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I've thought about it. I'd like to get involved in more due diligence for investors (I've done this on an ad hoc basis a several times), and probably be an EIR

by rdl 11y ago

I've thought about it. I'd like to get involved in more due diligence for investors (I've done this on an ad hoc basis a several times), and probably be an EIR for 3-6 months whenever it is convenient. I would only consider the ~5 universal top tier plus the ~5 top tier in my area of interest (security/infrastructure). The full-time role I'd love would be opening up a new geography for a fund; say, a Berlin office for a top tier fund, focused on privacy/infosec/liberty investments in Europe. AngelList kind of kills all but the top tier. If I had more money, I'd be investing or syndicating on AngelList. I'd still rather do a startup again in a couple years, but EIR might be a nice transition, and seeing the other side would be interesting.

andyidsinga 11y ago
maybe you would actually be able to do this if you picked a non top tier firm, maybe a newer firm with lots of energy and people you find you like? your skills might make a bigger impact there
- rdl 11y ago
  Several of the industry specific firms are pretty new, actually. The main challenge is time, not opportunity. I'm at a top tier "unicorn" startup right now, and my next best alternative is founding another startup. I probably would walk for a partnership track position in a top firm, but that's it. (Or "fix all of apple's online services", build apple's enterprise business, "make android or chromeos secure and secure against third party doctrine", secure the usg, or spacex, but nothing else.) There are some great niches in tech investing outside of early stage startups (a PE focused on turnarounds of ducked companies like yahoo or twitter?), but in early stage, if you aren't getting the top deals (by being known as top tier generally or in your market), why bother?
  - andyidsinga 11y ago
    certainly landing those positions and then following up with measurabe positive impact would be noteworthy.

by rdl 11y ago

andyidsinga 11y ago

maybe you would actually be able to do this if you picked a non top tier firm, maybe a newer firm with lots of energy and people you find you like? your skills might make a bigger impact there

rdl 11y ago
Several of the industry specific firms are pretty new, actually. The main challenge is time, not opportunity. I'm at a top tier "unicorn" startup right now, and my next best alternative is founding another startup. I probably would walk for a partnership track position in a top firm, but that's it. (Or "fix all of apple's online services", build apple's enterprise business, "make android or chromeos secure and secure against third party doctrine", secure the usg, or spacex, but nothing else.) There are some great niches in tech investing outside of early stage startups (a PE focused on turnarounds of ducked companies like yahoo or twitter?), but in early stage, if you aren't getting the top deals (by being known as top tier generally or in your market), why bother?
- andyidsinga 11y ago
  certainly landing those positions and then following up with measurabe positive impact would be noteworthy.