Jan 25, 2022Starting Speak_It’s a new year, and I’m embarking on my grandest professional adventure. I’ve started a new company called Speak_ with my friend Andrea Guendelman and I’m joining as Co-founder and COO! 🚀 Speak_ is a new, inclusive step in the hiring process for employers who value diversity. Through free, cohort-based…Startup3 min readStartup3 min read
Oct 13, 2021Constructing the FutureIt was the best of times. It was the worst of times. Our backyard is the beach. Our front yard is a construction site. Every morning as I start my day, the construction workers begin theirs. …Technology3 min readTechnology3 min read
Oct 6, 2021You Can’t Escape NFTsInspiration for the reluctantly curious — Keep hearing about NFTs? Yup, thought so. NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are attracting a diverse audience in a way I haven’t seen happen much in my multi-decade career in tech. How many things are there that captivates the attention of developers, celebrities, auction houses, musicians, meme creators, and investors? It’s wild. …Crypto5 min readCrypto5 min read
Sep 29, 2021The New A-List VC BloggersWriting tweets, blogs, and checks. — Writing has played an important role in the evolution of venture capital. When VCs first started blogging, it was revolutionary because the industry was opaque and investors held all the cards. Startup founders had to negotiate complex deal terms with professional deal makers who had their own in-house legal counsel…Venture Capital5 min readVenture Capital5 min read
Sep 22, 2021Ignore Your Intuition6 Counterintuitive Things in Entrepreneurship — Hello, startup founders! You’ve set out to build something new with an unknown outcome. I think that’s one of the coolest things you can do in life — creating something from nothing to have a positive impact on humanity. There’s something you should know — there are lots of times…Startup5 min readStartup5 min read
Jul 10, 2021You Are Not What You ProduceIf you are not what you produce, then what are you? This question stumped me recently. When I share something about myself on Twitter or social media, I’m usually sharing something I’ve made — a blog post, an investment, a project, a song… Surely there’s more to me than the…Life2 min readLife2 min read
Jun 9, 2021Request for Founder (RFF)Seeking domain experts ready to leverage tech to bring innovation to their industry. — 🕵️ Know this founder? Strong domain expertise (founder/market fit) Solving a clear problem Fast path to revenue (6 months or less) Building a venture-funded startup Needs to build a mobile or web app Pre-product Scrappy (does a lot with a little) Get in touch if this is you, or let…Venture Capital3 min readVenture Capital3 min read
May 26, 2021Building the future of luxury retail with LuxlockMake Studios invests in SaaS startup Luxlock to give luxury retail salespeople tools to sell online as well as they do IRL. The luxury retail industry faced a rough time during the pandemic. 90% of luxury sales occur in-store with a salesperson. But consumers are now shopping alone online, resulting…Startup4 min readStartup4 min read
May 14, 2021Building the future of women’s health with PollieMake Studios invests in healthtech startup Pollie to support women in their journey navigating complex chronic conditions. There’s a problem that impacts an estimated 80% of women that can result in physical and mental health challenges like reproductive, digestive, and autoimmune disorders. And 70% of affected women go undiagnosed. …Startup3 min readStartup3 min read
Sep 28, 2020Launching Make Studios in LAAnnouncing my new role as a Partner at a rad startup studio. — TL;DR: I’m joining Make Studios as a Partner and awesome founders should apply. 👋 The Gap “You’re too early.” Heard that one before? It’s the frustration-inducing investor response that early-stage founders hear on repeat as they seek to raise funding pre-traction. The rise of no-code/low-code tools and the decrease in infrastructure costs…Startup4 min readStartup4 min read
