I met Garry while he was a part-time YC partner during S11. Office hours with him were always helpful and productive. He gave thoughtful product feedback, facilitated countless fruitful introductions, and helped us navigate fundraising and an acquisition. He’s laid back, easy to talk to, and doesn’t bullshit or play games. After YC Initialized invested a small amount in us and he continued to be one of the most value-add investors we had. I can’t stress enough how much value these guys bring to the table. I’d be honored to work with them again.
Introducing Initialized Capital
31–40 of 155 posts
Re: Introducing Initialized Capital
#32very cool. i know you guys mention startups, and IMO thats a pretty generally encompassing term. would that include game development?
Probably not. They're looking for companies with upside potential in the billions of dollars and game development doesn't really do that.
Unless you're aiming to build the next Unity or game dev/hosting platform, it's unlikely you'll get a Silicon Valley VC to invest in gamedev.
Re: Introducing Initialized Capital
#33Hi HN! Happy to answer questions here, which is funny because this is where it all really started for me back in 2007 when I was first thinking of starting my first company. I started as an HN reader working at a friend's startup, applied to YC and got in, became a YC partner, and then an early stage investor. We're engineers and designers and product folks, and most investors aren't still (which is crazy, right?) so…
Hi Garry. I've invested in over 100 YC startups (mostly through Wefunder/FundersClub/Angel.co). Can I invest in your fund? Obviously I believe in the business model. If not where else should I be investing?
We're spoken for, but I appreciate it. I highly recommend YC demo day and checking out YC-backed Funders Club.
Re: Introducing Initialized Capital
#34I'm curious to know if there is a specific market you are focusing on (in terms of target market, such as IoT, Security as well as regionally).
How would someone make the determination that you are the right firm to pitch to? How would they bend your ear? What's the best way to get your attention? I'm missing a lot of this from your site.
Re: Introducing Initialized Capital
#35Hi HN! Happy to answer questions here, which is funny because this is where it all really started for me back in 2007 when I was first thinking of starting my first company. I started as an HN reader working at a friend's startup, applied to YC and got in, became a YC partner, and then an early stage investor. We're engineers and designers and product folks, and most investors aren't still (which is crazy, right?) so…
Hi Garry, congrats! As an entrepreneurial startup software engineer, this firm is pretty interesting to me.
Can you discuss what each GP's focus is? Are there certain categories of companies you would handle vs Alexis, etc?
Re: Introducing Initialized Capital
#36I'm curious to know if there is a specific market you are focusing on (in terms of target market, such as IoT, Security as well as regionally). How would someone make the determination that you are the right firm to pitch to? How would they bend your ear? What's the best way to get your attention? I'm missing a lot of this from your site.
We built software companies, so that tends to be what we know the best.
I think the question of sector is really hard for this stage of investment because early on I learned that the best companies to invest in aren't the ones who are hitting some specific buzzword like IoT, etc. Great startups don't work that way — they start with founders going after some specific problem and then later they become trends.
So that's why we think of meeting founders as just "doing the work." We have no choice but to talk to as many people as we can, and then meet them in person when it's useful, novel, or real. Please email me directly — garry@initialized.com.
Re: Introducing Initialized Capital
#37Hi HN! Happy to answer questions here, which is funny because this is where it all really started for me back in 2007 when I was first thinking of starting my first company. I started as an HN reader working at a friend's startup, applied to YC and got in, became a YC partner, and then an early stage investor. We're engineers and designers and product folks, and most investors aren't still (which is crazy, right?) so…
How early is your "early stage"? Also, what's the best way to pitch to you?
Re: Introducing Initialized Capital
#38Hi HN! Happy to answer questions here, which is funny because this is where it all really started for me back in 2007 when I was first thinking of starting my first company. I started as an HN reader working at a friend's startup, applied to YC and got in, became a YC partner, and then an early stage investor. We're engineers and designers and product folks, and most investors aren't still (which is crazy, right?) so…
Hi Garry, congrats! As an entrepreneurial startup software engineer, this firm is pretty interesting to me. Can you discuss what each GP's focus is? Are there certain categories of companies you would handle vs Alexis, etc?
Alexis is amazing with all things product, marketing, and community. Alina is best with engineering, hard tech challenges, and hacking growth. I focus most on product and design. Kim helps people with marketing and PR.
We all help people with their ideas, helping founders manage the difficult psychology of starting something new, and making sure that the startup can get to the next milestone: engagement, growth, and profitability.
Re: Introducing Initialized Capital
#39Hi HN! Happy to answer questions here, which is funny because this is where it all really started for me back in 2007 when I was first thinking of starting my first company. I started as an HN reader working at a friend's startup, applied to YC and got in, became a YC partner, and then an early stage investor. We're engineers and designers and product folks, and most investors aren't still (which is crazy, right?) so…
How early is your "early stage"? Also, what's the best way to pitch to you?
Please email me directly - garry@initialized.com
Re: Introducing Initialized Capital
#40hey - this is apoorva from instacart s12. we'd not have been in YC had it not been for Garry Tan! full story here: https://techcrunch.com/2012/08/18/how-instacart-hacked-yc/
really happy to see this happen. i think this will be great for the community.