Matt Huang

Let's see. I would say there's a childhood chapter where probably like a lot of other people, the primary goal I had was getting into college. And in hindsight, I think that's, for a lot of reasons, very depressing and not something I want to bring up in my kids. But that was like a very primal thing in my life. Both my parents were PhDs and professors.

Let's see. I would say there's a childhood chapter where probably like a lot of other people, the primary goal I had was getting into college. And in hindsight, I think that's, for a lot of reasons, very depressing and not something I want to bring up in my kids. But that was like a very primal thing in my life. Both my parents were PhDs and professors.

And so becoming educated was the family North Star. Directive. Yeah. And I was very lucky. They were, if you think about stereotypical Asian parenting, they were very liberal relative to what you'd imagine as the caricature. So they were very supportive later in life when I took risks and Decided not to go down that path. But anyway, that was phase one.

And so becoming educated was the family North Star. Directive. Yeah. And I was very lucky. They were, if you think about stereotypical Asian parenting, they were very liberal relative to what you'd imagine as the caricature. So they were very supportive later in life when I took risks and Decided not to go down that path. But anyway, that was phase one.

Phase two was probably a bit of a walk in the woods in college of naturally figuring out what's next. Phase three was building a failed startup. Phase four was learning to become an investor. And I think I'm now in phase five, which is building paradigm and figuring out my self-expression.

Phase two was probably a bit of a walk in the woods in college of naturally figuring out what's next. Phase three was building a failed startup. Phase four was learning to become an investor. And I think I'm now in phase five, which is building paradigm and figuring out my self-expression.

It's one of those only in hindsight things. It was just the water at the time. It's funny, I reflect back on family conversations and my parents would have friends over or introduce me to folks who they worked with. And every introduction would be almost like an honorific. They would say where that person went to college.

It's one of those only in hindsight things. It was just the water at the time. It's funny, I reflect back on family conversations and my parents would have friends over or introduce me to folks who they worked with. And every introduction would be almost like an honorific. They would say where that person went to college.

So very deeply early, it was ingrained that this was something that defined the value of a person. And I think that's deeply mistaken, but was directionally what drove me at the start. Did you enjoy college? Yes, actually. How? So I went to MIT, and in hindsight, super special place.

So very deeply early, it was ingrained that this was something that defined the value of a person. And I think that's deeply mistaken, but was directionally what drove me at the start. Did you enjoy college? Yes, actually. How? So I went to MIT, and in hindsight, super special place.

I actually didn't appreciate it at the time, but it's one of the highest concentrations of strange people on the planet. I think there aren't many of those centers of gravity. I think Silicon Valley is one. Crypto is one. But they're relatively rare, and I think there's a lot of generativity and interesting outlier-type activity that emerges from those types of places.

I actually didn't appreciate it at the time, but it's one of the highest concentrations of strange people on the planet. I think there aren't many of those centers of gravity. I think Silicon Valley is one. Crypto is one. But they're relatively rare, and I think there's a lot of generativity and interesting outlier-type activity that emerges from those types of places.

I also met my wife, which, again, not appreciated at the time. But now watching some of my friends navigate that post-college, I don't envy the environment people have to wade through.

I also met my wife, which, again, not appreciated at the time. But now watching some of my friends navigate that post-college, I don't envy the environment people have to wade through.

Well, the most memorable, it actually flows into next chapters. Startups are so in vogue now, but back then, 2008-ish, startups were still relatively new. Maybe if you went to Stanford, it was sort of the default thing a lot of people were focused on. But certainly at MIT, most people were the other typical tracks. finance, consulting, HFT.

Well, the most memorable, it actually flows into next chapters. Startups are so in vogue now, but back then, 2008-ish, startups were still relatively new. Maybe if you went to Stanford, it was sort of the default thing a lot of people were focused on. But certainly at MIT, most people were the other typical tracks. finance, consulting, HFT.

And I remember I had a close friend who was a year above me and told me he was dropping out to join a little startup out in San Francisco called Dropbox. And he was, I think, the sixth or seventh employee there. It broke my world model at the time.

And I remember I had a close friend who was a year above me and told me he was dropping out to join a little startup out in San Francisco called Dropbox. And he was, I think, the sixth or seventh employee there. It broke my world model at the time.

Which, given the upbringing and parents, this very strong sense of one must not only get into a great college, one must graduate and maybe even do a PhD. But to drop out seemed insane. And yeah, this was someone I deeply respected and thought was tremendously capable. It wasn't someone who like failed out of his classes or was going to go pursue acting or something way off the wall.

Which, given the upbringing and parents, this very strong sense of one must not only get into a great college, one must graduate and maybe even do a PhD. But to drop out seemed insane. And yeah, this was someone I deeply respected and thought was tremendously capable. It wasn't someone who like failed out of his classes or was going to go pursue acting or something way off the wall.