The Journey into the Tech Space

Jack Selby entered the tech industry serendipitously after meeting Peter Thiel through a mutual friend in 1998. Initially enrolled in business school, he questioned his decision after receiving dull preparatory books but was encouraged by Thiel to help launch an early version of what would become PayPal. Despite the dubious nature of their first concept, which included creating an offshore online bank, Selby and his team pivoted to a more feasible idea that allowed payments through email, leveraging the existing email infrastructure rather than relying solely on handheld devices. This combination of luck, intellect, and timing set the stage for Selby's long and successful career in tech and venture capital.