How Connie Looks for Asymmetric Investment Upside
At a live Family Office Club event, Richard C. Wilson introduces a Hot Investor Trends panel where Connie discusses her investment approach.
Richard C. Wilson introduces the opening installment of Hot Investor Trends as a live panel discussion. Connie describes how she approaches private company opportunities, the questions she weighs before investing, and the experience behind her most valuable investment insight.
In this video: Richard C. Wilson (Host and introducer), Connie (Investor with an angel investor and family office network)
What they said
- Connie on founder experience. Connie said entrepreneurs with direct knowledge of the problem or pain they are trying to solve make a tremendous difference. She pointed to that connection as a type of founder she looks for. (at 2:18)
- Connie on investment structures. Connie said she prefers private equity and will consider straight private equity and convertible notes. She also said her group reviews a broad range of opportunities. (at 1:50)
- Connie on team execution. Connie said a strong team can succeed with a mediocre product. She described an investment in a company with a working device whose team could not make it work, leaving her with a loss while the company stayed in business. (at 4:41)
- Connie on sector mix. Connie said about 50% of the network's investments have been in life sciences. She said they are trying to look at other opportunities. (at 1:50)
- Connie on risk, people and time. Connie framed her investment insight around limited downside, exceptional people and time to compound. She said they are talking three to four years rather than six to ten years, and described outsized returns as what she is dreaming of. (at 4:12)
In their words
"Safes are best for the entrepreneur, not always great for the investor."
"I can remove the rivet in 6 seconds."
Why it matters if you are building or preserving great wealth
The rivet company took about a decade to reach progress, while Connie said she looks for a three-to-four-year path. That gap makes time horizon part of how she weighs a deal.
From Richard's exclusive Billionaires.com interviews
Lessons from Richard C. Wilson's one-on-one interviews, as published on each interview page.
- Michael Lee-Chin: Invest in what people will do next. He saw that his generation would shift from consuming to saving and investing. He chose wealth management companies over banks and insurers to avoid underwriting losses.
- Tom Rosen: Buy when the market is down. Tom bought a lot when the stock market almost collapsed and made a substantial profit. In the year that followed, oil and gas surged. So did some tech.
- Tim Draper: Teach children about money early. Give them a small allowance and have them earn and invest money in the stock market. Over time they learn to ask sharp questions about how a business works.
See the data
Frequently asked questions
What was the aircraft company trying to change?
Connie described a tool for removing aircraft rivets during maintenance, repair and overhaul. She said the current method used a large drill and the company had struggled with regulation and airline adoption.
What does Connie's network include?
She described angel investors, family offices, investment funds and individual investors. Companies that receive additional funding from investors through the network can apply for the fund in Northern California.
Sources
Quotes are copied from the video captions and checked against the transcript. Timestamps link to the moment in the video. General information only, not legal, tax or investment advice.