Investor Links Music Scouting With Evaluating Startup Founders

An investor says his experience identifying unknown artists, signing them quickly and helping them reach an audience transferred seamlessly to startup investing. He evaluates founders in much the same way, treating their pitches like songs or albums and looking for a memorable “chorus” that signals a compelling idea.

He describes founders as “rock stars” whose work may need help finding an audience. The approach distinguishes visionary entrepreneurs who pursue opportunities before they are obvious from those who follow opportunities after others have identified them. The excerpts leave open how personal-life problems should be weighed differently for musicians and founders managing large teams.