Feyza Haskaraman Believes Venture Capital Is Now a Talent Game

Feyza Haskaraman represents a shift in how modern venture capital operates—where success is no longer defined just by capital, but by the strength of networks and ecosystems. A partner at Felicis, she focuses on AI infrastructure, cybersecurity and application startups, bringing experience from firms like Menlo Ventures, Insight Partners and McKinsey.

Having joined Felicis in late 2025, Haskaraman enters the space at a time when competition among investors is at an all-time high—especially in AI. Her perspective is clear: capital alone is no longer a differentiator.

Instead, she believes the real edge lies in access to talent. With the rise of AI, there is an intense global competition to attract and retain top engineers, researchers and operators. In this environment, the role of a venture capitalist is evolving beyond writing checks to actively helping startups build strong teams.

Haskaraman emphasises the importance of creating a trusted community—one that connects founders with the right talent, customers and opportunities. For her, the best investors are those who can build and sustain this ecosystem over time.

Her approach reflects a broader transformation in venture capital, where relationships, access and long-term value creation are becoming more important than ever.

Because in today’s landscape, the winners aren’t just those with capital—but those who know how to bring the right people together.