Most founders don't know how to build relationships, here’s why
🏦Relationships are like bank accounts. The more you deposit, the more you can withdraw.
🤝I define “relationship” as a two or more people, relating and getting to know each other organically over time.
Losing my virginity by Richard Branson
Founder lessons I learned from losing my virginity…
No, not that virginity; “Losing My Virginity” was an autobiography by Richard Branson. He wrote this book, his very first one, at 42. My age now.
99% of startup advice on the internet will kill your startup, here’s why
1 - Most startup advice is written by spectators (i.e., academics, journalists, even VCs) of the startup sport, rather than the athletes (founders) of that sport,
The best-misguided advice I ever got from Jack Dorsey
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. I talked about this to one of my investors, he kindly suggested chatting with a ‘friend CEO’, who also felt like an imposter at the beginning of his career. Who was that CEO? None other than Jack Doresy.
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.
What I learned about ‘doing things that don't scale’ in Washington Heights
In July 2013, we were in the middle of the YC batch, trying to figure out how to get our product off the ground. Then we had office hours with Paul Graham, and he gave us this advice:
Looking for a startup idea? Stop doing market research, do this instead
Figure out what problems you’ve had a lot of experience with, professionally or personally, and try to fix that.
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.
How to sell your company for hundreds of millions, in 4 easy steps
STEP 1: Have a great team. At an early stage, investors are taking a chance on how great the team is, not the market, not the product, or even your traction
The ONE thing by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan
After I read ‘The ONE thing’, it completely changed how I think about goals…
I wrote a screenplay, that no one read, but it helped me in fundraising
When I was at Wharton, I took a screenwriting class and wrote a screenplay. It wasn't great, no one read it ☹️ but I learned lots of things that I later applied to VC fundraising. Here it is…
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.
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.
Diversity is all about economic impact, not social impact
Shifting the Discourse: From Social Impact to Economic Influence
It's high time we reframe the dialogue around investing in underrepresented founders, transitioning from focusing solely on its social impact to highlighting its exceptional economic potential.
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.
5 steps to fundraise without losing your mind_Pt 5
Step 5: Be formidable
So by now, you know how much money you need, you have your 60-second pitch locked, you have your deck on point, and you have your investor process game plan.
5 steps to fundraise without losing your mind_Pt 4
Step 4: Prepare a process
In fundraising, time is your enemy. This is because your startups’ attractiveness to investors has an expiration date. The longer you’re out fundraising, the lower your chances.