We took the opportunity as part of this year’s FUND Conference to get some insights from a couple of influential startup capital providers. Two of the panel participants have different funding perspectives, one venture capital and the other crowdfunding. Yet their commonality lies in their acceptance of early stage investment risks and their passionate drive to help startups succeed.
Rumi Morales
First we take some comments from Rumi Morales of Rumi Ventures, who spoke on the ‘Working the Midwest’ FUND Conference panel.
Please tell us what you do Rumi and why you got started.
My website says I am “pathfinding the bold technologies that will change our world.” But what that means in reality is I love helping awesome entrepreneurs find solutions to tough problems, create jobs that support families, and build their communities. I started because I felt there may be nothing more noble than telling someone – “Hey, chances are we are going to fail, but I’m in this with you. Let’s just try.”
What makes your life interesting and satisfying?
I was given two all powerful gifts in my childhood — the love of my family and a great education. With that, I was emboldened to try absolutely anything, from living in seven different countries, traveling to over 40, starting my own businesses, exploring a life in the arts. Ultimately, I’m a risk-loving gypsy making a home wherever I go, knowing that I’m grounded by my family’s love and my many lessons learned.
What big ideas do you have for your future?
My ideas are more for my kids’ future. Ultimately, since so many of today’s jobs will be taken over by sentient machines, they should probably pursue careers that won’t be overtaken as quickly, like a professional athlete, concert musician, or President of the US — no matter how fast we might want that last change to come.
What do you want people to know that they often miss about you?
I’m winging it too. I think for startups, a VC can seem formidable and self-assured. And for those who’ve watched my career, it may seem like I was born knowing where I was going. But I’ve lost jobs multiple times. I’ve fronted a rock band. I tried the Hollywood thing. Just like you, I’m gathered here today to get through this thing called life.
What one piece of advice would you give to people in the early stage space?
There’s an expression: “Talent does what it can; genius does what it must.” So I would say to both an entrepreneur and early investor, let your genius free. Listen to its gut and let it carry you. The rest will follow.
Why did you join FUND this year?
I’m proud to be part of the growing and vibrant Chicago entrepreneurial community, and want to send the message that not only is this a great city for companies to start, it’s the best place to scale.
What motto do you try to live by?
A quotation I like these days is from Walden by Henry David Thoreau: “We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids but by an infinite expectation of the dawn…”. Not only is it an optimistic call to action, but it reminds us that the greatest ability to shape our days rests not with technology but from within.
Matthew McCall
Next, we get the perspective of Matthew McCall of Crowdvest, also a speaker on the ‘Working the Midwest’ panel.
Please tell us what you do Matthew and why you got started.
I own several finance related companies. I started Penn Financial Group, a registered investment advisor, in 2004 to help the underserved demographic of investors find the high-end investment advice the large firms were not offering. About 5 years ago I started Point B Publishing, an investment research firms that publishes several newsletters under the NexGen Investing brand. Within the last year I have also launched Crowdvest, an equity crowdfunding platform and Crowdvest Securities, which has filed to be a broker-dealer with FINRA and the SEC. A couple more ideas on the verge of coming to fruition, including a hedge fund and real estate company. I did this because I love to build things and provide services and products to areas that are underserved. But bottom line is that I love the freedom being an entrepreneur allows me to have.
What makes your life interesting and satisfying?
I absolutely love what I do for a living. The mornings are my favorite part of the day because there is the ability to create something new in the day ahead. It also allows me the ability to follow my second passion of travel and exploration. I am well on my way to achieve my goal of visiting 100 countries in the next few years.
What big ideas do you have for your future?
Once the broker-dealer is approved I plan on changing the way companies go public and to help smaller entrepreneurs achieve their dreams. While at the same time allowing the retail investor the opportunity to invest in the companies that will change the future.
What do you want people to know that they often miss about you?
That this is not all about money. It is about passion, happiness, and freedom.
What one piece of advice would you give to people in the early stage space?
Always follow your passion and never do something you feel does not go inline with you morals. It is better to be able to sleep at night than to have a pile of cash under the bed.
Why did you join FUND this year?
I wanted to spread the word about the opportunities for small companies in fund raising as well as share the opportunities the individual investor in funding small, emerging, high growth companies.
What motto do you try to live by?
Always do what will allow you to sleep at night. If I had to do something different it would be to take more time to enjoy life and realize it will be there when you get back into the office.
FUND Conference is a Venture Connects event, which facilitates the funding of startup companies.
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