From VC-backed Founder to Angel to Institutional Investor with Jack Altman

Jack Altman of Alt Capital has led quite a life in Silicon Valley. He’s gone from angel investing to founding a venture-backed company (HR platform Lattice), back to angel investing today, taking on outside capital as an institutional investor at Alt Capital. Jack sits down with Nick Chirls, GP at Asylum Ventures  & Beezer Clarkson, LP at Sapphire Partners, to discuss learnings from his impressive career arc, including how to build a reputation by avoiding zero sum games, making decisions quickly as a founder, the differences in investing your own money and someone else’s, how to build a track record as an angel, and being a generalist both inside and out of the office. Plus, having just welcomed his third child into the family, Jack discusses the importance of ruthless prioritization - how to say no to the low value-add dinners and meetings if it means you get to be home for bedtime. Learn more about Sapphire Partners: https://sapphireventures.com/sapphire-partners/ Learn more about OpenLP: https://openlp.sapphireventures.com/ Learn more about Asylum Ventures: asylum.vc Learn more about Alt Capital: https://www.altcap.com/ Subscribe to the OpenLP newsletter for a monthly roundup of the latest venture insights, including the newest Origins episodes, delivered straight to your inbox. CHAPTERS: 00:00-Introduction 02:59-Nick’s new fund, Asylum Ventures, is Live! 07:22-The Burning Question 11:02-Jack Altman Introduction 12:55-Ruthless prioritization: Balancing Work & Family 16:40-The Best Idea You Say No To 19:21-Working with a Wide Scope of Founders 22:07-Building a Reputation in Venture 25:03-Venture is Noisy: Speak Softly but Carry a Big Stick 27:52-The Other Altman 30:42-From Founder to Angel to Institutional Investor 38:11-Fundraising Strategy 42:10-Investing Your Own Money vs LP Capital 45:52-Outro