MUF #2: Venture with a Soul: VC Gopi Rangan on Trust, Purpose, and the Inner Journey

Mork Unfiltered

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.

That’s why this conversation hits different.

In this episode of Mork Unfiltered, 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.

Here’s what we dive into:

• Why trust is Gopi’s #1 investment filter
• How clarity of mission makes founders more fundable
• Why kindness builds better companies — and stronger founders
• Why purpose is a performance driver — not a soft skill
• Gopi’s strategy for evaluating early-stage founders in minutes
• Why inner work matters more than most VCs want to admit

Even founders who don’t 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.