lover, not-fighter. building and funding startups: @kindredventures
Feb 2, 2021 • 17 tweets • 7 min read
Hi! So, news. We are delighted to announce our new $100M venture fund, investing in innovative technology at the earliest stage.
This has been a heady time in which to raise a new venture fund. COVID-19 has created once-in-a-generation crises and opportunities which make the world look brand new.
Jun 1, 2020 • 15 tweets • 6 min read
George Floyd died of asphyxiation. Why does that keep happening? Thread time. This one is a doozy.
Other countries have managed to create police forces that keep crime low without having to resort to force so frequently. The UK and Japan are good examples of this. So why does the US seem unable to do so?
May 31, 2020 • 10 tweets • 3 min read
Time for a mini-thread on police unions, because it is both tricky and very high stakes.
Collective bargaining is a powerful way to prevent against profiteering and to protect workers. Its a long-standing cornerstone of progressive politics.
In '09 membership of public sector unions surpassed membership of private sector unions, as manufacturing and farming shrunk.
Nov 18, 2019 • 12 tweets • 2 min read
Hi! So, some news. @stevejang and I have raised a new fund!
It is a $56M fund that is investing in innovative startups at the earliest possible stage.
I’ve had the privilege of working with @stevejang as a board member, advisor, and co-investor for a number of years, and I believe he sees, as I do, a world that *could be*.
Sep 24, 2019 • 11 tweets • 3 min read
Today, I took an oath of allegiance to the United States, and became a citizen. Heady day for it. Time for a thread.
We ended up, by twist of fate, winning the lottery for asylum in the ‘80’s, and arriving in NYC as refugees. Our first apartment—a few SRO’s, shelters, and senior care facilities later—was in the South Bronx off the 4 train, in the shadow of Yankee Stadium.
Sep 4, 2019 • 7 tweets • 1 min read
VC industry-wide performance is so interesting, especially when you benchmark it against other indexes. Look at this chart from Cambridge Associates 2018.
A pessimistic view: I can’t believe venture capital is only as good as the stock market. So much more risk for the same return?
Aug 12, 2019 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
Tactical skills worth learning:
- How to ask for an introduction
- Introducing yourself crisply over email
- Persuasive follow-up
I (often subconsciously) decide if someone is more or less of a pro based on how they do these things.
If you’re trying to get more lab space as a researcher, earn a strong mentor, raise capital, get promoted, hire above your weight class, those skills can be the difference maker.
