Approach

My values shape how I view the venture capital ecosystem and guide my interactions with founders and fellow investors. Here's how I view my core principles:

1. I believe in taking a long-term perspective. Success in startups is typically a 10+ year journey, so patience and perseverance are key. I encourage founders to "keep going" and "stay the course" even when faced with BIG challenges.

2. Building strong relationships is paramount to me. I focus on nurturing connections with both founders and limited partners, emphasizing the importance of relationship intelligence and networking.

3. Resilience is a quality I deeply admire. I value founders and investors who can bounce back from setbacks and maintain their determination in the face of adversity.

4. I'm a strong advocate for data-driven decision making. I often reference metrics and industry data to support my views and guide investment strategies.

5. Diversity in venture capital is crucial. I actively support increasing representation of women and people from underrepresented backgrounds in decision-making roles within the VC industry.

6. Continuous learning is a core value for me. I believe that both founders and investors should never stop expanding their knowledge and skills.

7. Customer-centricity is a key factor I look for in startups. I value companies that prioritize understanding and addressing their customers' needs.

8. Ethical leadership and strong corporate governance are non-negotiable in my view. I expect the companies I invest in to adhere to high ethical standards.

9. I appreciate innovation and adaptability. Startups that can pivot when necessary and adapt to changing market conditions are particularly attractive to me.

10. While I encourage bold action, I also advise a balanced approach to risk. My motto is "never bet the farm on a single deal, strategy, or idea."

Best of my LinkedIn Posts

Why Silicon Valley Likes to Fund “Dumb” Ideas

“How did this thing get funded?”

“What are those VCs smoking on the West Coast?”

If you’ve spent time in startups or tech, you’ve heard all of this and more. I am also sure it was probably said to you in a much less polite way. And guess what? It’s true. Silicon Valley does like to fund “dumb” ideas.

But there is a very smart reason why “dumb” ideas get funded.

It’s because big companies, well-funded universities, NGOs, and governments are already working on all the obviously smart ideas. This is why funding of dumb or, let’s call them, non-obviously smart startup ideas occurs in Silicon Valley.

Startups must focus on unique and less apparent concepts that these entities aren't addressing or can't tackle. It also makes judging which startups' ideas are genuinely smart and have the potential to become successful world-chasing businesses quite a difficult task.

My favorite example of this is X, the app formerly known as Twitter. Originally pitched as a microblogging service, with each post limited to 240. This business sounds like a silly idea, even today. But as we all know, it’s not. Airbnb is another fantastic example that was almost too crazy for the risk-taking startup incubator Y-Combinator. By all accounts, the team barely qualified and was viewed skeptically by Y-Combinator founder Paul Graham. Airbnb is now a $100 billion dollar company that has broadly changed the game regarding vacation rentals and travel.

Facebook, Uber, DoorDash, etc., are countless examples of fringe ideas that VCs have used to become blockbuster businesses.

While the excesses of Silicon Valley and the venture world are well documented, what most of that commentary misses is not that it takes a lot of duds to birth a unicorn but that identifying a non-obvious smart idea is incredibly difficult. And this is precisely what makes this industry so exciting and, yes, at times, seem even a bit dumb.

The Biggest Winner in Tech in 2024? Bitcoin, of Course

Its performance has been remarkable, with a 52% increase year-to-date and an impressive 125% gain over the past year. This meteoric rise demonstrates Bitcoin's incredible resilience, powered by the approval of the Bitcoin ETF, which shows growing acceptance in the financial world.

What's even more amazing is that it's less than two years ago that Bitcoin hit rock bottom. Many of the vocal detractors at that point declared victory, speculating that it would go to zero. But in a plot twist fit for a Hollywood movie, that's not what happened. Bitcoin went on to hit new all-time highs this year.

Love it or hate it, the open nature of Bitcoin's protocol is one of its most fundamental and revolutionary aspects. Which is why it has not only survived but thrived. This openness has far-reaching consequences for how Bitcoin operates, evolves, and impacts the broader financial and technological landscape. It also has drawbacks, which have been well documented.

Bitcoin is an invention that has many similarities to the early open web. When the World Wide Web first kicked off in the 90s, it was far from clear that it would go on to dominate. There were plenty of other competing closed networks like AOL, but the simplicity and popularity of HTML quickly eclipsed the value that any single closed network on the internet could provide.

Has Bitcoin made the same leap? Some may say no, but I think the answer is a resounding yes. People can make arguments for or against the utility, legality, or validity of Bitcoin. But what is undeniable is its sheer ability to survive. 

This resilience stems from several key factors:

→ Decentralization and no single point of failure

→ A worldwide community of developers, miners, and users

→ The adaptability of its  open nature allows 

→ Incredible network effects

→ Its open-source nature builds trust

This open, resilient nature of Bitcoin echoes the early days of the internet, where open protocols like HTTP and TCP/IP laid the foundation for a global, decentralized network that transformed the world. 

Just as those protocols enabled a new era of communication and commerce, Bitcoin is pioneering a new paradigm in finance and value transfer. Critics may point to volatility, energy consumption, or regulatory challenges as reasons why Bitcoin might fail, but they are wrong. 

Its open nature allows it to adapt to these challenges. This is why, try as they may, the reality is that it's nearly impossible to kill Bitcoin, and this is its most significant virtue.

The Founder Belief System: The Cornerstones of Success

I speak with founders all day long. After 20+ years of investing in & supporting founders and thinking about founders, the successful ones all hold similar, deeply rooted beliefs.

It’s these foundational beliefs that shape their mindset, guide their actions, and ultimately play a pivotal role in their journey toward success.

In my experience, these are the key beliefs shared by all successful founders:

Action is Superior to Analysis: Successful founders know that too much analysis can lead to paralysis. They believe in the innate power of action and know that taking the first step, even if imperfect, sets progress in motion.

Fight, Not Flight or Freeze: The fight-or-flight response is a natural human reaction. However, successful founders lean into the "fight" and confront challenges head-on, channeling their energy into action.

Learn from Any Situation: The best founders are curious and see every situation as a learning opportunity. They don't shy away from setbacks. They see adversity as a stepping stone, not a stumbling block.

Can Figure Out Anything: When faced with complex challenges, they don't get overwhelmed but instead dive in confidently. They know that, with time and effort, they can unravel even the most intricate issues.

Compulsive Problem Solvers: Successful founders can’t merely point out problems. They are wired to seek solutions. It is this compulsion that drives them to create new products that solve real-world challenges.

Believe They Have Agency: The best entrepreneurs believe in their ability to shape their destiny. They understand that while external factors can influence their journey, they are the captains of their ship.

Forward-Looking: They look forward, not backward. They know the entrepreneurial journey is about progress, not perfection. Past mistakes are just lessons on the path to success, not blunders or burdens.

Success is not about what a founder does but believes.

These beliefs serve as guiding principles that fuel their resilience, creativity, and determination. They are the cornerstones of entrepreneurial success. If you embrace the power of belief, you'll be one step closer to achieving your goals.

Background

Before pursuing work as an independent investor and consultant I was a Partner at the 500 Startups. I worked with exceptional teams like RapidAPI, SV Academy, ManyChat, ethic, Qualio, and Zentist. Prior to that, I founded and led ReTargeter before its acquisition by Sellpoints in 2015. I hold a BSc in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science / Entrepreneurship & Technology from UC Berkeley.