Something Ventured -- Silicon Valley Podcast Roger Ehrenberg: From IA Ventures to Eberg Capital – A Top Silicon Valley Investor Turns to Sports
Jan 26, 2025
Roger Ehrenberg, a seasoned investor and founder of IA Ventures and Eberg Capital, dives deep into his multifaceted career. He shares insights on the evolution from Wall Street trading to venture capital, emphasizing the importance of founder liquidity and humane investing. Ehrenberg explains why he sees sports as a ripe area for investment, discussing strategic stakes in franchises like the Miami Marlins and trends in sports betting and media convergence. He also touches on revitalizing Detroit through targeted investments while highlighting the critical role of community services in urban renewal.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
First Family Sports Investment
- Roger Ehrenberg describes investing early in the Miami Marlins as the family's first sports investment and a launchpad into the sports ecosystem.
- He used franchise ownership to build network credibility and diversify family assets while seeding sports venture activity.
Use Pragmatic Founder Liquidity
- Allow limited founder liquidity to reduce personal stress and align long-term incentives when appropriate.
- Aim for modest secondaries ($1–2M) to sustain founders without undermining product-market focus.
From Fast Trading To Long-Horizon Venture
- Roger contrasts running a liquid markets trading operation that lost $150M in a week with later building IA Ventures focused on long-horizon seed investments.
- He explains the shared DNA: building high-performance teams, despite opposite feedback loops and timelines.