213: In the Middle | Patrick Pinschmidt and MiddleGame Ventures
Patrick Pinschmidt is a General Partner and Co-Founder at MiddleGame Ventures, a financial technology venture capital fund focused on early-stage investments in Europe.
In this episode, Patrick riffs with Pete Townsend on the life experiences that delivered him to venture capital and what Patrick looks for in fintech founders in the context of MiddleGame Ventures’ Irish seed fund. Patrick and Pete also dive into Patrick’s lessons learned as an investor, investing in lines not dots, and the human focus of early-stage investing.
LINKS:
Learn more about MiddleGame Ventures on their website
Follow Patrick Pinschmidt on LinkedIn and Twitter
Episode title inspired by In the Middle by G-Eazy
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Check out our MoneyNeverSleeps website and email us at info@moneyneversleeps.ie
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Hey there.
I'm Pete on said, in this is
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money.
Never sleeps.
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We look inside the minds of
entrepreneurs, and at the
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crossover of startups,
Enterprise Finance, technology
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and Life.
As we know it on the show this
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week, we've got Patrick pinch,
MIT, who is a general partner
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and co-founder at middlegame.
Ventures a financial technology,
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Venture Capital fund focused on
early stage investments in
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Europe, Previously Patrick was a
deputy assistant secretary at
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the US Department of Treasury,
re served as the first executive
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director of the financial
stability, oversight Council.
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Prior to his government service,
Patrick spent a decade as a sell
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side.
Financial institutions and
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capital markets analyst where he
was at lead Analyst at Morgan
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Stanley and Merrill Lynch for
the Brokers exchanges in
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financial technology sector.
He's a grad at Georgetown
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University's School of Foreign
Service and Columbia
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University's Graduate School of
Business in this episode.
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Patrick, and I dive into Life
experiences, it delivered him to
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venture capital for, we talked
through middlegame Ventures,
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Iris seed fund, and what he
looks for and fin Tech Founders.
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We also get into Patrick's
Lessons Learned as an investor,
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how he looks at deals investing
in lines, not dots and the human
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focus of early stage investing.
All right here on money.
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Never sleeps.
Thrilled to be having this chat
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with you.
And I look back in my calendar
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to see when you.
And I actually first met, and I
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knew it was at Matt, the
Threshers, which is on Pembroke
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Street in Dublin, but it was
actually September 3rd, 2018,
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nearly five years.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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No.
Well Pete, it is.
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It's great to be on and sorry
alone could enjoin, but yeah,
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that's right.
You and Owen were kind of there
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when I started making Footprints
in Dublin, kind of talking to
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different Some folks and I
guess, I guess what's typically
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done and so we should talk to
this other yank called Pete
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Townsend and I think that's how
I wondered ended up in your
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tracks.
Yeah, that was my Santa Maria.
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So shout-out to my thank you.
Maya Jackson.
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Thank you.
My she's awesome.
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So let's get started with just
give us a rundown an intro into
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and to patch up inch bit and how
you got to this point with what
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you're up to and what that is.
Okay, well that's a that's a
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broad way to begin but let me
let me give it a stab.
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So I'm with middlegame Ventures
for an early-stage content BC
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focusing on the European market
and I guess about five years ago
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I started scouting Europe for
another office for us.
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We were based in Luxembourg and
we were close to launching our
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first fund and I was spending
time in Ireland talking to
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potential LPS talking to folks
in the ecosystem talking to Art
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ups and for a host of reasons, I
decided to push forward with
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Ireland.
And that's kind of how I ended
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up here talking to you.
So I guess to give some context
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my entire career has been spent
in financial services.
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I've started out on the sell
side, research at Merrill Lynch
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and Morgan Stanley as a research
analyst covering Banks asset
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managers exchanges and financial
technology before it was called
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then Tech.
And you know, this Is pre-crisis
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and it was a very interesting
time, obviously a lot of growth
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and then a lot of pain with the
Advent of the crisis and I had
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an opportunity coming out of
that crisis to return to
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Washington.
I had gone to school in
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Washington DC and you know,
always had an interest and
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public policy and getting
involved at some stage and the
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Stars had never really aligned
for a host of reasons.
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Including I'm a Democrat and
there wasn't really a democratic
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Administration in the early
2000's, that makes a lot of
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sense.
So, what I wanted to ask you a
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bit about as well, is that your
role as Deputy, assistant
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secretary at the US Department
of Treasury?
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We served as a first executive
director of the financial
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stability, oversight Council.
That's a mouthful, right?
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That very topical experience in
light of what's happened in the
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u.s. in the last few weeks.
Any insights from your prior
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rolls on on, what you see going
on over there right now.
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So when Obama was elected and
you had the financial There was
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kind of the moment was right for
me to sort of, take the plunge
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and try and do something in DC
and not as fortunate, enough to
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land at Treasury and help stand
up an office called the
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financial stability, oversight
Council, which is basically
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charged with connecting.
All the dots across the US
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Financial system among the
different regulators and among
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the different data that's
provided by companies.
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And across different markets, to
make sure systemic risks, do not
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fall beneath the cracks and
clearly that was one of the core
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lessons of the Financial crisis.
So that the US has very much a
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balkanized regulatory system,
and you weren't going to create
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an Uber regulator in charge of
everything, you're going to kind
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of keep all the Regulators in
place because, you know,
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Congress wasn't going to back
the significant regulatory
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restructuring.
So the compromise was creating
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this entity in the US, Treasury
Department called the financial
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stability, oversight Council.
And so to your question on sdb,
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I mean, yes, certainly the last
few weeks have brought back
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memories of my time in DC.
I, I love My role in DC, but I
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feel certain amount of empathy
for my colleagues who are sick,
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who are there right now, because
I can imagine they're not
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getting a lot of sleep and
they're dealing with a whole lot
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of different issues.
And, you know, I think when you
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look at SV B, it's certainly a
teachable moment for, you know,
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Bank management, team
regulators.
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And of course, shareholders.
And I think there's a lot of
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work to be done.
Yeah, yeah.
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There definitely is.
And you know, there was SV B and
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obviously Silver Gate before
them and then Signature Bank and
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First Republic almost went under
And it's just been, it's been
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one after the other but it's,
you know, I think covid just
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changed the world not only from
a health and human perspective.
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But from a financial perspective
it's just been so many
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unexpected bumps and troughs and
just injections of capital and
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interest rates and everything
that have just created this.
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This macroeconomic Quagmire
almost around the world and it's
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going to take awhile to get out
of it.
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But listen, you know, wanted to
really hear more.
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From you about the fund as well.
When you and I first met Patrick
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back in 2018, I had just parked
the second of four Venture
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Capital fund launch but I had
been involved with between 2016
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and 2021 and was unknowingly
moving on to my third
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unsuccessful project to get a
fun launched, you guys have done
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well, in getting your foothold
into the Irish market with the
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Irish focus on, maybe tell us a
bit about the strategy for
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Staying in Ireland, and how
you've gone about that and what
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some of the learnings are.
Yeah, yeah, no great.
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Obviously foundational question.
So we, as I as I noted at the
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onset here, when we set up the
fund we we all got together in
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2017.
My two partners that came out of
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a fairly large fun, but through
a family office structure.
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So they kind of came out this
with a significant track record
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and had some strong operational
experience and my background was
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a little Morkul obviously on the
regulatory side as well as on
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the incumbent Financial Services
side and I think as you know,
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Pete when you're setting up a
fund its you know that you
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couldn't kind of dream and a lot
is possible and it's only when
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you get the capital you can kind
of actually do things.
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And so at that stage you know,
through talking and getting to
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know my partner's, you know, we
decided to make a run at it and
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you know I joined up with them
in 2017 and then you know fast
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forward Word 23 years.
And after a lot of fundraising,
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we set up the fund and we decide
to have a European fintech Focus
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because we believed we could
have three partners that would
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maximize our kind of Leverage in
the European market.
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Given our touch points in the US
as well as across Europe and you
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know, being fintech specialist
to that would be something
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differentiated we thought would
be welcomed.
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And initially, you know, coming
to Ireland, you know, clearly
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there's some interesting
fintechs we had a supportive,
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Enterprise Ireland, and Some
other LPS and and generally
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speaking, obviously, Dublin
Airport, CZ the rest of the
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continents, but relatively easy
to get to it's a good
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jumping-off point to the rest of
the continent.
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But yeah.
I think what has surprised us is
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the amount of activity and the
quality of a lot of the startups
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and we've done six Investments
through the fund, that was
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launched in 2019 and the, you
know, kind of through those
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touch points.
We realize, well, there's a way
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here to get involved, actually
earlier and the Legacy C fund
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more a series, a focus fund, and
we decide well, yeah, we should
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start talking to people at the
see stage level and, and really
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kind of get in on the ground
floor.
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And and that's what motivated us
to pursue a seed fund again with
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the support of Enterprise
Ireland.
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And that were in the process of
doing a final close for the
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coming months.
And we've already made for small
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Investments, through that
thought.
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And then we have two or three
more in the pipeline.
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But again, I think where we sit
we're in the Fortunate position
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of being a detect, specific fund
that can help startups scale
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commercially, whether it's
across Europe and into the u.s.
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through a strategic Partnerships
or help with subsequent funding
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rounds or even the current
funding round by bringing in
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other investors.
That, you know, we there either
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within the Irish Market or
outside the Irish Market, but
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you often tag is a little bit of
a different animal and I think
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sometimes it helps to have an
investor on board who can help
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validate and help you know,
really take a Hands-On.
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Roll and and helping bring other
investors in and then help that
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business scale as it moves
forward, definitely definitely.
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And what are some of the basic
metrics in terms of check size
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and you know, the kind of
traction that you look for and
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those types of things.
So we'll invest from seed
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through Series be across both
fun Vehicles, specifically at
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the seed level so it's not
there.
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You know at the sort of the more
mature level will put in you
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know we'll go up to seven
million but at the seed level we
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can go Low as 250 300 and will
probably max out of it a little
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over 1 million and you know
obviously as you know P that the
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seed level it's really all about
team and technology and product.
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You know traction is great but
it's sort of optional but you
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know if there's some evidence of
traction.
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Yeah we'll take that but yeah,
we're really trying to
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understand.
Is this a you know back a couple
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team and ab a couple solution
and you know, is there something
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we can Can kind of help move
along and I think that the one
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metric we we try to hit it here
too in terms of our engagement
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as just have as many meetings as
possible, get to know the
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founder and the founding team
and you know, really understand
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what vertical they're going
after.
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And you know, if everything adds
up then let's try and move
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forward together.
I got you.
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Yeah.
And that was one of the big
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lessons learned that Owen.
And I talked through when he
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asked me about what I thought
from the first thousand deals
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that I've looked at through
techstars and it was investors
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invest in lines.
Dots.
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And like you said, have as many
engagements interactions you can
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with people, right?
Yeah, yeah.
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I mean that that that's
absolutely right and I think you
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know you'll never regret taking
another meeting in a start-up,
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you're interested in because you
always learn something more and
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I think it's not just the
founder and the CEO, it's who
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does that person's around him or
herself with, you know, what's
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the quality of their better
team?
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What's the interaction?
Like and it's you know, it's a
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learning journey.
I mean we're not trying to
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torture people but you do need
to invest the time and it's
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frankly, it's that the founder
needs to invest the time also
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because when a seed investor
comes on, I mean that's
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generally going to be kind of a
long relationship and they'll be
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many twists and turns and
they'll probably be, you know,
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hopefully good times but they'll
be some uncomfortable
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conversations and some difficult
choices along the road and and
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ideally, if you're in a position
where you can pick your
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investors, and it's important
that the startup does that due
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diligence also be Because, you
know, while you know capitals
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capital and that's important,
you also want a strategic
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Capital to help, you know really
be a partner as the founder
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grows the business.
Yeah.
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Definitely at what you just said
there is, critically important
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pick your investors, right?
And that is what I say to
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Founders is you need to go out
and do the research on your
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Market in the same degree or
with the same degree of
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voracious as the craziest sales
person you've ever met research
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is their Target customers.
Right.
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And that you need to understand,
investors need to understand, is
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it, you know, do they even vast
in my stage?
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Are they writing the checks
eyes?
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Are they investing in this
thematic that I'm involved with
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and there's so many things that
go into this that a lot of
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Founders, sometimes when they're
new to fundraising, they think
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well, although they must not
like me.
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They must not like me at all.
And usually, we as, from an
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investor perspective, it's me.
It's not you, you know, and that
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you've got investors behind you,
right?
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That you've signed up.
And That they've agreed to
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certain covenants and
requirements in terms and so on
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and so forth that when you
talked about the check size and
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what rounds you're going to
invest in that's because you've
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made some representations
investors, right?
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Yeah yeah I mean yeah and so
going through your first funding
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round can be quite painful and
emotional experience for all
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involved because the lawyers
tend to take over and you know
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obviously key goal of both
parties is to you know kind of
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limit that the pain and time and
money that's spent on that
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process.
But you know, that that is
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Steaks for taking institutional
money and I think that's the
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first question.
The founder should ask him or
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herself is do I need Venture
Capital, you know?
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Because you know they're frankly
a lot cheaper ways to fund your
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business and luck.
Lot less dilutive and some
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businesses, you know, main that
may not be the right choice and
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you know, so that's kind of like
that threshold question and the
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other thing is you know, don't
necessarily wait to your need
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capital All to start talking to
investors.
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And it's, you know, I think of
their a lot of Founders out
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there.
And I think these are just as
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guilty of this is, you know,
waiting until a startup is in
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the market and then the outbound
and inbound, you know, I think
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the most valuable thing is, you
know, having a conversation with
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the founder a year before
they're raising capital and,
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and, you know, not to give away
kind of our secrets.
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As you know, you get a lot from
that conversation.
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You understand, you kind of
develop a This in terms of what
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they're trying to do with the
business and you have a much
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more productive follow-up
conversation but in that six
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months later, 12 months later
and you kind of have your check
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marks in your in your map to
kind of gauge that conversation
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with.
And you know I've peed I'm
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actually reminded of you know
back in the pre covid dance.
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When I was over here, I think
you introduced me to a great
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founder at the other Keith CEO
circuit and I can't say it was
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2018 or 2019.
So I 2019 Yeah, I met with him
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and, you know, obviously circuit
very impressive in terms of what
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they're creating confirmation
platform for the audit space and
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and much more now today.
But, you know, frankly it was
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very early days and, you know, I
didn't necessarily understand or
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appreciate, you know, the market
opportunity but in and we, you
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know, we didn't invest at that
stage.
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But, you know, he came back and
we talked, you know, a year ago
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and You know, he acts appearing
on everything.
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He said he would three years
prior and then some and you know
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it made it a very easy decision
to decide to co-lead the series
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a when that hit the market early
last year because we kind of had
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that reference point for from 23
years prior.
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And again, this is somewhat of
an extreme example because there
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was a three year gap between
conversations but you know again
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it's you know, just getting in
the conversation and you know,
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if nothing else.
Else be selfish about that.
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You know, obviously this is the
VC is being selfish in the sense
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of wanting to know you and you
know, quote unquote, develop a
300
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cheat sheet for follow-up
conversations but the startup
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founder should be selfish to in
terms of testing the decease,
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getting a sense for what they
can do in terms of
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introductions, what can they do?
Terms of how will, you know, and
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and kind of, you know, getting
your pitch together.
305
00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,200
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
David is great.
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Founder.
Shout out to David Heath,
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absolutely.
He's close enough to me
308
00:16:46,300 --> 00:16:49,500
neighborhood wise but I know
he's And quite intensely focused
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00:16:49,500 --> 00:16:53,700
on even scaling circuit to, you
know, to a huge degree recently.
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So I, you know, the one of the
interesting things about I think
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thinking back a few years is
that it was a different
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landscape back then, pre covid.
And I remember, reading
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something on your website on the
middlegame ventures website that
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I'm like I totally identified
with and I saw some of, you
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00:17:13,900 --> 00:17:17,800
know, what circuit was doing in,
what you guys were interested
316
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in.
In investing in and, you know,
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there's a lot to that name
middle game.
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00:17:22,599 --> 00:17:24,599
Right?
And I know, I think it's Pascal
319
00:17:24,599 --> 00:17:27,099
your partner.
Who is a big fan of Chess is
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00:17:27,099 --> 00:17:30,300
any, but that's, right, that's
right at the middle game, is a
321
00:17:30,300 --> 00:17:32,900
chest turn, and not a gaming
term?
322
00:17:33,100 --> 00:17:35,300
Exactly, exactly.
There's the beat, there's the
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00:17:35,308 --> 00:17:37,800
beginning game.
There's the endgame in chess and
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it's how you execute in the
middle game.
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That is critically important.
And, you know, I think that
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resonates with both the stage of
where you're investing in that,
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00:17:47,300 --> 00:17:49,500
you've got to get them.
To the middle game, you know,
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00:17:49,500 --> 00:17:53,600
and that at that point they're
raising capital from instead of
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00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:56,100
the, you know, up to seven
million range, they're raising
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00:17:56,100 --> 00:18:00,400
it up to 50 to 100 million range
but also then, you know, looking
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00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:02,700
at the financial markets and
fintech and how all that's
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00:18:02,700 --> 00:18:07,100
unfolded and seeing that there's
so much opportunity in what
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00:18:07,100 --> 00:18:09,700
happens in the middle of
Finance, right?
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00:18:09,700 --> 00:18:13,400
And that there's so many
opportunities to provide new
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Solutions in there.
They can just make the Global
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Financial system operate
smoothly.
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00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,700
Either.
And, you know, it's always hard
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00:18:20,700 --> 00:18:23,400
when you're trying to invest in
things that are, you know,
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00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:25,700
bringing costs down rather than
creating new Revenue.
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00:18:25,700 --> 00:18:28,000
But if you have the right
approach and you've got people
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who are experienced in that
space, they could tell the ones
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that are really going to make a
difference in the middle game
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versus those that will just be
afterthoughts, right?
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00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:40,400
Yeah, that that's very
articulate and well-stated.
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00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:44,000
Yeah, we should have you help us
with our coffee, on our website.
346
00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:47,900
You can pull these things out of
thin air or something.
347
00:18:48,100 --> 00:18:51,000
Patrick.
So that's all that for what it's
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worth.
But but thinking it thinking
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about, you know, as I mentioned
earlier, Owen and I did have
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that chat.
We talked about the Lessons
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00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:03,000
Learned, we talked about
Investors investing in lines,
352
00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:05,900
not dots and you're clearly
speaking to that in this
353
00:19:05,900 --> 00:19:07,600
conversation, we're having right
now.
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Are there any models that you
apply yourself in terms of the
355
00:19:13,300 --> 00:19:16,500
first conversations that you're
having with Founders?
356
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And what are some of the, the
The signals that you look for,
357
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obviously not giving it all
away, right?
358
00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:26,200
You don't want people, you know,
acting to, to cover off what you
359
00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:28,100
and I are talking about right
now in terms of the
360
00:19:28,100 --> 00:19:29,600
conversations going to have with
you.
361
00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:34,000
But I have this, you know, Team
market traction product that I
362
00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:36,800
work into every conversation and
I try to take all four of those
363
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boxes and make it a natural
conversation.
364
00:19:38,700 --> 00:19:40,900
We have that natural
conversation, things tend to
365
00:19:40,908 --> 00:19:43,800
come out of the wash anything
that you try to follow to keep
366
00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:45,500
things moving smoothly when
you're chatting with with
367
00:19:45,500 --> 00:19:46,500
Founders.
Yeah.
368
00:19:46,500 --> 00:19:50,600
Yeah, that was I think you Your
framework is spot-on.
369
00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:55,800
I mean, the earlier, the
company, the more focus on team
370
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and Technology the later stage,
the company, the more focus on
371
00:20:00,500 --> 00:20:05,400
on the market fit, and, and the
ability to scale and and then
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kind of anything in between
comes in between.
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And, you know, I think that the
challenge is when you're in the
374
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market and you're investing
across Europe and you're looking
375
00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:19,100
at an early stage startups,
you're going to talk a lot of
376
00:20:19,100 --> 00:20:24,500
people and the the challenge is
to kind of arrive at some quick
377
00:20:24,500 --> 00:20:29,200
nose and and that also be able
to decide which are the ones you
378
00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:32,600
want to follow up with and spend
more time on because I think the
379
00:20:32,608 --> 00:20:36,400
biggest challenge for an
investor is it is prioritizing
380
00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:41,400
one's time and in order to help
do that and not saying we always
381
00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:44,800
get it right is to, you know,
have a view on kind of, you
382
00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:48,600
know, what are the sectors that
are most promising and Stan,
383
00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:52,500
which startups are operating and
that environment and you know,
384
00:20:52,500 --> 00:20:56,300
try and get in front of them
earlier than you need to to
385
00:20:56,300 --> 00:20:59,300
develop a relationship to become
smarter on that sector but also
386
00:20:59,300 --> 00:21:02,500
to understand what individual
startups are doing.
387
00:21:02,500 --> 00:21:06,000
And then you know, obviously
when you have that first
388
00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:09,700
conversation, it's really
getting a sense for that founder
389
00:21:09,700 --> 00:21:12,700
and you know, particularly at
the seed level because, you
390
00:21:12,708 --> 00:21:15,700
know, whenever they show you on
your deck, you know, we talked
391
00:21:15,700 --> 00:21:19,600
about reference points and, and
kind of Building a map, whatever
392
00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:22,200
they show you on that deck.
If it's really going to come to
393
00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:24,500
fruition whether it's a
financial statement, with the
394
00:21:24,500 --> 00:21:26,600
business plan, they're going to
be a lot of pivots.
395
00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:30,800
The the, the hockey stick will
be flattened a little bit and,
396
00:21:30,900 --> 00:21:34,100
you know, that's just a given
but it's understanding kind of
397
00:21:34,100 --> 00:21:38,200
the resilience of the founder
and the ability to kind of Bob
398
00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:42,100
and weave as the market, you
know, punches you in the face or
399
00:21:42,300 --> 00:21:47,300
or things happen, and you have
to put it and yeah, I think you
400
00:21:47,300 --> 00:21:52,400
know the whole Grail of
Founders, is that, that Vision,
401
00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:58,000
that strategic Vision to sort of
Sierra Market opportunity, and
402
00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:02,000
then develop the technology of
the solution to take advantage
403
00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:04,900
of that opportunity.
But but that's just one part of
404
00:22:04,900 --> 00:22:07,900
it.
The other part, which is not as
405
00:22:07,900 --> 00:22:12,700
sexy as, you know, having that
operational discipline to build
406
00:22:12,700 --> 00:22:17,300
a team and to set near term and
medium term and longer term
407
00:22:17,300 --> 00:22:19,800
goals.
And hold people accountable day
408
00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:22,900
in and day out and that's more
of a grind.
409
00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:26,200
And and that's the lonely part
of the founders journey and
410
00:22:26,500 --> 00:22:29,600
that's very difficult to assess
based on our first meeting.
411
00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:32,400
And, you know, obviously that's
where kind of comes into play.
412
00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:36,600
Well, does the CEO certain
strengths and art and does, does
413
00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:39,700
he or she have certain
weaknesses and how does the team
414
00:22:39,700 --> 00:22:43,800
complement or exacerbate that?
And I think, frankly they're,
415
00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:46,700
you know, there's been a few
times where I think we talked to
416
00:22:46,700 --> 00:22:49,900
a very interesting Very
promising founder and then you
417
00:22:49,900 --> 00:22:52,800
talk to the rest of the team and
you're wondering well, what kind
418
00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:55,600
of team is this person building?
So you know there can be some,
419
00:22:55,700 --> 00:22:58,300
you know, false positives, and
negative positive is a positive
420
00:22:58,300 --> 00:23:01,000
negatives or however you want to
phrase that but you know, you
421
00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:05,000
get that with discussions but
the the initial sort of fork in
422
00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:10,200
the road is, you know, trying to
make quick decisions as to is
423
00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:12,900
this a start-up or a vertical
you want to spend more time
424
00:23:12,900 --> 00:23:16,500
online and and then don't be shy
about following up and having as
425
00:23:16,500 --> 00:23:20,800
they touch points as possible.
Do you guys do default to and
426
00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:24,200
fall back on specific areas
within fintech where you know
427
00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:27,100
that you're going to be able to
necessarily contribute the most
428
00:23:27,100 --> 00:23:29,400
but at least stay on top of
things.
429
00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:31,900
The most and being able to point
people in the right direction
430
00:23:31,900 --> 00:23:34,800
and make introductions for them
after the investment.
431
00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:37,500
Yeah.
And so that's, you know, the
432
00:23:37,500 --> 00:23:41,000
good thing about fintech.
It's a very broad space and
433
00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:42,800
there are multiple different
verticals.
434
00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:49,200
Yeah, I think, as a Practice and
they all sort of consistent with
435
00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:52,500
our investment themes.
We're very much be to be focused
436
00:23:52,500 --> 00:23:56,100
and I don't think we've done
anything direct-to-consumer
437
00:23:56,300 --> 00:23:59,900
there, maybe a little bit of
that, but it's not a primary
438
00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:03,300
driver of any of the businesses
we've invested in which is not
439
00:24:03,300 --> 00:24:06,500
to say there aren't big b2c
companies out there, it's just
440
00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:08,700
that's less core to our
expertise.
441
00:24:08,700 --> 00:24:11,100
I mean we come from be
institutionalized world and
442
00:24:11,100 --> 00:24:14,800
financial services but you know,
I think generally speaking, you
443
00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:20,400
know, We want to dust and and
and and Founders and teams
444
00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:22,900
where, you know, we can be
involved.
445
00:24:22,900 --> 00:24:25,400
We can roll up our sleeves, we
can take a board seat.
446
00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:30,000
We can leverage your network and
you know, our, you know, our
447
00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:33,600
core areas of expertise or
another incumbent space
448
00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:35,300
obviously in the regulatory
space.
449
00:24:35,700 --> 00:24:40,100
And that's the the the thing to
remember here is fintech is a
450
00:24:40,100 --> 00:24:43,100
lot different than some of these
other Tech verticals.
451
00:24:43,100 --> 00:24:46,300
It's been a late relatively Late
Bloomer and and I think you
452
00:24:46,300 --> 00:24:48,800
talked about that that
middleware and you know, when
453
00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:52,700
you're talking about middle game
and and that's, you know, back
454
00:24:52,700 --> 00:24:58,800
in the late 90s, the BET back in
the late 2009. 2010 2011, you
455
00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:01,900
saw that ConEd being digitized.
Now, we're kind of in that
456
00:25:01,900 --> 00:25:06,000
middle, we're being digitized
and and then and we're slowly
457
00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:11,100
starting to see it in the core.
And the way I like to kind of
458
00:25:11,300 --> 00:25:15,600
explain that is again, sort of
using my old cell site research.
459
00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:17,900
Out here.
When, you know, I was used to
460
00:25:17,900 --> 00:25:23,000
cover the exchange space and and
it was going electronic and the
461
00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:27,600
then sort of the life cycle of
taking an instrument that was
462
00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:30,700
traded.
Let's say on the nymex or on the
463
00:25:30,708 --> 00:25:32,700
floor of the New York Stock
Exchange.
464
00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:36,000
And putting that on a screen is
very compelling because you're
465
00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:40,300
essentially digitizing it and
you're making it, you're taking
466
00:25:40,300 --> 00:25:44,100
out the friction, you're
reducing the costs and so
467
00:25:44,100 --> 00:25:49,200
therefore you get more Hume you
you rewire it, you expand access
468
00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:53,400
and and you lower costs and
those are all the factors were
469
00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:56,600
seeing and financial services.
As we think about it.
470
00:25:56,600 --> 00:26:00,100
Being digitized taking out the
friction, reducing the costs
471
00:26:00,100 --> 00:26:03,700
expanding access and you know,
out of that hoping to become a
472
00:26:03,700 --> 00:26:07,000
host of new products and you see
they have a companies like way
473
00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:08,200
flyer.
You see that with companies,
474
00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:12,200
like circuit, the startups that
are able to sort of connect the
475
00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:16,100
dots and build digital,
ecosystems in new models, Didn't
476
00:26:16,100 --> 00:26:20,100
exist previously.
And and that to us is is the
477
00:26:20,100 --> 00:26:23,500
real big opportunity and you can
kind of start going down some of
478
00:26:23,500 --> 00:26:26,400
the different verticals whether
it's in capital markets asset
479
00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:30,900
management or open finance, open
banking but that to us is what
480
00:26:30,900 --> 00:26:34,700
gets really excited.
And the opportunity here is, is
481
00:26:34,700 --> 00:26:38,600
immense because unlike other,
you know, if you're talking
482
00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:43,800
about a Google or Microsoft or
even a meta, those aren't the
483
00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:47,200
same type of companies in terms.
As of their ability to innovate,
484
00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:50,800
its banks and banks are very
poor innovators.
485
00:26:50,900 --> 00:26:55,300
They can't attract the talent.
They can't retain the talent and
486
00:26:55,600 --> 00:26:58,900
even if they had the technology,
they wouldn't necessarily be
487
00:26:58,900 --> 00:27:01,400
able to Pioneer it so that they
had the assets.
488
00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:04,600
But they're always going to look
for a partner on the outside to,
489
00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:08,900
to sort of implement and drive
that technology forward and and,
490
00:27:08,900 --> 00:27:12,500
and it's great for us as
investors and participants in
491
00:27:12,500 --> 00:27:16,500
the context space because, you
know, there's a partner And and
492
00:27:16,500 --> 00:27:19,500
there's an investor there and
there's a potential exit there.
493
00:27:19,700 --> 00:27:23,800
And, you know, I our role is
driven a lot by helping, you
494
00:27:23,808 --> 00:27:26,400
know, particularly countries in
Ireland where, you know, that
495
00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:29,200
the local incumbent
infrastructure isn't as
496
00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:33,500
developed and let's say the UK
or the u.s. is providing them.
497
00:27:33,500 --> 00:27:37,600
The touch points to help test
their product and help scale
498
00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:39,600
their product with other
weapons.
499
00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:41,400
Yeah.
Yeah.
500
00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:44,500
And you you touched on a
critical point there in that,
501
00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:48,400
you know, Looking at the
financial systems and seeing
502
00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:53,200
opportunities to improve the
killer word there.
503
00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:57,100
Her killer phrase, you use is
increased volumes and grow
504
00:27:57,100 --> 00:28:02,000
volumes increased throughput and
the ability to just unlock and
505
00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:05,900
remove this friction, allows
Revenue to be created.
506
00:28:05,900 --> 00:28:10,600
And it's not just, okay, we're
making the machine work better.
507
00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:13,800
It's that what you can build on
top of that, better version of
508
00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:17,300
the machine in order to Sell
more, right?
509
00:28:17,300 --> 00:28:20,300
It's all more financial products
and it's, yeah, I love the way
510
00:28:20,300 --> 00:28:24,500
that you pull that all together.
It's thinking about Patrick the,
511
00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:29,500
you know, your journey itself,
or your journey yourself that
512
00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:31,500
you.
And I talked about this once is
513
00:28:31,500 --> 00:28:35,700
that, you know, stepping into
Venture Capital that, you know,
514
00:28:35,700 --> 00:28:39,700
they're all different ways that
you can find a reference point
515
00:28:39,700 --> 00:28:41,800
for the world that you are
stepping into.
516
00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:44,900
And whether that's podcast,
whether that's reading whether
517
00:28:44,900 --> 00:28:49,200
that's Whatever there are, there
are ways to do it.
518
00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:52,800
But I think what you said to me,
that time, is that only way to
519
00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:55,300
really learn?
It is to do it, right?
520
00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:58,900
Have there been some surprises
to you about what you thought?
521
00:28:58,900 --> 00:29:01,600
The world of venture capital was
going to look like before you
522
00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:03,900
got into it based upon what
you've seen over the last few
523
00:29:03,900 --> 00:29:08,400
years?
Yeah no I mean it's a as you
524
00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:14,100
know that there really is no
manual to being a good early
525
00:29:14,100 --> 00:29:18,100
stage investor and I think, you
know, obviously the table Stakes
526
00:29:18,100 --> 00:29:22,500
or understanding the markets
you're investing in and, and
527
00:29:22,500 --> 00:29:29,000
then, you know, having that
Compass to, you know, prioritize
528
00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:31,200
your time.
But I, you know, looked I think
529
00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:35,800
in terms of kind of the the
Lessons Learned is, I think you
530
00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:37,800
have to constantly be curious,
you know?
531
00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:41,000
You have to, you know, you have
to constantly be talking to
532
00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:42,900
people.
You have to constantly be
533
00:29:42,900 --> 00:29:46,500
challenging your assumptions.
And it's also, Good to surround
534
00:29:46,500 --> 00:29:50,400
yourself with Partners who kind
of look at the world, maybe
535
00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:54,000
through a different lens.
And you know, so you kind of you
536
00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:58,300
know the sum is greater than the
the individual Parts in terms of
537
00:29:58,300 --> 00:30:01,900
you know making a decisions and
challenging different areas of
538
00:30:01,900 --> 00:30:06,000
where to play and then you know,
I think that that's in finding
539
00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:09,600
deal flow and and it making the
decision decision there but, you
540
00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:13,600
know, frankly, you know if we're
doing our job and we're
541
00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:18,400
succeeding as a dusters ninety
percent of the time will be just
542
00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:22,400
a supporting actor and as
startups journey and, you know,
543
00:30:22,700 --> 00:30:26,000
it's the founder that's driving
that and we just have to make
544
00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:30,300
sure that that person and that
team, you know, has all the
545
00:30:30,300 --> 00:30:34,000
tools that they might need or
might not know, they need to in
546
00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:37,500
order to be successful and I
think we'll, you know, what,
547
00:30:37,500 --> 00:30:42,000
what I learned is, you know, a
lot of your your best performing
548
00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:46,000
companies from a, I guess
returns perspective to LPS, Are
549
00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:49,300
are not always the ones you
spend the most time on means.
550
00:30:49,300 --> 00:30:52,600
It's the ones that, you know,
have to engineer pivot.
551
00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:56,400
Or, you know, have have really
hit up against the wall in terms
552
00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:58,900
of their product or their
Marketplace.
553
00:30:59,300 --> 00:31:02,200
And, you know, a lot of
gratification at least from the
554
00:31:02,208 --> 00:31:04,100
investor side.
You know, it's also a lot of
555
00:31:04,100 --> 00:31:07,800
pain on both sides but you know,
helping that founder kind of
556
00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:11,100
navigate that journey and
hopefully you know, finding a
557
00:31:11,108 --> 00:31:15,100
way out of particular
predicament and securing some
558
00:31:15,100 --> 00:31:18,500
sort of Ask that gives that
start up some momentum that
559
00:31:18,500 --> 00:31:21,100
wasn't there before.
I mean, there's a lot of
560
00:31:21,100 --> 00:31:23,800
satisfaction on that.
So so when I look back on kind
561
00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:25,800
of what we've been able to
accomplish over the last three
562
00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:28,900
or four years, I mean sure you
know you'd love every investment
563
00:31:28,900 --> 00:31:33,300
to be a 10x and more but you
know, they're ones that are less
564
00:31:33,300 --> 00:31:35,400
than that.
But would have been a lot less
565
00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:39,400
had we not been able to help and
there's a lot of satisfaction
566
00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:43,200
from that and, you know, I just
from a personal standpoint.
567
00:31:43,300 --> 00:31:45,400
Yeah, I've been lucky to spend
mine.
568
00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:47,500
Entire career in financial
services.
569
00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:50,300
Doing it from the research
analyst side and then the
570
00:31:50,300 --> 00:31:52,800
regulatory side.
But, you know, when you're
571
00:31:53,100 --> 00:31:56,700
investing it's basically you're
wearing a different hat every
572
00:31:56,700 --> 00:32:00,500
day and you know, every hour of
the day, it's a different hat.
573
00:32:00,500 --> 00:32:03,800
And, you know, you have to
transition very quickly from
574
00:32:04,100 --> 00:32:07,300
looking at startups to you know,
helping with the board to
575
00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:11,300
dealing with lawyers and it's
not always fun and exhilarating
576
00:32:11,300 --> 00:32:15,400
but the Arc of it is extremely
gratifying and you know getting
577
00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:18,800
too Different touch points along
the founders Journey because at
578
00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:22,100
the end of the day, I made that
what you asked, what surprised
579
00:32:22,100 --> 00:32:25,000
me, and I'm kind of down about
this in a long roundabout way.
580
00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:30,800
I have so much admiration and
offer for, for a start-up
581
00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:32,400
founder.
Yeah, I've never been a Founder.
582
00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:35,700
So, I mean, I'm like, yeah,
that's probably not a great
583
00:32:35,700 --> 00:32:39,600
thing, but I've done other
things and, you know, I think
584
00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:42,600
being a Founder takes a lot of
guts, it takes a lot of
585
00:32:42,608 --> 00:32:47,900
persistence and, you know, and
And it's quite a lonely journey,
586
00:32:47,900 --> 00:32:50,700
in the sense that, you know,
there aren't that many other
587
00:32:50,700 --> 00:32:54,100
people who you can talk to and
kind of bounce ideas off of.
588
00:32:54,100 --> 00:32:58,500
And, you know, if we can kind of
be a resource along that road, I
589
00:32:58,500 --> 00:33:02,200
think we're doing a good job.
And that's, that's been a key
590
00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:04,200
learning.
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
591
00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:07,900
And, you know, empathy and
Humanity can go a long way,
592
00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:12,900
right?
And that it it's It's crazy with
593
00:33:12,900 --> 00:33:17,000
this investment process.
This investment framework that
594
00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:20,500
it's hey, we're investing in
people right at the earliest
595
00:33:20,500 --> 00:33:21,600
stages, you're investing in
people.
596
00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:24,600
Like you said, you know, a
little while ago and that it's
597
00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:28,400
that when one of these fails,
it's heartbreaking because
598
00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:31,700
you're so emotionally involved.
Because not only are you trying
599
00:33:31,700 --> 00:33:35,300
to be an advisor and you are an
investor but you're also a fan,
600
00:33:35,700 --> 00:33:37,100
right?
You really want this Founders
601
00:33:37,100 --> 00:33:41,000
succeed on the other end, when
you see someone just killing it.
602
00:33:41,300 --> 00:33:44,800
Over and over and over again.
It's like how can I help?
603
00:33:45,200 --> 00:33:47,700
You know?
And sometimes it's just, it's
604
00:33:47,700 --> 00:33:50,300
not what, you know, it's not.
Have you been through this
605
00:33:50,300 --> 00:33:52,700
before?
It's not how have you dealt with
606
00:33:52,700 --> 00:33:54,800
this challenge.
It's that, who can you introduce
607
00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:57,800
me to?
And that's not always the hey,
608
00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:00,500
an investor and, you know,
another investor help me build
609
00:34:00,500 --> 00:34:03,600
out this round is just like you
said, someone else that, you
610
00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:06,400
know, that's been through this
because you've got that Network,
611
00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:10,400
you've got that experience, that
can be have a incredibly helpful
612
00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:12,900
conversation with One of the
founders you invested in, you
613
00:34:12,900 --> 00:34:16,900
know, and and that Humanity that
empathy for people is what makes
614
00:34:16,900 --> 00:34:18,600
all the difference for me in the
space, you know.
615
00:34:18,900 --> 00:34:22,900
Yeah.
Yeah and and, and that's a key
616
00:34:22,900 --> 00:34:26,199
thing because you're going to
see Founders in a lot of
617
00:34:26,199 --> 00:34:28,800
different positions in terms of
what they're going through.
618
00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:33,600
And it's the euphoria that first
check in the door, whether it's
619
00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:37,400
a funding round or your first
big commercial costumer and and
620
00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:40,900
then they'll be, you know, other
twists and turns and and just
621
00:34:41,500 --> 00:34:47,300
You know, being able to devote
the time and being a resource.
622
00:34:47,300 --> 00:34:51,300
And, you know, creating actually
a space where you can have that
623
00:34:51,300 --> 00:34:54,400
dialogue with a Founder.
There are founders who don't
624
00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:57,900
like to say anything negative
and and and, and want to kind of
625
00:34:57,900 --> 00:35:00,800
keep everything Rosie even when
the opposite is happening behind
626
00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:03,000
the scenes.
So, you know, obviously we're
627
00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:06,400
not doing our job at if we can't
have that open honest
628
00:35:06,400 --> 00:35:08,800
communication.
Because I think that's the best
629
00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:11,900
for all parties, definitely.
And, and Sincerely Patrick.
630
00:35:11,900 --> 00:35:14,600
That's why you make such a great
mentor on the techstars web
631
00:35:14,600 --> 00:35:17,000
three program, because you've
got that, you know, that
632
00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:20,600
Humanity in that empathy.
So thank you for all that you do
633
00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:21,500
for us.
Thank you.
634
00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:25,200
Listen, we're at the point of
the chat where I know that if
635
00:35:25,300 --> 00:35:29,900
Owen was here, he would ask his
favorite final famous question
636
00:35:29,900 --> 00:35:31,700
that we asked everybody on this
podcast.
637
00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:35,500
Patrick, pinch, MIT, what is one
thing that people would not
638
00:35:35,500 --> 00:35:39,400
expect to know about you?
Well II guess Pete firm from one
639
00:35:39,400 --> 00:35:44,000
American to another.
Erica and I guess I think but I
640
00:35:44,008 --> 00:35:47,600
meet a lot of people in town
that they sort of assumed.
641
00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:50,800
I was kind of air-dropped into
Dublin several years ago.
642
00:35:51,400 --> 00:35:55,600
But the truth is I you know I'm
actually half Irish and my
643
00:35:55,600 --> 00:35:58,900
parents live in a small village
in County Limerick.
644
00:35:58,900 --> 00:36:02,300
So yeah, take that.
I I knew that.
645
00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:05,700
I knew that but most most people
did not and it's the name pinch
646
00:36:05,700 --> 00:36:08,300
mid that would would not give
that away.
647
00:36:09,200 --> 00:36:13,100
Yeah, it's Patrick O'Dwyer
catchment if we're going to use
648
00:36:13,100 --> 00:36:16,400
my mom's maiden name, alright.
Alright.
649
00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:21,700
And know and you know, there's a
good good crew of folks that you
650
00:36:21,700 --> 00:36:25,700
know over the years have dropped
into Ireland that and I mean
651
00:36:25,700 --> 00:36:28,600
it's just what makes this
community here of people coming
652
00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:31,400
at things from all different
angles, including our friend
653
00:36:31,400 --> 00:36:34,000
Kurt Pittman, shut out to Kurt.
He's at he's from New Zealand,
654
00:36:34,300 --> 00:36:36,900
right?
So there's you know a good bunch
655
00:36:36,900 --> 00:36:38,300
of people anyway.
Listen.
656
00:36:38,900 --> 00:36:41,800
Patrick, thank you so much for
coming out to the show.
657
00:36:41,800 --> 00:36:44,200
We got into such a great chat
here.
658
00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:46,200
This is one that we could keep
going and I know we'll keep
659
00:36:46,200 --> 00:36:47,600
going with, you know, over the
years.
660
00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:50,400
So thank you again and it really
appreciate you doing this with
661
00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:52,800
us.
Thank you Pete for having me on
662
00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:55,100
and look forward to catching up
again soon.
663
00:36:55,300 --> 00:37:00,500
Thank you.
That does it for this week,
664
00:37:00,500 --> 00:37:02,100
folks.
Thanks to Patrick pinch made for
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00:37:02,100 --> 00:37:04,100
opening up his mind, to help us
figure out why he does what he
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00:37:04,100 --> 00:37:05,900
does.
You can learn more about Patrick
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00:37:05,900 --> 00:37:08,200
and middlegame ventures in the
show, notes on our website money
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00:37:08,200 --> 00:37:10,200
never sleeps.
That IE, if you like what you
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00:37:10,200 --> 00:37:13,400
heard, please leave us a rating
and a review on Apple podcast or
670
00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:15,300
Spotify.
Is it helps others to find the
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00:37:15,308 --> 00:37:17,100
show?
Thanks to Conan, Brophy, from
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00:37:17,100 --> 00:37:18,500
create sound for mixing and
editing.
673
00:37:18,500 --> 00:37:21,200
This episode Conan is an
excellent medium and to get in
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00:37:21,200 --> 00:37:22,700
touch with when you're thinking
about launching your own
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00:37:22,707 --> 00:37:25,300
podcast.
As for me, I'm an early stage,
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00:37:25,300 --> 00:37:27,600
startup investor focused on
where fintech meets crypto and
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00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:30,700
crypto meets web 3 and I run the
Starts with three accelerator
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00:37:31,000 --> 00:37:32,800
there are plenty of links in the
show notes on money, never
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00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:34,500
sleeps die and how to get in
touch.
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00:37:34,500 --> 00:37:37,800
So don't hesitate to reach out
finally till next time, thanks
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00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:39,000
for listening.
See you