A team of
builders
We’re committed to building companies alongside you, not just writing checks. We are former founders, operators, and executives; we aren’t afraid to roll up our sleeves.
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HOMETOWN
Pacific Palisades, CA
EDUCATION
Industrial Engineering at Stanford and MBA at Stanford
NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT
My journal—I’m always reflecting on growth opportunities and trying to better prioritize my time in support of my values and goals
HOW DO YOU PASS TIME IN LA TRAFFIC?
Podcasts and Spotify playlists—a lot of Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday interviews
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
I delivered airline tickets (before they were digital) all over LA for my mom’s travel agency
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE BEACH IN LA?
Station 15, Jetty at Will Rogers State Beach, where my parents would drop us at 8 am and pick us up at sunset. It’s where I learned to surf, did Junior Lifeguards, and watched them film Baywatch.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ROAD TRIP FROM LA?
Driving up PCH through Malibu up to Ojai or Santa Barbara. They are so close but so different than LA and you get to stare at the ocean all the way.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CITY BESIDES LA?
I’ve held on to my infatuation with Auckland after my wife and I honeymooned there in 2001. It’s a modern, SF-like city with short ferry rides to beautiful small islands covered in wineries and abandoned beaches.
What's your favorite LA neighborhood?
Palisades is the best family community, but I’ve always regretted not moving to Manhattan Beach back in 2001. I’d be surfing more and playing more volleyball.
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Best piece of life advice you've gotten?
“Let the game come to you.” I think Phil Jackson said this to MJ, but Theresa Ranzetta-Gouw shared this wisdom with me while she was at Accel. At the time, I was trying to build Crosscut and launch StyleSaint at the same time. She noticed I was trying to force success and urged me to relax and let things develop in a more natural rhythm. Her advice really helped me at a time when I was overwhelmed by stress and doubt.
What did you learn as an entrepreneur at StyleSaint?
Empathy. My failure as an entrepreneur made me a better investor—more capable of understanding the plight of the entrepreneur and more accepting of the idea that good ideas and great effort can often still lead to failure.
What have you learned as an investor at Crosscut?
Infinite patience and confidence in yourself. This is a tough career—one of the few where you can still question if you are any good at it after 18 years on the job. I try not to take each failure personally and stay focused on the collective body of work. There are great highs, and low lows, so you can’t live in a constant state of self-doubt. I try to stay focused on the quality of the relationships that I build with my entrepreneurs—both in success and in failure.
How did you decide to found Crosscut?
Rick and I saw a bunch of high-growth, successful LA-based businesses scaling in LA while we were at a firm focused on Enterprise IT. We started spending time chasing deals in new markets, convincing ourselves that we knew something that the other firms didn’t. We had a thesis that venture investors benefit from brand and reputation that is best built locally, one deal at a time and we bet that LA had the right ingredients to be a long-term sustainable tech ecosystem. It took a little longer than we had hoped, but we are quite fortunate now to have been in the right place at the right time!
What originally brought you to LA?
I was born here and spent my childhood surfing, fishing and playing volleyball. I missed that lifestyle after 10 years in the Bay Area. My wife and I were both unemployed after the first tech bubble burst, deciding that we wanted to start our family together in LA, so we moved back in 2001 after I finished business school.
What do you look for in partners?
In general, I seek relationships that are built on integrity, honesty, and vulnerability. I believe that we are all flawed, and those that show self-awareness and a constant desire to improve as human beings resonate with me. If you can build a partnership with that type of foundation, I think you have a much better chance of making good decisions and finding creative solutions to the infinite problems we will face in helping our portfolio companies win.
Where can people find you on the weekends?
I’m usually at a sports complex coaching and watching my boys play volleyball. If I happen to have a free weekend, I do my best to surf or play volleyball down at the beach.
CO-FOUNDER & PARTNER
Brett Brewer
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HOMETOWN
Turlock, California. The pride of the Central Valley!
EDUCATION
A proud UCLA Bruin
How do you pass the time in LA traffic?
I always have my call back list with me. I start at the top and start dialing.
What was your first job?
I started a “pencil selling business” in 4th grade that grew to be quite large but one of the jobs that had an impact on me was selling books door to door while I was at UCLA. Very tough business as you literally get hundreds of doors slammed in your face but you just have to keep knocking.
What is your favorite place in LA?
The Whaler on the Washington Street Pier
What’s your favorite beach in LA?
Little Dume
What’s your favorite road trip from LA?
Capitola
What’s your favorite city besides LA?
Sydney, Australia
Best LA tacos?
Tito’s Tacos
What’s your favorite LA neighborhood?
Venice
Favorite place to watch an LA sunset?
Santa Monica Mountains
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How did you decide to found Crosscut?
Between Intermix Media (MIX) and Adknowledge, I raised money from TCV, TPG, Redpoint, Vantage Point, JMI, Nokia and more… but I never even thought about raising from a venture firm based in LA. Based on that experience, it felt like there must be an opportunity to “plant the flag in LA” and become the “go-to” LA-based venture firm. By teaming up with Rick and Brian (2 very experienced venture capitalists who know the business well), we were able to launch our proof of concept fund in LA in 2008. We’ve never looked back!
What was the first lesson you learned about business?
One of my first lessons in business was around team building and team dynamics. For the most part, businesses succeed or fail based on leadership and the decisions they make. At Intermix Media, I was obsessed with team building but occasionally I would get so excited about a new category (dating as an example) that I’d be willing to start a new business with a sub-optimal team. It didn’t take long to see that most of our failures (and there were many) stemmed from when I liked the business idea much more than the team I was able to quickly spin up. My focus today is almost completely around the quality of the founding team. Once we make an investment, I immediately help teams figure out the holes and how we can fill them. Lesson learned: it’s all about the quality of the team.
What was your first entrepreneurial endeavor and how did it go?
In 4th grade, I started a business selling high-end pencils with cool erasers to the other kids. It went well until I expanded into 2 other classrooms and tried to scale the business. 2 days later the principal shut down my business.
What have you learned as an entrepreneur?
Through the pencil business, I learned how to deliver a good product (I rode my bike to the other side of town to buy special colored pencils with jumbo easers) and make a big mark up and to run a profitable business. But I also learned that if you push it too far (and get greedy), it can all come crashing down quickly when the principal cracks down on you. I learned to know and understand your limits!
What do you look for in founders?
First and foremost, fire in their belly to succeed in their quest to change the world. The startup journey is on a tough road that’s littered with broken dreams. As we’ve all learned, founders have to be prepared to pivot, restart, expect with the unexpected, and make tough choices quickly...all in the same week! It’s not for the faint of heart, but after doing this for 20 years, you can spot the fire (and desire) from a mile away (or not).
Why have you completely avoided being on social media yourself?
People often get a kick of this given my Myspace roots and all, but the truth is that I have never been a “social media” person. From early 2003 and the launch of Myspace, I have been fascinated with watching the way people interact with social media and the way it has shifted human behavior. But I have always been content watching as an amateur social scientist from the outside. I don’t see that changing soon, and for the most part, I think people need to spend less time on their phones and more time talking to each other!
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HOMETOWN
Decatur, Illinois...the Soybean Processing Capital of the World!
EDUCATION
BS in Finance at University of Illinois, JD at Harvard Law School
NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT
A sense of optimism that most people are good and deserve respect...even that person who just cut me off on the 10!
HOW DO YOU PASS TIME IN LA TRAFFIC?
Malcolm Gladwell podcasts. He’s the best. And NPR: No rant/no slant.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
Lifeguard at a community pool in Decatur, IL. Got paid $2 an hour but was an awesome way to spend hot and humid Central Illinois summers.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE IN LA?
Our conference room—we get some of the world’s smartest, most driven dreamers coming through every week. It still fires me up to meet a passionate entrepreneur hell-bent on building a large company.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE BEACH IN LA?
Confession: I love the ocean but I’m probably more of a mountain guy. Telluride is my favorite.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CITY BESIDES LA?
New York City. Love the energy and the hyper-competitive atmosphere.
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WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST ENTREPRENEURIAL ENDEAVOR?
I was the classic midwestern blue-collar kid trying (needing) to make money any way I could: delivering newspapers, shoveling driveways, and mowing yards.
WHAT IMPORTANT LESSON HAVE YOU LEARNED AS AN INVESTOR?
The only thing that matters is the entrepreneur. Their drive and passion are way more important than anything we do as investors.
WHAT DID YOU DO IMMEDIATELY BEFORE CROSSCUT?
I took some extended time off, to focus on my kids and take care of my ailing parents back in Illinois. It was an important time of reflection and introspection for me.
HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO FOUND CROSSCUT?
During that extended period of time that I took off, I was trying to figure out what was next. I had a conversation with my gardener, where he noted how passionate I was in describing venture capital compared to the other paths. I made the decision right there to follow my passion and get back into venture capital by founding Crosscut.
WHAT WAS THE FIRST LESSON YOU LEARNED ABOUT BUSINESS?
I learned there is no substitute for hard work. I also learned the importance of entering the right market at the right time and never discounting the role of luck in any outsized success.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN FOUNDERS?
Grit and hustle. Not being afraid to say “I don’t know”.
WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND YOU ON THE WEEKENDS?
Golfing and yoga...and Dan Tana’s
Stats
HOMETOWN
Born and raised in Medellin, Colombia
EDUCATION
Economics at the Universidad de los Andes and an MBA from UCLA
NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT
Having breakfast
How do you pass the time in LA traffic?
Listening to music or calling my family
What was your first job?
I was a driver for the Inter-American Development Bank Annual Meeting in 2009, in Medellin. I was supposed to drive Guyana’s Finance Minister, but he got sick and canceled two days before the meeting. So, I ended up as a backup driver and was assigned to drive for the IDB president’s son
What is your favorite place in LA?
Museum Row. I love the Petersen Museum and find the La Brea Tar Pits fascinating!
What’s your favorite beach in LA?
Marina Peninsula
What’s your favorite city besides LA?
Medellin and Rome
Favorite place to watch an LA sunset?
Griffith Park’s Helipad
What’s your favorite road trip from LA?
Santa Barbara
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Nerdiest thing about you
Square root of two is my favorite number. I was mind blown when I learned how to demonstrate that it is an irrational number
Best piece of life advice you've gotten?
Be curious
What was your first entrepreneurial endeavor?
I started a bow tie manufacturing business with my best friend in college because we could only find pre-tied ones in the market. We thought people would be interested in the old art of tying a bow tie. We quickly learned that sometimes the lack of supply means that there is no demand. I also learned my first lessons in outsourcing and supply chain issues
What did you do immediately before Crosscut?
Before joining Crosscut, I was at UCLA getting my MBA. Before that, I was an investment banking associate at Bancolombia. I worked in the Debt and Equity Capital Markets team and focused on structured finance transactions
What originally brought you to LA?
My parents have always liked California and brought my sister and I here for vacation when we were younger. I came here for the first time when I was 5. Many years later, my master’s degree brought me to this city that I love and admire
What was the first lesson you learned about business?
My great grandfather taught me that there are two kinds of businesses: honest and dishonest. Dishonest businesses are very profitable, sometimes. Honest businesses are moderately profitable, always. No matter what the circumstances are, he taught me to only pursue honest business
Where can people find you on the weekends?
In the mornings you'll find me cycling around the amazing routes LA has to offer. Mulholland Drive to Griffith Park and back is my favorite. After recovering, you’ll find me walking at the beach or trying a new restaurant
Stats
Hometown
Upper Brookville, NY
Education
International Relations and American Studies at Brown University
How do you pass time in LA traffic?
I am trying to avoid it! Scooters, bikes, and walking are my transportation methods of choice. It’s the east coaster in me.
What was your first job?
When I was 11 I took a Red Cross training course in child care. It kick-started my babysitting business.
What is your favorite place/neighborhood in LA?
I’ve had a blast exploring the west side. I’m slowly eating my way through the neighborhoods. (Please send any and all recommendations).
Favorite beach in LA?
So far, it’s Santa Monica. I enjoy standing on the vast sandy shore in awe of the ocean and mountains. It’s breathtaking.
Favorite city besides LA?
New York City, Berlin, or Cape Town. It depends.
Favorite place to watch an LA sunset?
Anywhere that involves a view of the ocean.
Media
Bio
What was your first entrepreneurial endeavor?
Allie Kat Jewels. I started designing and making my own jewelry in middle school. My dad helped me make a brochure, I took commissions from friends and their parents, and I sold necklaces at a couple of charity auctions. I think my mom and grandma were my biggest customers. Although that business didn’t take off, I still have a passion for jewelry making, and I recently took up metalsmithing as a hobby.
What did you do immediately before crosscut?
I worked as a strategy and innovation consultant for a boutique Boston-based firm called New Markets Advisors. We specialized in Jobs to be Done and consulted for a range of organizations, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Before that, I was one of 12 Global Management Trainees at EF Education First, the world’s largest privately-held education company, where I did everything from creating a YouTube series to working with the company’s professional cycling team on strategic branding initiatives.
What was the first lesson you learned about business?
Put people first. Strength lies in truly customer-centric businesses.
What brought you to LA?
Crosscut! I was itching to live somewhere new, and I’ve always wanted to be somewhere with palm trees. When I got this dream job, the move was a no-brainer.
Favorite thing about LA?
The weather? The beach? The community? I can’t pick just one…
Nerdiest thing about you?
I was a teacher. During college, I taught civics in Providence, RI, public schools, and after graduation, I taught English in Germany on a Fulbright Scholarship. That, and I absolutely love talking about books.
Stats
HOMETOWN
Moscow, Russia
EDUCATION
California State University-Northridge
B.A., Political Science
Minor in Russian Studies
NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT
My iPhone
HOW DO YOU PASS THE TIME IN LA TRAFFIC?
Spotify playlists
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
I worked for Guess in high school
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE BEACH IN LA?
Zuma
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Bio
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE IN LA?
Matsuhisa, Craig's
WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND YOU ON THE WEEKENDS?
Hiking, Farmer’s Market
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ROAD TRIP FROM LA?
I enjoy going to Newport
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CITY BESIDES LA?
Paris and Moscow
NERDIEST THING ABOUT YOU
Watching documentaries and TED Talks
BEST PIECE OF LIFE ADVICE YOU'VE GOTTEN
Approach things with positivity and be thankful for the little things in life