Founder
Erik Stettler
Partner at @firstrock
Studied at @harvard-business-school, @pomona-college
Partner at @firstrock
Studied at @harvard-business-school, @pomona-college
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Experience
Employee
Advisor
Skillet App
Advisor
Advisor
PetyApp
Advisor
Advisor
Founder
Employee
Advisor
Education
About
Achievements
I have plenty that I'm proud of but I've received so much help throughout my life that I think they would be better understood as the world hopefully starting to get some initial return on all its investment in that. Through my work with our portfolio companies I hope to now use all of that to invest in other people and help them achieve their dreams while solving major problems that matter to the world.
Describe the most impressive thing you've done.
Skills
What I'm Looking For
Founders who deeply understand the problem they're solving, are skilled at building software and show strong growth in the US markets. Beyond that we do not have a preference for a particular area of software. The team and demonstration of execution is what matters; the tech then follows that.
Describe what you're looking for in a company.
Locations
Q&A
What's the most useful business-related book you've ever read?
The Halo Effect
What's your favorite non-business book?
Antifragile
If money were not an issue, what would you be doing right now?
Exactly what I'm doing. I spend all day helping brilliant young people grow world-changing companies and studying the divine mysteries of data science, language and creativity; I'll be doing this until my future grandkids call an ambulance.
What words of advice would you give your younger self?
There are three key languages you need to know. The language of people (how to write and communicate), the language of data (information) and the language of technology. Those who change the world will be at the intersection of those three.
What's your super power?
Data science with a focus on nonparametric (abnormal) statistics. While it's highly technical I also take a holistic view; algorithms get you nowhere if you can't convey the info compellingly & creatively.
What's the best way for people to get in touch with you?
What words of wisdom do you live by?
You rarely know the right answer, but you can know in what direction you're ok being wrong. Regret almost invariably defined as what you didn't do, not what you did. You never know what may work out, but don't be wrong in the direction of not trying.
What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?
I am most fascinated by how we as humans create and use meaning, both from language and from data.
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