Joys of Compounding
Episode 22 The Art of Accel-ing
Joys of Compounding

Episode 22: The Art of Accel-ing

Joys of Compounding

Episode 22

The Art of Accel-ing

Rich Wong is a General Partner at Accel. We cover the research process that led to his early investment in Atlassian, why Accel chose to focus on bootstrapping early-stage companies, how the venture ecosystem is changing, and why policy and philanthropy are so important.

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Show Notes

(00:00:00) Welcome to the Joys of Compounding

(00:04:41) The Atlassian Chase Story

(00:07:41) Bootstrapping and Venture Capital

(00:18:10) Excel's Founding and Evolution

(00:22:14) Rich Wong's Early Influences

(00:24:42) Becoming an Accidental Venture Capitalist

(00:31:39) Excel's Team Dynamics and Investment Strategies

(00:38:28) The Evolution of Mobility and AI

(00:39:58) Bottom-Up Innovation and Defense Technology

(00:41:25) AI's Role in Incumbents vs. Startups

(00:44:53) Service Channel Case Study

(00:47:58) Capital Efficiency and Indigestion

(00:51:04) The Role of Grit and Overfunding

(00:55:29) Venture Capital Ecosystem and Returns

(01:04:03) Public Policy and Poverty Solutions

(01:11:43) Balancing Career and Personal Life

(01:15:37) How Rich Wants His Life To Be Measured

The Art of Accel-ing

Introduction

Paul
Today's teacher is Rich Wong, general partner at a renowned venture firm, Accel. Rich is a very special investor and leader, and he spent many years as an operator prior to his time in venture capital. What was going to be a short stint as a venture operating partner nearly 20 years ago turned into a defining pivot for Rich. He not only quickly reached the top of the venture profession, but also he's become the go-to investor for many luminary companies such as Atlassian, UiPath, AdMob, Checkr, Rovio, ServiceChannel, and many, many more.

In preparation for our time with Rich, we spoke with numerous Accel team members, leaders of other investment firms, and many others beyond that. And he is unanimously admired for his abilities and the humble way by which he goes about his life. And his range of interests spans beyond venture, too. He's a devoted husband and father, and he's very involved in many of the leading university-based poverty alleviation labs.

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