Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry Joe Lonsdale – Entrepreneurship and 8VC (First Meeting, EP.09)
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Sep 30, 2019 
Joe Lonsdale, founding partner at 8VC, shares his remarkable journey from co-founding Palantir to venture capitalism. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from operator to investor and the unique advantages founders have in the venture ecosystem. Lonsdale explains 8VC's approach to building innovative companies and emphasizes the significance of strong networks in early-stage investing. His insights into competitive advantages, due diligence, and evolving market trends illuminate the complexities of the venture landscape.
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Palantir's Origin
- Joe Lonsdale's first venture was Palantir, initially Peter Thiel's idea stemming from PayPal's fraud issues with the Russian mafia.
- Lonsdale and his team developed a prototype and pitched it to the CIA, despite skepticism from others.
Building Palantir
- Lonsdale hired the first 100 employees and helped build Palantir's government and commercial divisions.
- After fully vesting, he left to found Addepar, driven by his passion and desire for greater ownership.
Addepar's Vision
- Addepar arose from the need for a platform to manage financial data, inspired by Lonsdale's experience with Palantir and his own family office.
- He identified a gap in the market for a platform connecting various parts of the financial world.