Business
Welcome to the fourth episode of the Stairway to CEO podcast! In this episode, I interviewed Brian Garrett, the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Crosscut Ventures, a top VC fund in LA where he's been investing in startups for over 10 years. Brian shares his story—from a family tragedy that happened at age 13 to a recent healing experience that helped him break through the barriers that have been holding him back. In this episode, Brian talks about the importance of being vulnerable, the characteristics he looks for in founders to invest in, his take on the founder-investor relationship, and why he now believes in the saying “Let the game come to you.” In This Episode You'll Hear About: How a tragic life event at a young age shaped him into the hard working person he is His Dad’s interesting background and how his dad made a life for himself after separating himself from his two alcoholic parents What triggered his quarter life crisis and what he did about it How he met his Co-Founder Rick Smith and how Crosscut Ventures came about His experience with fundraising the first fund for Crosscut Ventures The worst pitch he ever received from an entrepreneur and why His perspective on the process of raising capital from investors as a founder Why he thinks being vulnerable is important and what characteristics he looks for most in successful founders A recent trip he took and what he learned from an incredible healing experience What components are beyond the control of even the most hardworking founders Why following your passion is the most important thing to consider when building a business To Find Out More: http://www.crosscut.vc/ Quotes: "Use the criticism as a way to sharpen your pitch or your angle but don't take offence to it because we're no more qualified to do this than anyone else out there." "Pessimism of the intellect and optimism of the will." "You can't force circumstances to your favor, but there are some things you can do to get a slight advantage." "Not everybody needs to be part of a startup that scales from 0 to x in 18 months. There are many great businesses that are built overtime and you just have to let what the market gives you. You have to take advantage of it as it comes and just be smart." "You gotta let the game come to you."