David Hornik, founding partner at Lobby Capital, brings over 25 years of venture capital experience to the table. He discusses his surprising transition from law to VC and the serendipity behind early successes, including Splunk’s massive acquisition. David emphasizes the art of networking through his Lobby Conference, cultivating meaningful connections. He reflects on his biggest wins and missed opportunities—like Facebook and Uber—while revealing how psychological insights and emotional intelligence play vital roles in assessing startup founders.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
From Law to VC
David Hornik's legal career unexpectedly led him to venture capital.
He transitioned after realizing his passion for working with startups.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Manufacturing Luck
Work hard and network strategically to manufacture your own luck in VC.
Increase your exposure and be helpful to others.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Splunk Success
David Hornik invested in Splunk at a $10M valuation.
It later sold to Cisco for $30B, exceeding expectations.
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David Hornik, founding partner at Lobby Capital, has spent over 25 years shaping the venture capital landscape. Formerly a lawyer with degrees from Stanford and Harvard, David transitioned into venture capital, making early bets on companies like Splunk, Build.com, and GitLab. His career is marked by a passion for helping founders, fostering strong industry relationships, and identifying high-potential investments.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
00:43 Introduction to Driving Alpha Podcast
01:57 Meet David Hornick: From Law to Venture Capital
03:43 Early Ventures and Key Investments
07:35 The Importance of Getting Lucky Early
09:44 Big Wins and Missed Opportunities
17:26 The Lobby Conference: Building Relationships
21:36 Adding Value as a VC
25:12 Psychology in Venture Capital
27:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
In this episode
David shares how his background in law unexpectedly led him to venture capital and how he navigated the early years of his career. He discusses the importance of getting lucky early, but also how hard work and strategic networking can help VCs manufacture their own luck.
David also opens up about his biggest investment wins—such as Splunk’s $30 billion acquisition—and the key deals he missed, including early opportunities with Facebook and Uber. He dives into his passion for building meaningful relationships through the Lobby Conference, an exclusive networking event that has connected some of the biggest names in tech and venture capital. Finally, he explains why psychology and emotional intelligence are just as critical as technical knowledge in evaluating and supporting startups.
Driving Alpha