The Tim Ferriss Show

#780: Cyan Banister — From Homeless and Broke to Top Angel Investor (Uber, SpaceX, and 100+ More)

1599 snips
Nov 27, 2024
Cyan Banister, a general partner at Long Journey Ventures and early investor in giants like Uber and SpaceX, shares her inspiring journey from homelessness to success. She discusses the importance of resilience shaped by her background on a Native American reservation. Cyan reveals unique investment insights, especially regarding Uber's challenges, and highlights serendipity in discovering opportunities. The conversation also touches on personal growth through embracing randomness and exploring spirituality, illustrating how transformative experiences can reshape one’s worldview.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Early Life and Homelessness

  • Cyan Bannister grew up on the Navajo Reservation and faced homelessness from age 13.
  • She became a ward of the state at 15 after refusing to lie for her mother in court.
ANECDOTE

Learning Self-Reliance

  • Cyan learned street survival from other homeless people and developed self-reliance.
  • A near-death experience with hypothermia during a hitchhiking trip solidified her desire for independence.
ANECDOTE

Early Entrepreneurial Efforts

  • To earn money, Cyan sold items from donation centers and made hemp jewelry.
  • She credits meeting Chris Collins, who introduced her to computers, as pivotal.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app