MUF #2: Venture with a Soul: VC Gopi Rangan on Trust, Purpose, and the Inner Journey
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This is a podcast episode titled, MUF #2: Venture with a Soul: VC Gopi Rangan on Trust, Purpose, and the Inner Journey. The summary for this episode is: <p>2025 hasn’t been kind to founders — especially if you’re not riding the AI wave. It’s been a grind, and let’s face it: trust in investors isn’t exactly at an all-time high. Between investors seemingly wanting the "perfect business and metrics" and many too swamped to get back to founders, let alone provide meaningful feedback, frustration among some founders has reached Parisian pitchfork levels. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>That’s why this conversation hits different.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of <em>Mork Unfiltered</em>, I interview Gopi Rangan — founder of Sure Ventures and one of the few investors out there who genuinely leads with purpose and geniunely cares about founders - even if he doesn't invest in them. Gopi doesn’t just invest for financial return. He backs companies solving real-world problems in insurance, fintech, and climate — with a deep focus on mission, trust, and integrity.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Here’s what we dive into:</p><p><br></p><ul><li>Why trust is Gopi’s #1 investment filter</li><li>How clarity of mission makes founders more fundable</li><li>Why kindness builds better companies — and stronger founders</li><li>Why purpose is a performance driver — not a soft skill</li><li>Gopi’s strategy for evaluating early-stage founders in minutes</li><li>Why inner work matters more than most VCs want to admit</li></ul><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Even founders who <em>don’t</em> get a check from Gopi walk away better for the conversation. If you’re trying to build something that matters — not just pitch another round or build a unicorn — this episode will rock your world. </p>
DESCRIPTION
Mork Unfiltered – Episode 2 Show Notes
Guest: Gopi Rangan, Founder of Sure Ventures
Episode Title: Venture Capital with a Soul: Gopi Rangan on Trust, Purpose, and the Inner Journey
Key Topics Discussed:
- Gopi’s journey from engineering to founding his own VC firm
- Why he left corporate venture to create a values-first, independent firm
- His deep focus on insurtech and why that space matters to him
- How purpose and values shape the way he assesses founders
- The role of kindness, trust, and community in startup success
- Why he teaches entrepreneurship at INSEAD and what he learns from it
- Gopi’s reflections on building community over time and how it’s paid back in unexpected ways
- The emotional and mental challenges of launching a fund — and advice for those facing fear in big transitions
- What makes a good VC — and why many operate in silence behind founder success stories
- The importance of being kind to yourself as a founder and human being
Memorable Quotes:
- "VC's are wrong 100% of the time!"
- “I had a lot of fears when I started a firm… launching a VC fund is probably one of the hardest things to do.”
- "Unlearning is one of the hardest things every VC should do."
- “I finish my classes by saying: Be kind to yourself.”
- “If I had done it for the return, it wouldn’t have worked. I did it to build a community. The return came later.”
- “I’m selling a portfolio of companies that even I don’t know yet — to people who have no urgency to buy.”
- "Gopi, you're too poor to be a VC!"
- "This industry {insurance} is stuck in the stone age. It's screaming for innovation."
- "I'm largely useless and so are most other VCs."
Connect with Gopi:
- Sure Ventures (Gopi’s firm)
- The Sure Shot Entrepreneur (Gopi’s podcast)
- INSEAD Faculty Profile
Resources Mentioned:
- INSEAD MBA program & capstone courses
- Patrick’s book: Step Back and LEAP
- The Purpose Guide — FREE download with tools from the episode
Today's Host

Patrick Mork
|Chief Storyteller
Today's Guests

Gopi Rangan
|Founder and General Partner of Sure Ventures | Podcast Host: The Sure Shot Entrepreneur
Gopi Rangan is the founding partner of Sure Ventures, a seed-stage firm investing in startups that enable peace of mind—from insurance to neurodiversity and aging care. He brings more than two decades of experience across engineering, corporate VC, and startup advisory. Gopi also teaches entrepreneurship at INSEAD, where he leads courses like 'Building Businesses in Silicon Valley' and the core MBA Capstone. Originally from India, he’s stayed close to his roots while building a global career—and he's also the host of the podcast The Sure Shot Entrepreneur, where he dives deep into the founder-investor relationship.
Sure Ventures Website