5 surprising things I've learned from 5 billionaires
There are 2000 billionaires in the world. I've had the great opportunity of working with 5, whom I met when each of them invested in my last startup.
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.
Are accelerators really worth it?
Startup accelerator programs have experienced remarkable growth, popularity, and influence within the venture ecosystem over the past two decades.
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.
How I pivoted from Aircraft Mechanic to Investment Banker
In May 2005, I made the career pivot of going from aircraft mechanic to investment banker, thanks to SEO. A few days after I hung up the coveralls, I walked into an auditorium at Columbia University wearing a new suit and tie. I had officially begun my journey as a paid intern on Wall Street.
Closing the Equity Gap by Mitch Kapor
I had a chance to read “Closing the Gap”, by someone I've always considered a mentor, Mitch Kapor. As a former entrepreneur, I've always been passionate about bridging the equity gap in our society.
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.
Why Startup Founders Struggle with Mental Health
Being a startup founder is incredibly stressful. In fact, according to a study by Michael Freeman, entrepreneurs are 50% more likely to report having a mental health condition than people with traditional careers, and twice as likely to suffer from depression.
How to Build Your First Deck
I worked like hell to put together a deck and the first version was shit. But there were certain lessons I learned along the way.
Why Your Early Stage Startup Needs to Talk to Customers—Before It’s Too Late
How big of a leap of faith do your customers need to take for your early stage startup’s product thesis to be true?
Building Your MVP: How to Approach Early Adopters
Recruiting early adopters is different from selling to customers—and the mistake a lot of early founders make is confusing the two.
How To Build a Founding Team and—More Importantly—How Not To
The last thing you want for your founding team is a collection of skills and abilities that don't complement each other.