Hard Problems I Want to Back in 2021
I’m an anti thesis investor. While a thesis-driven style is intellectually alluring I’ve found that for me at seed it doesn’t work. This is a strong belief, strongly held for a few reasons:
By the time I develop a strong view on a market I’m likely too late
If I’m spending time with the right entrepreneurs it’s quickly apparent how much less intelligent I am - no point in trying to outsmart
Spending too much time on any one area risks confirmation bias (at least for me)
Being heads down means I miss what’s new
Instead I ascribe to Benchmark’s “see the present clearly” approach. My job is to remain highly reactive to the market, find enlightenment through the founders I meet and navigate opportunities via visceral curiosity in the problem addressed.
Below is an evergreen list of problems that, for one reason or another, I’ve grown intrigued by and want to explore but only through conversations with entrepreneurs. In other words, if you’re a founder working on any of this, or know someone who is, please reach out:
Data & Infrastructure
Ensuring the authenticity of video content
Moderating harmful user generated content
Unleashing AI with control / interpretation
Trustless data sharing
Cross-platform data portability
Removing machine-to-machine communication friction
Transportation & Logistics
Establishing anti-fragile supply chains
Jump starting the EV grid
Ensuring supply chain visibility / authenticity
Preventing a food / water supply crisis
Healthcare
Bending the cost curve of care
Instilling price / effectiveness transparency in treatment options
Population & Workforce
Enabling legal / compliant international employment
Providing a safety net for freelance / contractors
Reversing the cost curve for higher education
Make hiring not the worst
Sustainability
Realigning carbon externalities
Reducing datacenter energy usage
Producing biodegradable packaging materials
Preventing / reversing regulatory capture