Venture Pill E146: Interview with Hoolie Tejwani, Head of Coinbase Ventures
Feb 20, 2025
Hoolie Tejwani, Head of Coinbase Ventures, discusses his journey to Coinbase and the firm's mission to promote economic freedom through blockchain. He shares insights into investing in competitors, the rise of meme coins, and the impact of the Trump administration on crypto regulations. The conversation also highlights the synergy between AI and crypto, along with predictions for the future of both fields. Hoolie offers clever strategies for navigating the fast-paced tech landscape while staying informed about emerging trends.
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From Missed Bitcoin To Coinbase
- Hoolie traced his crypto interest back to MIT and an early missed Bitcoin experiment that made him pay attention.
- He moved from Bain to Obvious Ventures and then connected to Coinbase via coffee chats that led to meetings with leadership.
Experiment Turned Global Venture Arm
- Coinbase Ventures began as a blog-post experiment and grew into a full-time, repeatable investment arm.
- They balance financial returns with a mission to build an on-chain ecosystem that lifts all boats.
Avoid A Zero-Sum Mindset
- Don't treat crypto as zero-sum; invest broadly even if startups could seem competitive to core products.
- Let core products compete on merit while supporting ecosystem growth.