Reflecting on a missed investment opportunity in Airbnb in 2008, the chapter highlights the importance of imagination in seeing the potential of unconventional ideas, lessons learned from passing on innovative concepts, and considerations for investing in companies like Airbnb as a public entity in the current market.
Mike Maples is a co-founding partner at the venture capital firm, Floodgate. He’s also the author of the new book, “Pattern Breakers: Why Some Start-Ups Change the Future.” Alex Friedman caught up with Maples for a conversation about:
- How to spot true visionaries.
- Missing out on an early investment opportunity in Airbnb.
- Whether the AI future will be defined by incumbents or upstarts.
Companies mentioned: AMZN, LYFT, OKTA, CHGG, AAPL, MSFT
Host: Alex Friedman
Guest: Mike Maples, Jr.
Producer: Mary Long
Engineers: Dez Jones, Tim Sparks
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