Time for a New Construct: Michael Pomerleau on Rethinking VC, Scale, and Impact

Q: What attracts you to venture capital?

Michael Pomerleau: It’s generally accepted that we’re entering a period of massive global transformation. What’s less understood is just how quickly this change is accelerating — we’re passing one tipping point after another. The next 10 years will be a roller coaster like no other. In that context, I believe three elements are critical: entrepreneurship, technology, and capital. But these only create real impact when combined and pointed in the right direction — less sugar water, more meaningful progress toward a functional society. To do that, you need to be close to all three forces — and you need vehicles that can scale their combined effect. That’s where venture capital comes in. But we need new constructs to make it truly work.

Q: Why are you so focused on network effect startups?

Michael Pomerleau: When we set out to identify the startups with the highest potential for growth and value, we kept coming back to one common trait: network effects. These companies are not only the fastest-growing and most valuable — they’re also the most resilient. They’re leaner, more scalable, and more likely to survive the brutal reality of natural selection. Network effect companies aren’t a “category” like FinTech or Web3 — they’re a superior structural model. If you care about returns, resiliency, and defensibility, these companies outperform across the board. So if your portfolio doesn’t include them — good luck.

Q: You’ve worked closely with Fortune 500s. Why should large companies care about startups?

Michael Pomerleau: Right now? Most don’t. And that’s exactly the problem. The train keeps missing the station. Startups struggle to engage with big industry and capital — and vice versa. That disconnect means startups chase whatever VCs care about in the moment, rather than solving what actually matters to society and essential industries. Take global supply chains. The pandemic showed just how far behind the sector is in terms of digital infrastructure. That gap needs closing — urgently.

And here’s the opportunity: there’s so much untapped value in bridging startups with industry. Entrepreneurs are looking for big, messy problems — that’s where real moats and value creation lie. Meanwhile, large corporates and PE firms are starved for tech-driven opportunity and want a meaningful path into early-stage innovation.

What we need is a more structured pathway — vehicles that connect these dots at scale. A stairway to heaven, if you will.

Q: Why did you decide to co-found Investigate.vc?

Michael Pomerleau: Because it’s time for a new construct. When Mikael Krogh and I compared notes, we realized we shared the same frustration with the current VC model — and a strong belief that we could build something better. Something founder-first, ecosystem-aligned, and global in ambition.

Investigate.vc already had strong foundations. What we’re doing now is scaling that into a platform that not only delivers returns — but redefines how venture capital supports the global economy.

This isn’t just theory. We’re building fund by fund, asset by asset, with a blueprint that delivers both performance and long-term relevance.