Axel Bichara co-founded both Bolt and Baukunst after nearly two decades as a partner at Atlas Venture, where he helped manage seven funds totaling over $2.6B in capital, and describes his core identity as "entrepreneur and company builder" rather than financial investor, viewing venture capital as an extension of his builder mindset. He advocates for highly structured, operationally detailed planning even at the pre-seed stage, walking founders through building operating plans and cash forecasts far earlier than most investors expect, while sharing detailed guidance on "how to work with VCs" from his dual perspective as founder and investor.