. 

This was my first "failure", and one that took a long time to process and learn from. Looking back, I am so very glad that I did not get in as I would have been a terrible doctor. 

‍

🏆 What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

Launching The Radical Fund, and building an incredible team who are an inspiration to me as much as the entrepreneurs that we serve. 

Everything I have done up until this point has prepared me for the opportunities and challenges of doing something so very hard: fundraising for, running, investing, and growing a fund in a nascent startup ecosystem, where the market still has a nascent understanding of climate, and with a focus on the riskiest stages of venture (early-stage). 

Doing what we do is very hard, but it is the most rewarding thing I have done in my career. 

‍

🔍 What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?‍

I am curious about nature-based solutions, new materials that allow huge energy reduction in large manufacturing or other processes, and new types of agri-business models that transform value chains...to name a few.

‍

💼 What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry? 

Venture is about understanding people as much (if not more) than understanding the financial and technological aspects behind the company. To be a great VC investor, especially in early-stage, it is critical to meet the founders and the founders' customers. 

Spend more time outside of the office understanding who you are serving (investing in) than the Excel sheets with financial projections. 

‍

🗣 What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours? 

Food around the world.

‍

🎥 What's your favorite movie/TV show?

Some of my all-time favorite movies are still those I watched in childhood (Soviet films). More recently, I have binged on Billions, Succession, and The Good Fight. 

‍

🍨 What's your go-to ice cream flavor?‍

Black sesame if I am feeling fancy....or chocolate for any-day indulgence.

‍

FYI. We've edited this interview for clarity.