Give First The Long Game of Venture and Generosity with David Hornik
Jan 6, 2026
David Hornik, founding partner at Lobby Capital and a champion of the 'give first' approach, discusses his relationship-driven career in venture capital. He emphasizes how generosity compounds over time and the importance of trust in building lasting networks. The conversation highlights the origins of the Lobby conference and his connection to Adam Grant's work. David shares insights on balancing economic success with a kind, candid approach to challenges, showcasing how a give-first mindset shapes his interactions with founders and the community.
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Invest In Relationships, Not Transactions
- Prioritize relationships over transactions when investing and building a career in venture capital.
- Help smart people without expecting immediate returns and trust the universe to reward long-term generosity.
Raising Lobby Capital Funds
- David raised Lobby One and recently Lobby Two to continue a community-driven investing approach.
- Lobby Capital combines his conference network with early-stage investing in software companies.
The Lobby: Conversations Over Keynotes
- The Lobby is a 20-year invite-only conference focused on conversations in the lobby rather than staged talks.
- It mixes tech topics with human conversations, creating deep friendships and business connections.
