Investing out of pity for founders rarely yields returns; focus on strong, capable founders instead.

In venture capital, the leaders of firms often push for taking more risks, as the potential for high returns outweighs the risks of failure.

We encourage our team to invest in opportunities that show promise, even if they come with risks, as this can lead to significant breakthroughs. In venture capital, the key to success is identifying the next big thing early and investing heavily, rather than focusing on win rates or percentage returns.

The smartest founders understand that a smaller team of highly skilled individuals is often more effective than a larger team of mediocre performers.

When investing, prioritize markets over teams, as a strong market can drive success even with a less competent team.

I believe that raising a lot of money isn't always the best strategy; it can lead to overspending and failure, as seen with many companies in Silicon Valley.

Meeting founders and making investment decisions is more of an art than a science, and you often have to lose some money before becoming an expert.

Entrepreneurs are often seen as risk-takers, but it's crucial to make coherent bets on risks, as significant opportunities come with associated risks.

The way to maximize your chances of success is by following a process I call 'gene pool engineering', which minimizes risks by building the right team.