Startups - DAN REICH

ThunderVC Pod = EP 50 How Dan Reich Cracked the Code to Multiple Successful Exits

I had a chance to join Jason Kirby on his Podcast to talk all things startups, fundraising, M&A, and bouncy balls. Jason also started and sold a few companies and is now running a company called Thunder VC where he’s helping founders navigate the wild world of fundraising and M&A.

His show notes and full video are below. It’s a good one.

→ Don’t Be Afraid to Pivot “Why My Mom Became My First Customer Service Rep”
→ Choose Partners Wisely “The Day I Realized My Business Partner Was on the FBI’s Radar”
→ Embrace the Unexpected “How Throwing College Parties Led to a Marketing Company”
→ Turn No’s into Yes’s “The VCs Said No. So We Did Everything They Said We Couldn’t.”
→ Follow the Wave “When Facebook Was Rising, We Rode the Social Media Wave”
→ Stay True to Your Vision “Why I Left a Cushy Corporate Job to Build My Dream… Again”
→ Build Relationships, Not Just Companies “How Saying No to an Investor Led to Multiple Deals Down the Road”
→ Think Beyond the Fundraise “The Goal Isn’t Raising Money. It’s Building a Profitable Company.”
→ Give Back “Why I Angel Invest: It’s Not About the Money”

Joining Michael Karnjanaprakorn On His Podcast

I recently had a chance to catch up with my friend Michael Karnjanaprakorn. We’ve known each other for at least a decade or so now from the early days of the New York Tech ecosystem. This was a fun one.

Full video below and here.

And, some highlights that Mike pulled out from our conversation.

Dan Reich: “Business is a video game.”

I asked Dan Reich who has sold four companies to Salesforce, Buddy Media, and Procter & Gamble:

“Why are you still building companies instead of retiring and riding off into the sunset?”

He shared a conversation with a fellow serial entrepreneur:

CEO: “Do you still play video games?
Dan: “Yeah, I do still play video games.”
CEO: “So do I. But this business is a video game, and it’s a game that other people gave me money to play. If I win, not only will I make them money, I’ll make money too. And I love the video game.”

Dan reflects on this analogy:

Dan: “He was right. The journey is the prize. I tell everyone I have a career conversation with: People who optimize for money are not happy, and people who optimize for happiness end up finding money.”

In this episode, Dan dives into:

• His transition from 4x founder to building a venture studio.
• His playbook for building companies.
• His advice for navigating a post-exit journey.