Denis Efremov has built a research-driven reputation in venture capital, having reviewed over 5,000 startups, run a survey of 67 VCs on how they handle pitch decks, NDAs, and cold outreach, and created RoundBrief, a series of short interviews with founders about how their funding rounds actually came together—all while saying 80% of his network is virtual rather than built through conferences. He also writes about venture capital in a gonzo, slightly ironic style through his blog, holds a PhD with a dissertation on funds of funds, and focuses on AI's next wave within B2B services and fintech.
About their Fund
R136 Ventures was founded by Victor Orlovski, who says he helped build one of the first mobile banking systems in 2003, later scaled digital banking to 45 million daily users, and led what he calls the world's first financial super app in 2013; the fund invests in later-stage startups—from late Series A/B through Series C+, with checks of $2M–$20M—focusing on scaling operations, sales, and hiring rather than early-stage ideas, and it connects founders across Silicon Valley, Israel, and the Middle East. R136 is also known for standing by its portfolio companies during tough markets, and it runs its own podcast, Ventures from the Valley, hosted by partners Victor, Ratan, and Tom, which covers topics like embedded finance, AI in trading, and blockchain infrastructure that closely mirror its investment focus.
















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