Cyan Banister

There's this beautiful period when the company is small and you can send emails to the CEO and they respond. And that's usually when they're under 100 employees. And then that disappears. And it's natural. Every angel investor, every early seed stage investor should understand that this could happen. Travis becomes more unreachable.

There's this beautiful period when the company is small and you can send emails to the CEO and they respond. And that's usually when they're under 100 employees. And then that disappears. And it's natural. Every angel investor, every early seed stage investor should understand that this could happen. Travis becomes more unreachable.

Emil becomes more unreachable because you're not their most important problem of the day. They're fighting so many fires. And it's not because they don't like you or love you or aren't even thankful for that first investment. It's because they've got to run a company. And so there's this period after 100 employees that they lean on you a lot less.

Emil becomes more unreachable because you're not their most important problem of the day. They're fighting so many fires. And it's not because they don't like you or love you or aren't even thankful for that first investment. It's because they've got to run a company. And so there's this period after 100 employees that they lean on you a lot less.

that's where you kind of just sort of surrender to the big players that are going to write the checks and hope for the best outcome. There's very little you can do. You know, in the case of Uber, Chris Saka got involved very early. He rolled up his sleeves and he actually showed up to board meetings, to planning sessions. And they saw a lot of utility in that.

that's where you kind of just sort of surrender to the big players that are going to write the checks and hope for the best outcome. There's very little you can do. You know, in the case of Uber, Chris Saka got involved very early. He rolled up his sleeves and he actually showed up to board meetings, to planning sessions. And they saw a lot of utility in that.

And so that's one way that you could stay connected to the business. For me, that's not my style. I tend to like to be somebody's backbone and they call me whenever they need a door opened or they need something fixed or they want my particular type of advice. The uncomfortable part happens when the company does really, really well.

And so that's one way that you could stay connected to the business. For me, that's not my style. I tend to like to be somebody's backbone and they call me whenever they need a door opened or they need something fixed or they want my particular type of advice. The uncomfortable part happens when the company does really, really well.

And then suddenly everybody starts speculating about your personal wealth and starts telling you what you should do with it. And you start getting written up in articles and your privacy starts getting invaded. And that can be pretty daunting. That happened for a period of time. And then of course, when they go public, there's a holding period.

And then suddenly everybody starts speculating about your personal wealth and starts telling you what you should do with it. And you start getting written up in articles and your privacy starts getting invaded. And that can be pretty daunting. That happened for a period of time. And then of course, when they go public, there's a holding period.

Yes, yes. I actually think that it's best psychologically for people to not think about specific outcomes, to set it and forget it, literally. To say, I will be pleased with whatever happens because that needle is going to move all over the place. There were times that we thought that our shares would be worth something and then the next day they're not. You're in for a wild ride at that stage.

Yes, yes. I actually think that it's best psychologically for people to not think about specific outcomes, to set it and forget it, literally. To say, I will be pleased with whatever happens because that needle is going to move all over the place. There were times that we thought that our shares would be worth something and then the next day they're not. You're in for a wild ride at that stage.

And so I just think you shouldn't become too attached to it and you should just come up with a plan for why did you do this in the first place? And what are you going to do with that money once you have it? So this is something I always try to advise my partners and anyone in the investing spaces. Why do what we do if it doesn't serve a higher purpose or higher power?

And so I just think you shouldn't become too attached to it and you should just come up with a plan for why did you do this in the first place? And what are you going to do with that money once you have it? So this is something I always try to advise my partners and anyone in the investing spaces. Why do what we do if it doesn't serve a higher purpose or higher power?

So if you are lucky enough to have an exit of any material means to you and your family, I think it's really, really important to align it with your North Star, whatever it is. You see Warren Buffett do this.

So if you are lucky enough to have an exit of any material means to you and your family, I think it's really, really important to align it with your North Star, whatever it is. You see Warren Buffett do this.

You see the most amazing people in the world, high net worth individuals who figure out charitable causes to support or how to align their investing by starting a fund and getting institutions that they believe in alongside them. So that every dollar you write, you maximize that dollar. You're solving cancer research or you're helping kids go to school or you're helping a pension fund.

You see the most amazing people in the world, high net worth individuals who figure out charitable causes to support or how to align their investing by starting a fund and getting institutions that they believe in alongside them. So that every dollar you write, you maximize that dollar. You're solving cancer research or you're helping kids go to school or you're helping a pension fund.

Then you're actually really making a dent in the world through capitalism. And I think capitalism has like such a, I don't know, people use it like a dirty word. And I think it's one of the most beautiful concepts in the world that we have to protect. because it absolutely can move the needle in innovation and change things on multiple levels.

Then you're actually really making a dent in the world through capitalism. And I think capitalism has like such a, I don't know, people use it like a dirty word. And I think it's one of the most beautiful concepts in the world that we have to protect. because it absolutely can move the needle in innovation and change things on multiple levels.