Venrock partner Nick Beim talks about the role of data in startup investments, the New York tech environment and what he looks for in new entrepreneurs. Venrock is a venture capital firm whose roots in technology go back to the 1970s, when it was an early backer of Apple. In the decades since, it has invested in hosts of companies that have disrupted industries and become household names. Venrock partner Nick Beim focuses on consumer, software, data-intelligence and fintech investments. We sat down with him to discuss new advancements in machine learning, the ways that startups can still overcome more established competitors, and why the best investment opportunities are rarely found where most people expect them.