Paul Bragiel, a well-known figure in Silicon Valley, shares his experiences as an early investor and advisory board member to Uber. He discusses his journey from being an entrepreneur to a venture capitalist, highlighting the diversity of his portfolio which spans over 40 different countries. He emphasizes the importance of having diverse investments and a strong team of founders.
Bragiel shares his approach to investing, focusing on the founders' background, their ideas, and their motivations. He explains that he looks for founders who have shown perseverance and a passion for their work. He also stresses the importance of risk management in venture capital, stating that it's crucial to diversify risk across multiple companies.
He shares his personal motivations for taking on new challenges, expressing a love for adventure and exploration. He talks about his biking journey across America as an example of following his passions and taking on new challenges.
For those interested in reaching out to Bragiel for potential investment, he suggests getting an introduction through one of his portfolio companies or team members. He also accepts cold emails and checks his email regularly.
1. The speaker, Paul Bragiel, is known for his early investment and advisory board membership in Uber, which he joined when there were less than 10 people working there .
2. Despite making a significant amount of money as an entrepreneur, Bragiel has made even more as an investor .
3. Bragiel currently has seven funds that he is the chairman and founder of, spanning the globe with offices in the United States, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America .
4. Bragiel has been nomadic for ten years, often spending more than a month or two in one place .
5. Bragiel launched his first fund in San Francisco, attracting attention from governments around the world, including the Singapore, Brazil, and Estonia governments .
6. Bragiel and his team started building funds to support entrepreneurs worldwide, particularly in regions that lacked access to funding and mentorship .
7. Bragiel and his team are one of the first or second oldest venture capital funds in Africa .
8. Bragiel's team invests in companies solving local problems, such as a new shipping and logistics company in East Africa and a technology and computer science education school in East Africa .
9. When investing, Bragiel's team examines the founders' backgrounds, their ideas, and their motivations .
10. Bragiel believes in taking risks and diversifying them across multiple companies .
11. Bragiel is known for his adventurous spirit, having biked across America and seeking out new challenges .
12. To get in touch with Bragiel, it is best to talk to one of his portfolio companies or team members, as he checks his email regularly but does not always respond to cold emails .