Maxx Bricklin knew what he was doing when he approached Peter Diamandis about starting a venture capital fund in partnership with Singularity University. It’s like a match made in heaven. The fund would have access to not only a steady deal flow but also experts in the “exponential technologies” that Singularity University is known for.
If, like me, you’ve tried being an angel investor, you know why it makes more sense for most of us to leave that task to the professionals. Maxx and I discuss why angel investing is so difficult to get right. Maxx points out that while a successful entrepreneur must be an optimist, being optimistic can be detrimental for investors.
Today’s episode will introduce you to Singularity University (SU), exponential technologies, the relationship between BOLD and SU, and why BOLD is more focused on investing in the right people than they are in investing in the latest technologies. As Maxx stated in our conversations, “Technology is a short-term competitive advantage. It’s not a long-term one.”
In today’s episode you’ll learn:
- About the founding of BOLD Capital Parters
- The relationship between Singularity University and BOLD
- About Singularity University
- About exponential technology and the sectors BOLD chooses to invest in
- About BOLD’s selection criteria
- Why BOLD’s is more concerned about the people they invest in than the technology
- About BOLD’s approach to Asia
Listen to this episode on iTunes
What was your biggest insight from this week’s episode? Let Jay know in the comments or on Twitter: @jaykimmer.
LINKS FROM TODAY’S EPISODE
- Read the full transcript from Maxx’s interview
- BOLD Capital Partners
- Singularity University
- Peter H. Diamandis’s blog
DETAILED SHOW NOTES
- (00:58) Maxx gives a brief self-introduction
- (02:48) Maxx’s experience in angel investing
- (04:07) Jay and Maxx discuss why angel investing is tricky and why it’s often best to leave that type of investing the professionals
- (07:03) Why optimism can be a liability for investors
- (08:14) Maxx shares the backstory on how BOLD was founded
- (09:58) Maxx explains the “exponential technologies” that BOLD invests in and touches on why BOLD partners with Singularity University
- (11:23) How and why Maxx teamed up with Peter Diamandis
- (15:20) Maxx gives an overview of Singularity University
- (18:56) Maxx explains the partnership between Singularity University and BOLD
- (20:24) Some of the metrics BOLD uses when determining companies to invest in
- (27:02) Maxx reflects on his recent trips to Asia and what excites him the most about China.
- (30:44) Maxx’s impressions of Japan
- (32:30) Maxx discloses BOLD’s geographical constraints when allocating capital
- (34:31) The areas and sectors that most excite Maxx right now, and how to best contact him if you’re interested in learning more or getting involved
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