Episode 03 - The Founder Mentality: Risk, Growth, and Building Ventures with Paul Capriolo
Episode Description
In this episode of Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Live, Ilya Tabakh and Terrance Orr sit down with Paul Capriolo, a venture principal at Portfolio T, to explore his journey from building successful companies to becoming a Venture Studio leader. Paul delves into his experiences in various industries, discusses the founder mentality, and shares his unique approach to risk reduction in startups. The conversation touches on the importance of self-growth, the role of venture studios in shaping entrepreneurs, and how AI is revolutionizing venture building. For aspiring EIRs, seasoned entrepreneurs, and startup enthusiasts alike, this episode offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship.
Key Points from This Episode:
- Introduction of Paul Capriolo and his background in computer science and entrepreneurship. [00:04:12]
- Transitioning from social gaming and advertising to being a Venture Studio leader. [00:06:16]
- The role of vulnerability in building trust with founding teams and the challenges of advising versus leading a venture. [00:08:01]
- Exploring the difference between technical founders and broader business challenges in early ventures. [00:11:17]
- Challenges faced while working with founding teams, including identifying assumptions and risks. [00:11:56]
- The concept of startups as “risk reduction factories” and how to prioritize risks in venture building. [00:18:45]
- Paul’s “risk-weighted venture building” approach and the importance of running at risks rather than avoiding them. [00:20:16]
- The significance of mission-driven entrepreneurship and aligning teams with a clear vision. [00:24:02]
- Transition from reactive to proactive decision-making and defining priorities in startup leadership. [00:26:19]
- Paul's role as an EIR at the University of Maryland and how it contrasts with his work at a Venture Studio. [00:27:48]
- Insights on the codified methodology of venture building and knowing when to deviate from the playbook. [00:37:15]
- Why the zero-to-one phase of venture building excites Paul more than scaling mature companies. [00:41:42]
- The role of AI in accelerating venture building and the possibility of creating billion-dollar companies with minimal teams. [00:47:24]
- The importance of meditation and mindfulness in entrepreneurship for long-term success. [00:52:10]
Links:
- (00:00) - EIR Live Show Intro
- (01:11) - Co-host Preview
- (04:12) - Paul's Background
- (06:16) - From Gaming to Ventures
- (08:01) - Building Trust & Leadership
- (11:17) - Technical vs. Business Challenges
- (11:56) - Working with Founders
- (18:45) - Startups as Risk Reduction Factories
- (20:16) - Risk-Weighted Ventures
- (24:02) - Mission-Driven Teams
- (26:19) - Reactive vs. Proactive Leadership
- (27:48) - University EIR Role
- (37:15) - Venture Building Playbook
- (41:42) - Zero-to-One Phase
- (47:24) - AI in Venture Building
- (52:10) - Meditation for Success
- (59:13) - EIR Live Show Outro
Creators and Guests
Host
Ilya Tabakh
Founder | Scaling #ClimateTech as Entrepreneur-in-Residence @Black_Veatch | Author | Based in #KansasCity | work = people+systems+tech (at least 2 of the 3)
Host
Terrance Orr
I’m just a guy from a small town with big dreams | Venture Builder, Investor, and Advisor
Guest
Paul Capriolo
Paul Capriolo is a venture builder with a computer science background from the University of Maryland and Carnegie Mellon. After founding successful companies in social gaming and advertising, he now serves as a venture principal at Portfolio T, helping deep tech startups move from zero to one. For nearly a decade, he has also been an Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Maryland, mentoring students and alumni. Based in Lewes, Delaware, Paul specializes in risk-weighted venture building and has worked on diverse projects from food science to gene therapy. He is particularly passionate about integrating AI into the venture building process.
