Josh Browder, founder of a successful investment firm, is shaking things up in the startup ecosystem. He stresses the need for heart and hustle from anyone wanting to be an entrepreneur younger than 25. In May, his Innovation Endeavors firm raised $30 million from a cast of Silicon Valley all-stars, Sequoia Capital among them, to fund young whippersnappers. Browder believes that the most successful young founders share a unique trait: a deep connection to the problems they are aiming to solve.
As an investor, Browder has funded a number of great young companies. One of these is Wander, a short-term rental platform started by John Andrew Entwistle. He praised Entwistle’s initial enterprise, Coder, which has raised at least $80 million in total funding. Coder, the company behind today’s announcement, provides powerful open-source tools specifically designed for software developers. It was co-founded by three high school pals, who made their first dollars developing plugins and private servers for Minecraft players.
Browder’s holistic approach to influence investing comes through loud and strong. He prioritizes investing in founders who are fully committed to their company. He puts a premium on people who really understand the problems they’re trying to solve. He stated, “A lot of people are just building companies to get it on their resume and things like that … Just having them care deeply about the problem puts them in the top 20%.”
The entrepreneur’s perspective dovetails with recently expressed observations by billionaire investor Mark Cuban. In line with this, Cuban argues that entrepreneurs have to be deeply dedicated to their businesses from the beginning. He advises potential founders with a notable phrase: “Don’t start a company unless it’s an obsession and something you love.” Browder agrees with this opinion, especially as it pertains to entrepreneurs under 30 years of age who he feels frequently have more passion for their ideas.
“The world is changing so quickly that these young entrepreneurs are passionate about ideas, and if they don’t pursue it today, they’ll never get a chance to pursue it,” Browder noted. This sense of urgency and excitement are two traits he loves to see when looking at new investment opportunities.
Browder’s advice goes not only to the uncommitted but to the uncommitted. He’s adamant that people creating the world’s next technology disruptors have a deep personal attachment to their mission. Without that connection, he argues, they are just going to quit when things get hard. “If they don’t have a true connection to the problem, they’re going to give up. So I look for signals that they care about what they’re building,” he elaborated.
His wisdom rings true to the entrepreneurship experience that he calls an intense odyssey. “A lot of being an entrepreneur is like eating glass,” he remarked, highlighting the challenges that come with pursuing one’s passion.
Entwistle’s path to becoming a Coder changed Browder’s mind early on. He recalled his first impression of Entwistle: “He instantly struck me as one of the top 0.1% people. I thought, ‘This is just such a powerful story. I have to find some way to invest in him.’”
Browder’s dedication to helping young innovators does not end with providing them financial support. He’s an enthusiastic propagator of practical, firsthand wisdom, hailing from the trenches of startupping and startup-watching. His approach puts a premium on passion and profound problem-solving ties, which is something he believes is crucial to long-term success.