Simply, we were born in entrepreneurial shoes and we’ve led others to success. Most start-ups scratch the surface of their ultimate potential, but need more help than friends and family can provide. The vast majority of early stage companies grow to the extent of their founders’ networks. Providing additional resources, both financial and professional, is what we do.
The venture capital eye often doesn’t see past Silicon Valley. VC philosophy is generally to keep companies close and monitored during incubation, and there is a perception it isn’t necessary to go outside of Northern California. We disagree.
The companies we are interested in thrive faster in their own native environment. We argue a startup’s location is a tremendous competitive advantage, capitalizing on resources both in the marketplace and with talent recruitment. When we find a great company, we hop on a plane to get hands on and help. It’s one of our key principles: Your location is more important than ours.
The StagedotO leadership team shares equally diverse backgrounds, from creating multiple acquisition targets to hedge fund management to Fortune 50 brand marketing. Our capital foundation is built on the success of those ventures.
We also provide both directed and fund investment opportunities to accredited investors, many of whom don’t have the bandwidth to vet early stage companies outside of the individual’s expertise.
Devin is a serial entrepreneur and investor having co-founded five startups, all leveraging the same company methodology he has incorporated into the StagedotO approach. Focused on company strategy, Devin has 18 years experience in venture-backed company building in San Francisco/Silicon Valley.
Mike has managed a successful small-cap hedge fund generating top quartile returns for over 10 years. Previously banker at Hambrecht & Quist and JP Morgan Chase, hedge fund manager and investor, Mike is a management assessment expert.