Why you need to understand Investor herd dynamics?
Most founders don't succeed in fundraising because they don't understand the investor herd dynamics. Investors are social animals; they feel more comfortable being part of a group than being the lone wolf.
The best people to solve the diversity crisis in tech
In the fall of 2013, I was a freshly minted YC alum. Having been the first Hispanic to ever complete Silicon Valley’s top accelerator, I felt equal parts pride and impostor syndrome.
Getting more by Stuart Diamond
As a founder, I did 100+ deals. I learned the most about negotiations from this one book…
I read ‘Getting More’ by Stuart Diamond while taking his class at The Wharton School.
The ONE thing by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan
After I read ‘The ONE thing’, it completely changed how I think about goals…
Lead to win by Carla Harris
What I learned as a founder from Carla Harris...
In 2005, I had the pleasure of seeing Carla Harris at an SEO event. She's the vice chairman at Morgan Stanley and has, for many years, been the torchbearer for diversity on Wall Street.
Brown Enough by Christopher Rivas
I recently had a chance to read Brown Enough by fellow dominicano Christopher Rivas. This memoir explores the complexities of identity and race in America through the lens of a first-generation Latino growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood.
What I learned about entrepreneurship from the Air Force
What I learned about entrepreneurship from the Air Force.
In 1999, I joined the U.S. Air Force ROTC, a college program that prepares young adults to become officers in the U.S. military. My dream was to become a fighter pilot. ✈️ 🧑✈
What I did not know about making a first impression
In June 2005, I started my internship at UBS, while I was part of the SEO program. As part of our SEO training, we were each paired with a mentor. Mine was Juan, from Puerto Rico, who was a senior banker at UBS Investment Bank.
Look at life in decades not years
Today I turn 42. Feel blessed.🙏🏽
At age 12, I was selling guavas in my barrio in Santo Domingo. I immigrated to the U.S., but my parents were struggling financially, and we were on welfare, so I got a job at C-town packing groceries
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Excited to share some of the valuable entrepreneurship lessons that I've learned from The Alchemist. At its core, this book is all about following your dreams and pursuing your personal legend.
Without a doubt bu Surbhi Sarna
I had a chance to read the book "Without a Doubt," by my YC colleague Surbhi Sarna, and I was really blown away by the depth, vulnerability and authenticity in the book.
Why you need to burn bridges
May 2005, years before my dreams of entrepreneurship took off, I put in my notice at JFK airport. Two weeks later, I packed up my tools and walked out of the cockpit for the last time—after all this time, I was ready to officially break into Wall Street.
You should treat fundraising like a sport
During my tenure at our previous startup, we engaged with a whopping 144 investors prior to securing our series A funding. While I initially believed our journey was unique, I've since discovered that our experience aligns more closely with the norm.
Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
The movie Air, the Nike story, is coming out next week. I just finished reading Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, the Nike founder, and it was an incredibly inspiring story.
How to layoff people, the right way
Dealing with employee layoffs is a challenging task, especially within startups where teams often form close-knit communities. This was a hurdle I faced in my previous startup journey.
Always Dreaming Bigger with Elias Torres
In this guest post, Elias Torres—serial entrepreneur, community activist, and CTO and co-founder of Drift—shares one of the most important lessons he’s learned since immigrating to the United States: Be a curious learning machine.