Paul Bragiel: Globally Diverse Venture Capital Portfolio Focused on Exceptional Founders

As a seasoned entrepreneur and venture capitalist with a passion for exploration, I've built a diverse portfolio across 40+ countries, investing in amazing founders and co-founders to bridge the gap between innovative ideas and global impact.

1. Paul Bragiel is known for being an early investor and advisory board member of Uber.
2. He made a significant amount of money from his investment in Uber.
3. He considers himself a better venture capitalist (VC) than he was an entrepreneur.
4. His portfolio is diverse, with investments in over 40 countries across the globe.
5. Each region has slightly different investment focuses: education and energy in Africa, cutting-edge technology in Silicon Valley, and popular trends in Asia.
6. He looks for amazing founders and strong founding teams when investing.
7. He is the chairman and founder of seven funds spanning the United States, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.
8. His lifestyle as a nomadic investor allows him to be constantly traveling and not tied down to one location.
9. Governments approached him early on to tap into his Silicon Valley network, leading him to start funds in various regions around the world.
10. Entrepreneurs in these regions often lack access to money and mentors, which his funds aim to provide.
11. In Southeast Asia and Africa, for example, entrepreneurs are the first generation of tech founders, so role models and experienced mentors are scarce.
12. He wants to bridge the gap between these emerging markets and Silicon Valley by supporting local entrepreneurs with capital and guidance.
13. His investments in Africa include a shipping and logistics company called Sendy and a technology education school called Moringa School.
14. When evaluating potential investments, he focuses on getting to know the founders and understanding their motivations.
15. He looks at a founder's background and history of perseverance to assess their entrepreneurial qualities.
16. His investment strategy is based on diversifying risk across many companies in a portfolio.
17. Although individual investments are risky, the overall portfolio is less so due to the number of companies invested in.
18. He has consistently built successful funds over time, gaining recognition and respect within the industry.
19. His success comes from focusing on humans, being curious, staying humble, and being nice to people.
20. He considers himself an explorer, chasing after new stories and experiences in both his personal and professional life.
21. For those looking to reach him quickly, the best way is through introductions from portfolio companies or team members.
22. Cold emails are accepted but less likely to receive a response than other methods.

Source: EO via YouTube

❓ What do you think? What is the most significant risk you've taken in your career as a venture capitalist, and how did it pay off? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!