This 26 year old investor funded Nadeshot and 100 Thieves: A conversation with Blake Robbins | Summary and Q&A

Transcript

Read and summarize the transcript of this video on Glasp Reader (beta).

Summary

In this video, Blake Robbins, a venture capitalist at Ludlow Ventures, shares his journey from being a gamer and YouTuber to becoming a venture capitalist. He discusses how he discovered venture capital, his early experiences in startups, and his role in building 100 Thieves, one of the biggest esports brands. He also touches upon the opportunities and challenges of working with influencers and creators in the startup world.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Blake Robbins get started in venture capital?

Blake grew up in the suburbs of Detroit and initially thought he would end up in the automotive industry. However, he realized during college that he was more interested in startups and tech. He researched and reached out to various companies, eventually landing an internship at a startup called Zaarly. This experience sparked his interest in venture capital.

Q: How did Blake break into venture capital despite being told it was rare for someone right out of college?

Blake viewed his resume as a portfolio and leveraged his internship experiences at companies like SpaceX and Nest to make his resume more attractive to venture capitalists. He reached out to investors and managed to secure an internship at Ludlow Ventures through a connection with Ryan Hoover, the founder of Product Hunt. From there, he continued to prove his value and eventually became a full-time team member.

Q: What is the importance of connections and being persistent in the startup world?

Blake highlighted the importance of connections and persistence in the startup world. He emphasized the power of cold emailing and reaching out to people who can help you. He also mentioned that being thoughtful and providing value in your interactions can greatly increase your chances of success. He shared his own experiences of reaching out to influencers and creators and how those connections opened doors for him.

Q: How did Blake and Ludlow Ventures get involved with 100 Thieves?

Blake explained that while exploring the gaming and esports space, he noticed the potential of 100 Thieves, a brand started by YouTuber Nadeshot. Ludlow Ventures saw an opportunity to enter the esports industry and incubate their own team. They reached out to Nadeshot and proposed the idea of relaunching and expanding 100 Thieves together. After persistent efforts, the collaboration became a reality, and Ludlow Ventures helped build 100 Thieves into a successful esports brand.

Q: What are the considerations for startups and influencers when working together?

It is crucial to ensure alignment and motivation between both parties. Blake mentioned that creators should have a significant stake in the startup to ensure their commitment and dedication. This can be achieved through structuring equity deals where the influencer's channel or platform becomes part of the company. It is important to avoid situations where the creator has other income streams and does not prioritize the startup's success.

Q: How can startups and influencers work together beyond cash-for-impressions deals?

Blake suggested exploring equity-based partnerships where influencers receive a small percentage of equity in exchange for a set number of promotional videos. This approach aligns both parties' interests and can result in a genuine endorsement and commitment from the influencer. It also allows startups to leverage the influencer's audience and distribution without solely relying on cash payments.

Q: How can influencers contribute to the growth of a startup beyond their promotional efforts?

Blake discussed the value of influencers' involvement in the startup beyond promotional videos. By pooling their platforms and channels into the business, influencers can contribute to the growth and success of the company. Their participation allows them to influence product development, brand identity, and the overall direction of the startup. In return, the startup benefits from the influencer's dedicated audience and loyalty.

Q: What challenges can arise when working with celebrity co-founders?

Blake highlighted the challenge of aligning the goals and motivations of celebrity co-founders, especially if they already have independent wealth and success in their main careers. It can be difficult to ensure their commitment and prioritization of the startup when they have other income streams. Clear and thoughtful structuring of equity, ownership, and commitment is necessary to address this challenge.

Q: Are there successful examples of influencers becoming true co-founders in startups?

Blake mentioned the example of Aviation Gin, where the creator, Ryan Reynolds, became a true co-founder and played a crucial role in the brand's success. He emphasized that the influencer's involvement should be more than just promotional and should align with the core goals and operations of the startup. When structured properly, such partnerships can lead to significant growth and success.

Q: What advice would Blake give his 18-year-old self?

Blake would advise his younger self to continue exploring different interests and going down various paths. He believes that curiosity and persistence are key to finding success. He also emphasized the importance of making genuine connections with people and being open to opportunities that may arise from those connections.

Takeaways

Blake Robbins' journey from being a gamer and YouTuber to becoming a venture capitalist highlights the power of connections, persistence, and aligning interests in the startup world. The opportunities for startups and influencers to work together go beyond cash-for-impressions deals, with equity-based partnerships and true co-founder roles offering compelling possibilities. When structured properly, these collaborations can lead to significant growth and success for both parties. It is important to ensure commitment, alignment, and mutual goals to maximize the benefits of such partnerships.