The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch 20VC: Ribbit Capital's Nick Shalek on How To Think Through Ownership and Price Sensitivity, When More Money and Pre-Emptive Rounds are Good vs Bad & Investing Lessons from Yale's David Swensen
Jul 26, 2021
Nick Shalek, a General Partner at Ribbit Capital, is a fintech guru with a history at Yale's Investments Office. He shares his journey into venture capital and lessons learned from David Swensen. Nick discusses the importance of ownership and the nuances of pricing in today's fintech landscape. He also emphasizes the need for strong relationships with founders and team culture in investing. Lastly, he explores reinvestment strategies and the evolution of Ribbit as they navigate the rapidly changing fintech environment.
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Path to Fintech
- Nick Shalek initially planned to be an entrepreneur, influenced by his mother.
- An unexpected introduction to Mickey Malka at Ribbit Capital led him to fintech.
Initial Doubts
- Nick initially disagreed with Ribbit Capital's sector-focused, international approach, believing sector funds don't work.
- He viewed venture capital as a local business, contradicting Ribbit's strategy.
Lessons from Swensen
- Nick learned from David Swensen that great investing relies on aligning incentives and relationships.
- Building rapport and trust is key to accessing the best investment opportunities.
