VC Talks #2: Juan Acosta, Draper University

Welcome to the second episode of VC Talks, a short interview series which shares the wisdom and experience of Venture Capitalists and investors with just a few short questions.

I’m very excited to have Juan Acosta for the second episode of VC Talks. Juan is the former COO of Draper University and investor with Draper U Ventures. He is now launching a company with a mission to bring people closer to each other, faith and god.

Juan has made 12+ pre-seed investments through Draper U Ventures and has made independent syndicate angel investments (such as Lead IQ and Knightscope). As being a latino immigrant venture capitalist, he has a deep sense of respect for international and immigrant founders, which has been one of his investment focus areas.

Let’s dive into the conversation with Juan.

Efe: If you could choose any person from history to be your imaginary friend, who would it be and why?

Juan: Already did. And he’s a real friend… even better than an imaginary one! Jesus. He has been an integral part of my life, and if it wasn’t for him, I would not be where I am today or doing what I am doing. I hope to grow closer to the faith and bring the world along with me too.

Efe: What was the biggest challenge you faced or the biggest risk you took in your career? How did you overcome it? How did it pay off?

Juan: I dropped out of an Aerospace Engineering education, twice. The first time was due to financial and health issues at home. This period of time taught me resilience, the value of family, and the importance of hard work. I did everything I could to help us thrive; from cutting and delivering flowers at a Flower Shop, to leading development of products used by huge companies. I said yes to everything, even if it was not my expertise. Somehow all that “Yes” saying made me believe that I could actually achieve anything I wanted. That is how I launched my first business which helped me get my family and I back on our feet; I said yes to someone that needed a website without me having a clue how to make a website. The second time I dropped out of school was due to a feeling of unfulfillment. This period of time, along with some great mentors, taught me that success without fulfillment is absolute failure. So I started doing what was fulfilling to me which was having a deep positive impact in people’s lives. It is what I live by daily.

Efe: What is your biggest problem/challenge nowadays?

Juan: My greatest challenge currently is getting the world closer to faith and God. This is my life’s greatest mission, and due to the day only having 24 hours, I have had to say “No” to a lot of things lately in order to focus on the mission at hand. I started a company called Tabella, which is a private and secure social network for religious communities. I still mentor, angel invest, and help young entrepreneurs, but my full focus has been on making sure my team is taken care of especially in these unstable economic times.

Efe: What do you do when you feel like you are not making any progress or you feel overwhelmed by the challenges?

Juan: Pray and Move. A great mentor taught me that motion equals emotion. Basically, our physiology impacts our psychology a lot more than we think. So when things get stressful, a simple strategy is to just move. This could be exercise, could be a walk, dancing, whatever you want.

Efe: What is one thing you expect from or you are most excited about the next decade? (Could be related to business, technology, entertainment, health etc.)

Juan: Three things. I believe that there will be a massive opportunity for companies that are able to fight through this potential economic situation. As you’ve probably seen, some of the biggest companies in the world have been built in what most think are inopportune times. Another thing I am noticing is the concept of vertical social communities taking off (Nextdoor is a great example). The big players like Facebook will not be able to address the specific needs of “niche” communities. This is one big reason why Tabella, my company, is being built around the concept of vertical social communities. The experts on this subject are A16Z and you can read about it on their great blog. And lastly, I believe there will be a swing in the pendulum from a secularized society, to a more faith oriented society. The convergence of faith and science will come even closer.

Efe: What advice would you give to a new graduate or an experienced professional who wants to become a VC or find a job at a VC firm? How can they start adding value to startups and VCs?

Juan: Move chairs and say yes to everything. I started my career in the venture space by literally rolling up my sleeves and doing the work that most did not want to do. For me, I call this “moving chairs” as it is one of the things I actually did to break into venture. I set up chairs for pitch days, I set up chairs for students being accelerated, I helped clean and make beds, etc. That is how I got to work with one of the most legendary VCs. The advice I usually give when asked this question is to basically roll up your sleeves, do the work, and instead of asking “How can I be helpful?,” anticipate and just “be helpful.” This is applicable to the way you interact with other VCs and startups. If a company pitches you, go ahead and help them by sending them intros, articles, opportunities, etc. I always do my best to anticipate what someone will need, and surprise them by going beyond the call of duty.

I’d like to thank Juan for joining me and sharing valuable insights for the VC Talks.

We’ll interview new VCs and investors every episode, so if you’d like to attend or know someone who would, please DM me via Twitter. Also happy to hear your feedback and if you enjoyed the VC Talks please follow, comment and share with your friends.