Michael is co-founder of the 1517 Fund, a venture capital fund investing in teams led by dropouts, the uncredentialed, and renegade scientists. He recently published his first book, Paper Belt on Fire: How Renegade Investors Sparked a Revolt Against the University. Previously he was vice president for grants at the Thiel Foundation and a principal at Thiel Capital, where he helped launch and run the Thiel Fellowship. Follow Michael on Twitter @William_Blake.
[2:18] - How Michael’s background in philosophy ultimately led him to venture capital
[12:06] - Michael’s brief stint as a screenwriter and how he views founders through the perspective of a storyteller
[22:49] - Analyzing the factors that contribute to individual and societal creativity, greatness, and progress
[39:08] - How Michael approaches talent attraction, identification, and development
[48:07] - The story behind the title of Michael’s book “Paper Belt on Fire”
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