James Currier

It was traumatic. And I had put in millions of dollars myself to get GIF going. That's how we survived the first three years. And so when we sold for 144, I barely got back what I'd put in. And I'd spent months not sleeping over GIF as well. So a lot of heartbreak, no reward, a lot of risk, and no impact on the American health care system either. So a lose, lose, lose.

It was traumatic. And I had put in millions of dollars myself to get GIF going. That's how we survived the first three years. And so when we sold for 144, I barely got back what I'd put in. And I'd spent months not sleeping over GIF as well. So a lot of heartbreak, no reward, a lot of risk, and no impact on the American health care system either. So a lose, lose, lose.

So this was all taking place around 2016, 17. We had decided in 2010 that we were going to do a network effect venture firm. And the model for that was an accelerator. The more companies you have in the class, the more alumni you have, the more leads you have, the more your brand gets out there, people are loyal to it, blah, blah. Venture firms don't have network effects, but accelerators do.

So this was all taking place around 2016, 17. We had decided in 2010 that we were going to do a network effect venture firm. And the model for that was an accelerator. The more companies you have in the class, the more alumni you have, the more leads you have, the more your brand gets out there, people are loyal to it, blah, blah. Venture firms don't have network effects, but accelerators do.

So we started as an accelerator in 2015 and did it for two and a half years. And in 2017, we decided that we weren't going to continue with that model, but we were just going to become a venture firm. We invest an average of $3 million for an average of 18% of a company. We're very hands-on. We try to help them if they want.

So we started as an accelerator in 2015 and did it for two and a half years. And in 2017, we decided that we weren't going to continue with that model, but we were just going to become a venture firm. We invest an average of $3 million for an average of 18% of a company. We're very hands-on. We try to help them if they want.

If they want to leave us alone, then we're also completely leaving you alone. But we have been in your shoes multiple times. And so that's what we're doing with NSX. And we've made over 200 investments now and going very well. One of the biggest seed funds in the world. I think us in first round are probably the biggest and it's going very well. But it's the sense of the PTSD of being a player.

If they want to leave us alone, then we're also completely leaving you alone. But we have been in your shoes multiple times. And so that's what we're doing with NSX. And we've made over 200 investments now and going very well. One of the biggest seed funds in the world. I think us in first round are probably the biggest and it's going very well. But it's the sense of the PTSD of being a player.

It's much better being a coach when you're my age and you have all this PTSD. You've got to move from being a player to being, I'm like Steve Kerr. I want to be like Steve Kerr, who played for the Bulls and won championships, but now he's winning championships, coaching the Golden State Bulls.

It's much better being a coach when you're my age and you have all this PTSD. You've got to move from being a player to being, I'm like Steve Kerr. I want to be like Steve Kerr, who played for the Bulls and won championships, but now he's winning championships, coaching the Golden State Bulls.

I was living in Switzerland for a year and a half, having an adventure with my kids and my wife. And I was looking for companies in Switzerland to coach, and I couldn't find any. And so I decided to go to Israel looking for some, because we knew that Israel was just this awesome place to find startups. And I emailed four people and I said, who should I meet with when I go to Israel?

I was living in Switzerland for a year and a half, having an adventure with my kids and my wife. And I was looking for companies in Switzerland to coach, and I couldn't find any. And so I decided to go to Israel looking for some, because we knew that Israel was just this awesome place to find startups. And I emailed four people and I said, who should I meet with when I go to Israel?

And all four said, listed Gigi LevyWise on their lists. I emailed Gigi and the guy's got three kids and he's the biggest investor. He's like, I can meet with you at 9 p.m. on a Wednesday night. I have an hour long slot. I was like, that would be fantastic. I'll take it. So I meet him on a Wednesday night at 9 p.m. and we're still sitting there talking at three in the morning.

And all four said, listed Gigi LevyWise on their lists. I emailed Gigi and the guy's got three kids and he's the biggest investor. He's like, I can meet with you at 9 p.m. on a Wednesday night. I have an hour long slot. I was like, that would be fantastic. I'll take it. So I meet him on a Wednesday night at 9 p.m. and we're still sitting there talking at three in the morning.

We were up there for six hours. And we talked about Ender's Game and about Star Wars and about all the things you're not supposed to talk about, like religion and politics and money and all the things that, you know, no one you're not allowed to talk about. And he and I just talked about all those things. We had the best time.

We were up there for six hours. And we talked about Ender's Game and about Star Wars and about all the things you're not supposed to talk about, like religion and politics and money and all the things that, you know, no one you're not allowed to talk about. And he and I just talked about all those things. We had the best time.

Some have the walls, but not Guy, with me at least. And so we just got to be good friends. And then he and my co-founder for all of my companies, a guy named Stan Chudnovsky, who's here in the Bay Area, he had also met Gigi like a year earlier at some event in England or something. And so when Gigi came to the Bay Area to have dinner with us, he's like, hey, I want to dinner with you guys.

Some have the walls, but not Guy, with me at least. And so we just got to be good friends. And then he and my co-founder for all of my companies, a guy named Stan Chudnovsky, who's here in the Bay Area, he had also met Gigi like a year earlier at some event in England or something. And so when Gigi came to the Bay Area to have dinner with us, he's like, hey, I want to dinner with you guys.

Stan and I had been looking for a third person to start this NFX thing with. And Gigi came to dinner and he said, and I don't know, Stan and I had talked to, I don't know, 60 people and said no to everybody. We just couldn't find the right vibe. We couldn't find the right soul, the right spirit.

Stan and I had been looking for a third person to start this NFX thing with. And Gigi came to dinner and he said, and I don't know, Stan and I had talked to, I don't know, 60 people and said no to everybody. We just couldn't find the right vibe. We couldn't find the right soul, the right spirit.