How Quality Control Music’s Investment Manager Broke Down The Traditional Doors Of Venture Capital

Being a 23-year-old venture capitalist is difficult as is. Now tack on being female and black? “It’s been a journey”, as Dazayah Walker shares with us in this episode of the Trapital podcast. Dazayah is a venture capitalist for Quality Control Music, the label behind today’s most trendsetting artists like Lil Baby and Migos. Dazayah maintains QC’s investment portfolio, particularly within the startup space, which spans well beyond just music and entertainment.

Dazayah’s path to becoming a venture capitalist is as unorthodox as you’ll find in the venture capital world, but she’s stuck to the same principles that got her that opportunity to begin with — seeking out mentors, surrounding herself with a supportive community, and taking the learning process day-by-day. Before overseeing QC’s investments, Dazayah worked on the music side for the label. She began as an intern for QC, and worked her way through the ranks at the same time QC was taking the music industry by storm.

Not only is Dazayah breaking down doors, but she’s also trying to leave them open for future aspiring VC’s with similar unconventional backgrounds. As Dazayah continues to learn the ins and outs of venture capital, she plans on creating initiatives to educate others about the world she operates in. To hear Dazayah’s future ambitions, plus everything else we covered in the show, reference the video chapters below:

1:06 QC’s Business Growth Since Dazayah Started As An Intern
2:15 Dazayah’s Transition Into Venture Capital
5:18 What Is QC’s Investment Thesis?
6:02 The Pros And Cons Of Involving QC Artists Into Investments
9:00 What Does Dazayah Look For In A Company Before Investing?
10:42 QC Investing Beyond Just Music and Entertainment
11:35 Dazayah’s Particular Interest In Fintech
12:55 QC’s and Dazayah’s Involvement With Techstars
14:15 The Challenge Dazayah Faced Breaking Into The VC World
16:59 What Programs Have Helped Dazayah Adjust To The VC World?
18:00 What Was Behind QC’s Investment Into Riff?
19:02 QC’s Investment Portfolio Explained
20:58 “You Can Do This Too And This Is How”
24:28 Music-Wise, What Is Dazayah Most Excited About QC In Near Future?

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