Stepping into the Venture Colosseum with Zach Coelius

Timecoded Guide:

[00:00] Podcast begins - Stepping into the Venture Colosseum

[01:32] Getting a backyard invite to the first TechCrunch

[04:30] Pioneering internet ad tech as an entrepreneur

[07:07] Learning as you go in Venture Capital

[11:23] Warm intros & network-driven investments

[16:48] Advice for gladiator entrepreneurs & investors

What do you come to TechCrunch Disrupt for?

For Zach, TechCrunch’s Disrupt conference is about a lot more than just investing. Zach has been a part of attending TechCrunch events since the very beginning, when TechCrunch was merely months old. Disrupt is a time where Zach gets to catch up with friends and forge new relationships. Early stage tech startups are always looking to help one another and collaborate, and Zach loves being a part of that energy-filled environment.

“I think the best part about the early stage tech world that this represents is everyone's trying to find the next big thing and so, that makes everyone very open and friendly. Everyone wants to help and everyone is looking for help.”

If you're not looking for startups at TechCrunch Disrupt, where are you finding your startups?

Despite his attendance at Disrupt as an investor, Zach is clear that his investment opportunities don’t come from events, but instead come from friends. With a robust network of trustworthy tech investors and entrepreneurs on his side, Zach feels confident in the connections that are recommended to him. Of course, Zach is still always on the hunt for new, fresh, and boundary-pushing ideas, but those ideas need to have a strong foundation of trust behind them to feel worth the investment.

“If I introduce you to a great company and you invest in it, well, you owe me a favor and so do they, and so, you're getting a lot of value out of that. I have an incentive to filter and make sure that I show you stuff that isn't terrible.”

What advice do you have for an investor or startup coming to TechCrunch Disrupt for the first time?

After finding success as an entrepreneur and investor, Zach advises up-and-comers to learn how to play the long game. Especially in today’s tumultuous economy, listening to the market and forming strong relationships is a must, and Disrupt is the perfect place to meet new people and be generous with the relationships you form. It’s hard work, but it’s rewarding to make a difference by investing in impactful technology and building long-lasting relationships.

“My advice is always the same thing; be helpful, do favors, build relationships, and play the long game. This game takes a long time, I've been doing this for almost 20 years, and the leverage that I get to enjoy now is unbelievable.”

Do you miss being an entrepreneur, or is venture for you?

Even though his time as an entrepreneur was successful, Zach doesn’t miss the challenging world of being one. Although investing can be difficult and stressful in its own way, Zach compares entrepreneurship to being a gladiator in a Colosseum. Entrepreneurs give their blood, sweat, and tears to their business, but that still isn’t a guarantee for success. Zach commends the entrepreneurs he works with for their hard work, but he knows that getting back into the entrepreneurship role is not in the cards for him right now.

“Being an entrepreneur is sort of like in the movie Gladiator…Grab whatever weapons you can grab and whatever team you can get, and then, you get shoved out into the middle of the arena and you fight, you sweat, and you bleed until you die or you exit. Most of you die.”