Learnings from due diligence

One of my portfolio companies went down less than six months after I wired the money.

It hurt. It hurt bad.

But, here's the thing — It wasn't the founder's fault. The founder didn't lie to me. The founder didn't mislead me.

I was mad at myself because I didn't do the proper due diligence. I got excited about the opportunity and rushed the process. Plain and simple.

It was an expensive lesson, but it fundamentally changed how I approach investing:

Now, before I write a check, I make sure to meet the founding team at least a few times over a period of a few weeks, AT A MINIMUM.

This isn't about trust or competency. It’s about understanding who you're getting into business with for the next decade of your life.