Sheel Mohnot is co-founder of Better Tomorrow Ventures, a venture firm that leads venture rounds in pre-seed and seed-stage fintech companies. It is one of the most active fintech investors in the world.
Sheel has spent the last decade in fintech — first as an operator and angel, then as a founder of his own firm. In this conversation, he walks me through the unconventional path that led him into venture, including time spent in India working in microfinance, and why he believes a focused fintech strategy makes sense.
We dig into some of his biggest early misses, including passing on both Robinhood and Chime, and what those decisions taught him about recognizing real customer shifts. Sheel also gives a clear-eyed view of today’s hypergrowth environment, the gap between flashy numbers and durable businesses, and how AI is actually showing up in the day-to-day work of venture capital.
We also talk about the growing political involvement of tech leaders, the challenges facing San Francisco, and what he’s most excited about looking ahead — from self-driving cars to the quieter, more practical uses of AI.
A candid conversation with one of fintech’s more thoughtful investors.
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Transcript of Sheel Mohnot of Better Tomorrow Ventures on the Something Ventured Podcast