The best part is sitting shoulder to shoulder with a founder in those early days, asking: Is the product solving the problem? Where do we go to market next? Who can I introduce to make this happen? Early-stage investing is a privilege. It’s the chapter where investors can have the most impact—and the most fun. Some of my bets include SmarterDx (acquired 2025, returning Fund III), Felix (the fastest-growing financial solution for LatAm immigrants), Luxury Presence (real estate SaaS powering $35B+ in listings) and The Athletic (acquired by The New York Times for $550M). I’ve backed many startups, seen dozens exit and helped several reach unicorn status. I like working with founders with strong integrity, a willingness to lay problems on the table and grit baked into their DNA. We’re often starting a decade-long partnership—through the highs and lows and the simple, hard work that it takes to build a company. In prior lives, I advised Silicon Valley tech leaders at McKinsey, helped scale AppDirect from 30 to 400 people and taught math with Teach For America. I grew up in small towns in Wyoming. When I’m off-grid, you’ll find me crate-digging obscure jazz and funk pressings, skiing the Sierras or cooking weekend dinners for my wife and two adventurous boys.