Yesterday Podcast Chad Byers | The Life Story Behind Robinhood’s Earliest Investor
9 snips
Aug 15, 2025 
Chad Byers, co-founder of Susa Ventures, shares his remarkable journey from a young entrepreneur selling Beanie Babies on eBay to becoming a seed investor for Robinhood. He reveals how family values shaped his business ethics and discusses the impact of sibling rivalry on his ambitions. Chad also dives into the lessons learned from missed investments like Canva, the strategy behind Susa's focus on early-stage tech, and his commitment to healthcare innovations that save lives. Tune in for insight on ambition, investment, and personal growth.
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Early Hustles And A Lucky Lesson
- Chad Byers started hustling as a kid selling mistletoe and flipping Beanie Babies on eBay, earning thousands by age 14.
- A shipment of counterfeit Beanie Babies led to an insured UPS payout, an early lesson in risk and luck.
From A TV Quip To A Viral Site
- A casual Jon Stewart mention of a domain inspired Chad to buy nerdglaze.com and build a viral content site overnight.
- Nerdglaze grew with decentralized writers, went viral on Reddit, then got micro-sold when it consumed too much time.
Build The Firm Like A Product
- Treat venture as building a firm as well as making investments by spending meaningful time on fundraising, culture, and strategy.
- Chad spends roughly half his day on firm-building activities, not just investing.