Founder vs Investor: Discover Your Path

🌍 4 min to confirm who you really are.

If you're anything like me, you've probably wondered whether you should become an allocator (investor) or an operator (founder or startup employee) who dives deep, gets their hands dirty, and makes the day-to-day magic happen. I've been in that position and have tried both roles.

One thing is certain, regardless of the role: the path to success looks a bit like this:

I like to drop a few memes every now and then, and I find that those go a long way.

A Page from My Book: The Dual Adventure

I'll share a little secret: I’ve worn both hats. Started three businesses, rolled up my sleeves, and reveled in the grind as an Operator. Later, I shifted gears and took on the Allocator role, focusing on the bigger picture. My journey taught me something invaluable: I'm a natural when it comes to connecting dots and seeing the broader horizon. That's where my heart settled. How about you?

Exercise 1: Heart of the Matter

1. Pen down the top 5 Climate Tech challenges that genuinely move you.

2. Next to each, scribble down any ideas or solutions that pop up.

3. Now, think: Would you rather be the one breathing life into that solution daily (Operator) or backing and guiding the brains that do (Allocator)?

Exercise 2: Picture This

1. Imagine a Climate Tech project hitting its stride.

2. Are you mingling with the team daily, tweaking things (Operator)? Or are you the one orchestrating, making sure various projects harmonize (Allocator)?

Exercise 3: Know Yourself

1. List your top 5 go-to skills.

2. For each, think: Is this a ground-level skill or a top-tier, big-picture kind of skill?

3. See any trends? That’s a hint right there.

Exercise 4: Depth vs Breadth?

Some soul-searching:

• Do you love dabbling in a bit of everything, weaving together a grand plan? (Sounds Allocator-ish!)

• Or do you find joy in delving deep into a singular mission, refining it to perfection? (Got Operator vibes?)

Your Cozy Spot in Climate Tech

Here's the real deal: Climate Tech isn't just another buzzword—it's our beacon. It needs Allocators with their panoramic visions and Operators with their unmatched zeal. It’s not about what's cooler, but where you feel the coziest and most fulfilled.

For me? Being an Allocator felt like coming home—it just clicked. Dive into these exercises, listen to that little voice inside, and find where you truly belong in this big, beautiful world of Climate Tech.

So, ready for some introspection? Let’s journey together. 🌍

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Whenever you're ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:

1. Invest In Climate Tech Like A VC 🎓: Join over 200 students in my cohort-based course to learn how to find unique Climate Tech startups that will change the world, and how to start investing in them regardless of your budget.

2. Join my Climate investor community 🚀 Unlock access to groundbreaking climate deals. Dive into transformative deals like our recent nuclear fusion venture and two pioneering moonshot projects.

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And if you are enjoying this newsletter, the best support would be to recommend it to a Climate friend or colleague 🙏 Let’s grow this movement together.