HOW AND WHY DID YOU GET STARTED IN PRIVATE INVESTING?

Beyond seeking outsized returns, I got into private investing to be the VC I wish I had when I was a naive startup founder located outside of the major tech hubs. Also, investing in startups is a terrific way to support innovation and the creation of net new jobs in a community.

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WHAT IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU VALUE IN AN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY?

Focus on the customer value/experience. It’s critical for teams innovating to understand customer experiences of alternatives along with the value their solution provides. I’ve found that the best founders focus heavily on customers and iterating based off of their experienced/desired value.

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WHAT ARE THE BEST INNOVATION THEMES THAT YOU SEE IN THE MARKET TODAY?

Innovation themes I see today are democratizing access to traditionally unavailable things, more transparency of online activity (blockchain and empowering people to earn based on activity. Both the blockchain and crypto are key drivers of these trends.

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BEYOND ECONOMIC RETURN, WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO YOU HOPE TO MAKE WITH YOUR PORTFOLIO?

I’d like the portfolio to create a lot of net new jobs for the communities they hire in. Additionally, I’d like to demystify.

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WHAT ARE THE MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES OR PAIN POINTS IN MANAGING YOUR DAY-TO-DAY PRIVATE INVESTMENT ACTIVITY?

Task switching. While doing VC is my full time job, I do it with my family out of our Family Office. Outside of VC, we have several things we work on together from PE, real estate to operating companies that range from metal stamping companies to a meat market. Task switching negatively impacts my nimbleness and responsiveness, especially to cold inbound, as my process is inconsistent and something I’m trying to improve.

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WHAT IS THE HARDEST INVESTMENT LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED AND/OR THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT MISTAKE YOU’VE MADE?

Never make an investment decision based off of another investors decision or opinion. They may be making the investment for different reasons. Furthermore, traditional VC’s act on pro rata more for signaling because they already invested, not necessarily.

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WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY INFORMATION SOURCES AND/OR SERVICES?

Pitchbook and Twitter

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WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE NON-BUSINESS INTEREST OR HOBBY?

Golfing, as it gets me outside in nature and away from a screen. It also feeds my insane competitive appetite and helps me with life perspectives. For example, as in golf and life, no matter how bad or good your shot (experience) was, it is onto the next one.

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PLEASE LEAVE US A BOOK RECOMMENDATION (BUSINESS OR OTHERWISE).

Democratizing Knowledge by Elizabeth Yin and Hung Pham.