SanFranciscoVC

UltraPreneur

“And I’mma step-up again and slam, grand-slam…” – Cam’ron – You Gotta Love It 2018 is a special year for me: I will enter my third decade of being a venture capitalist working with some of the world’s best entrepreneurs; I also plan to complete the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning, a set …

What Running 100-Mile Races is All About

“All I ever asked is one hundred” – The Game, “100” Western States is the heart of ultrarunning in the United States, if not the world. And no matter how many times you’ve done it, the excitement before the race is palpable. I certainly felt it when I ran …

My TEDx Talk: Lessons From a Seven-Day Voice Fast

This past year, I challenged myself to three BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals). The first was a seven-day food fast My second BHAG was running the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning. And my third BHAG was a seven-day voice fast–as in, I stopped talking for seven days while continuing to live and work as usual.

The 2017 Gaming Outlook: What’s Hot, What’s Not

So what’s real and hot versus what’s not in gaming in 2017? If you’re guessing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), you’re partially right. Read on for the scoop in gaming trends 2017.

Warriors President Rick Welts Interview by Phil Sanderson

A few weeks ago, I sat down with Rick Welts for a pre-game interview event hosted by VCNetwork. We talked about his humble beginnings and meteoric rise in the NBA ranks, as well as his coming-out experience as a prominent sports executive.

Interview: Stance CEO Jeff Kearl Keeps it Real

Venture Capitalists often leverage pattern recognition to help us identify great investments; at the same time, it’s important to remember that some of the biggest and best ideas don’t fit any patterns. That’s according to Stance Chairman and CEO Jeff Kearl, whom I interviewed at a recent NVCA event.

How Government Changes to Economic Policies Would Weaken the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

As we enter a new presidential administration, however, we may see legislation changes that would greatly weaken the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Therefore, it is incumbent on the business and startup community to monitor several key issues and take action.

The Quest for the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning

I’m experiencing intense flashbacks of runners high, thanks to the latest issue of Olympian, published by the Olympic Club in San Francisco. The November feature article, by Max Rausch of Bleacher Report, details my quest to complete the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning, a set of four 100-mile trail races held over a three-month period.

GamesBeat Panel: VR/AR Hype Versus Reality

Last month, I participated in a GamesBeat panel in Los Angeles to discuss virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in gaming. My fellow panelists and I discussed the surging popularity of VR/AR among gaming companies and whether or not the hype stands up to the reality from an investor’s standpoint.

Words of Wisdom

“0 to 100 real quick.” Drake, 0 to 100 / The Catchup What is wisdom anyway? Its definition is somewhat elusive. Many people talk about it, but by definition, wisdom is something that everybody hopes to attain. In general, a person’s goal is to exhibit wisdom in all facets of …

Your Network is Your Net Worth

Whether you’re an introverted programmer, who wants a new job, or a sales executive, looking for your next customer, networking is vital to your success.

Interview With Warriors Mastermind Joe Lacob

In the interview, Joe Lacob shares details on the efforts behind the Warriors transformation and draws parallels between entrepreneurship and sports management.

Zuck Represents the Best of Silicon Valley

Mark Zuckerberg is most well-known as the founder of Facebook and one of the world’s wealthiest people. The lesser-known fact about Zuckerberg is that he’s an understated, humble guy.

My TEDx Talk: Fasting and Its Transformative Benefits

My TEDx talk is about fasting as a powerful vehicle for personal growth, especially for entrepreneurs who want to unleash their full potential. Fasting is an achievable undertaking for most people, and it can transform your life.

A Few of My Favorite Products at CES 2016

A tweet summary of the products that wowed me at CES 2016.

Why I’d Fund Daenerys If She Were A Silicon Valley Entrepreneur

Since investing in Telltale Games, I’ve become a big fan of Game of Thrones, both the game and the television series. Like millions of other fans, I love the characters. One of my favorites is Daenerys Targaryen for a very predictable reason: she’s an awesome entrepreneur.

Big Congrats to Telltale Games and GuideSpark

I’m thrilled to share some great news about two of my portfolio companies: Telltale Games and GuideSpark.

The Gaming Experiences That I’m Loving

As I was thinking over the customary year-end highlights and new-year predictions in gaming, I had a realization: this is an amazing era of gaming experiences. Year-end summaries are farewells, and new-year forecasts have yet to occur––and frankly, I’m pretty psyched by the state of gaming experiences right now.

Be an Entrepreneur of Your Own Career Through a SWAG Analysis

When your career isn’t in an ideal place, it’s easy to feel powerless or paralyzed…manage your career the way an entrepreneur brings a startup to life. Do the SWAG analysis to take control of your career.

My TEDx Talk: How I Hacked an Ultramarathon By Thinking Like an Entrepreneur

At first glance, the only relationship between entrepreneurship and ultra long-distance running is the business metaphor that entrepreneurship “is a marathon, not a race.” But there are deeper similarities, which I had the opportunity to explain in a TEDx talk in Boston.

Shark Tank: Reality-TV Versus Reality-VC

People often ask me if I watch “Shark Tank,” what I think about the reality show, and whether or not it’s an accurate representation of venture capital. Here’s my analysis on the differences and similarities.

Lessons in the Entrepreneur Journey: Interview With Defy Ventures

Here’s a video of my Defy Ventures interview, in which I talk about entrepreneurial lessons gleaned from ultramarathons, rebounding from failure, my early entrepreneurial experience, advice for early-stage entrepreneurs, and the importance of character.

Game On: Why I’m Still Investing in Gaming

In this contrarian market, I have certainly enjoyed being one of the most active venture investors in gaming. While one could argue that it’s in my best interest not to share this secret, I love gaming and am a champion of the industry. So let the games begin!

Storytelling in Games: An Interview With Telltale Games CEO at GamesBeat 2014

Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Telltale Games CEO Dan Connors at GamesBeat 2014 in San Francisco. Since IDG Ventures invested in Telltale back in 2007, the company has enjoyed tremendous success. Watch the video below to learn how Telltale innovates through storytelling and much more.

I Ran the Wasatch 100-Mile Race

Last week, I ran the Wasatch 100-mile race in Utah and met my goal of under 30 hours! It felt great! Watch the video above for the highlights.

Panel: Funding the Next Billion Dollar Gaming Company

At this year’s CasualConnect, I sat on a panel with a few of my good friends and fellow investors to discuss “Funding the Next Billion Dollar Gaming Company.” Check out the video below to hear my thoughts on what VCs look for when evaluating gaming companies, and more.

Advice For Execs and Entrepreneurs in a Career Transition

There’s plenty of advice out there for budding entrepreneurs but not enough for experienced entrepreneurs in a career transition.

E3 Report: 6 Defining Trends in Gaming

The annual E3 conference is like Disneyland for gamers, who have the opportunity to see and play newly launched games and devices. As an investor in gaming, it’s also an exciting event for me to observe the latest buzz and emerging trends in gaming. So what did this year’s E3 reveal about the future of gaming? Here’s my take on the six defining trends to keep an eye on.

Interview: Shooting the Breeze With Don’t Sweat the Tech

Recently, I was interviewed by the cool guys from Don’t Sweat The Tech, a show that covers startup news, reviews, and interviews. Check out the video to hear the interview!

My Favorite #Winning Rappers Who Started at the Bottom

Everybody likes rags-to-riches stories, and there’s plenty of them in the rap world. Many of today’s most famous rappers grew up in poverty, amidst violence, and/or with little to no support structure. In spite of these disadvantages, rappers such as Jay-Z and Eminem became best-selling artists. They beat the odds and thus, their successes are all the more admirable.

How Fasting is Similar to the Entrepreneurial Journey

I do the Master Cleanse once a year for both the health benefits, as well as the mental endurance challenge. This year, during the fast, I had a revelation: the fasting journey is analogous to the entrepreneurial journey…the attributes that get you through a fast are similar to the attributes you must adopt in order to be a successful entrepreneur.

GamesBeat 2014 in San Francisco: Get Your Tickets Now

https://plus.google.com/u/0/118056635358370024601/posts/713veJ78wj5 I’m thrilled to be speaking at GamesBeat 2014 in San Francisco on September 15th and 16th. This year’s theme: total world domination. I’m looking forward to meeting entrepreneurs, developers, and gamers who are passionate about gaming. Get your tickets via EventBrite.

Can You Trust a VC Who Doesn’t Tweet?

VCs who want better access to competitive investment opportunities must have a social media footprint. I’m guessing this isn’t a comfortable message for many VCs out there, but that’s the reality.

The Art of Nailing the VC Pitch

I have heard over 3,000 pitches in my 18 years as a VC, and only one out of a hundred CEOs truly “nail” the pitch. So assuming you have a good business idea, how do you nail the pitch? An awesome pitch is almost an art form that must combine the five fundamental principles below.

Dead or Alive, Bitcoin Ushers in the Era of Digital Currency

There’s plenty of news about BitCoin lately. The digital currency has been under scrutiny for its alleged involvement in a series of shady events…But the big story isn’t whether or not the rumors of Bitcoin’s demise will prove true…Bitcoin has ushered in the era of digital currency — and this despite not being “first to market.”

Video: Interview With Football Legend and All-Around Cool Dude Steve Young

I had the pleasure of interviewing football great Steve Young…The former 49er retired from pro football in 1999 but has been far from idle– he’s an active philanthropist, a frequent commentator on sports shows, and a successful investor in private equity.

Up Your Game With the Science of Music and Sports

I enjoy running with friends for the companionship and conversation. But admittedly, that usually lasts for only the first four or five hours. After that, I start to feel the burn. That’s when I turn on the music, and everything gets better.

The Global Gaming Market is Huge and Growing

The global gaming market, excluding hardware, was $62B in 2012 and is expected to reach $83B by 2016 (source: Digi-Capital). In addition, the number of major exits in gaming has increased significantly over the recent years.

The Magic Behind Telltale’s Emotionally Evocative and Highly Engaging Games

The long-awaited “Walking Dead” sequel from Telltale Games was released Dec 17, 2013 and did not disappoint…over five years ago, when I first invested and joined the Board of Telltale Games…Founders Dan and Kevin’s pitch to me was to create a “multi-hit AAA new media company.”