I've been angel investing for 4.5 years, making 50 total investments, with 46 of them being early-stage Y Combinator companies.

I shouldn't be here as a venture capitalist; I don't have a formal education or traditional background, yet I've invested in over 200 startups, with seven valued over a billion dollars each.

I help startups with hard projects, often related to funding or M&A transactions, leveraging my network to bootstrap their growth. Founders often make the mistake of not focusing enough on finding investors who can add significant value to their company, prioritizing valuation and dilution instead.

I've seen a lot of patterns in the startup ecosystem after funding 467 startups over the years.

I found that I prefer running a company over being on the sidelines as an investor; many founders miss this realization when they start investing.

I focus on investing in startups with large markets and relentless founders, as these factors are crucial for success. I admire solo founders who can persevere for a year or longer by themselves, as it's already hard enough to go through the startup journey alone.

Having been a founder myself helps me as an investor because I understand the challenges and can identify kindred spirits among entrepreneurs.

Investing in startups is complex, and understanding whether to put more money into a company requires deep conversations and analysis.

I invest because I love meeting great founders and helping them succeed, not just for the money. I find it incredibly satisfying to give advice to founders like Mark Zuckerberg and Larry Page in their early years and then watch their companies take off, knowing I contributed to their success.