Meet Chase Roberts, Vertex US’s Newest Principal!
What led you to join the Vertex team?
My first job after completing my undergrad was as an analyst at a PE/VC fund-of-funds, meaning I was an investor in investors. When VCs raise capital to invest in startups, fund-of-funds are one of the sources of that capital. This work opened my eyes to VC as an asset class. I became mesmerized by the idea of meeting with founders, learning about industries, researching technology trends, and exploring new models for the future of everything. I couldn’t believe people got paid to do this. From then on I set out to become a venture capitalist, but only after I had built enough experience as an operator so I could bring to bear this experience when evaluating companies and working for them as an investor. Fast forward a decade to the day I received an email from Sandeep Bhadra suggesting we grab a drink — my deferred life plan became a reality.
What’s the first piece of technology that you remember being excited about?
I asked for a piano keyboard on my 12th birthday and instead received a MIDI controller. The MIDI was basically a keyboard whereby I could adjust the tone, pitch, and — with the addition of software — sound of any key on the keyboard. I was struck by the ability to use software to manipulate sound to make “music” (a term I’ll use lightly in this context).
What [markets, ideas, technology] get you excited now?
In general, I love contrarian business models — those in which the founder sees around a corner before everyone else and designs a new approach to a business need that will capitalize on the pending market evolution. I’m drawn to technology that converts people into superhumans. Examples of which include technology that helps software engineers iterate more quickly, architects design entire homes in minutes, or support agents serve multiple people at once. I’m excited by anything from real estate technology (a.k.a. PropTech) to APIs-for-everything to vertical SaaS for traditionally non-tech markets.
What is the most pressing obstacle venture capitalists face today?
FOMO, herding, and sharp elbows. Kidding. Maybe. VCs increasingly favor incremental change over big technology or business model evolution. I acknowledge that the former reduces risk, but it doesn’t as often lead to the change that venture capital is capable of igniting. Drawing on some recent advice from a fellow investor: venture capital isn’t about risk mitigation assuming things go wrong, but rather, dreaming of possibilities should things go right
What issue do you hope the next generation of enterprise founders solve?
While our screens are our primary mode for productivity, they’re also the master of our attention. I don’t discount the value devices bring to our lives, but we must acknowledge the dependence we have on them for entertainment. This tension between productivity and addiction emerges. I hope the next generation of entrepreneurs creates technology that reduces the need for screen time while maintaining or increasing productivity.
Also, while technology has evolved immensely over the last 60 years, the look of our cities has not. The way cities function mirrors the many generations that preceded us. I’d love to see entrepreneurs tackle the intersection between technology and the physical world. Specifically, doing this in a way that reshapes how our cities, physical spaces, homes, etc. should look and operate.
You get to travel back in time — A) What career “mistake” do you repeat? B) What advice do you ignore a second time?
A) Quitting my job as an equity research analyst before knowing what I was going to do next.
B) You shouldn’t earn an MBA and work full-time.
If working in tech is no longer an option and money isn’t a factor, where would you start over?
I would study ancient history (Roman, Persian, and Greek) — there is so much history that eludes common knowledge. For example, did you know that there is a 2,000-year-old poem written by someone named Lucretius, titled On the Nature of Things, that predicts the existence of atoms? Or, how the construction of the dome covering the Florence Cathedral (the church of Santa Maria del Fiore; designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the 1400s), still confounds architects to this day? Fascinating.
Maybe I’d study history and also seek to become a sommelier. Wine has a unique connection to the past in that the wine you drink today could come from the same land that produced the wine Napoleon, Coco Chanel and Marie Antoinette drank. While Thomas Jefferson was the American minister to France, he described the wine from a French Chateau called Haut-Brion in a letter to his brother, “I cannot deny myself the pleasure of asking you to participate of a parcel of wine I have been chusing for myself. I do it the rather as it will furnish you a specimen of what is the very best Bourdeaux [sic] wine. It is of the vineyard of Obrion.” You can still connect to history with a fine glass of this wine today.
The zombie apocalypse finally comes, where do you run?
Somewhere I’ve never been. There is a whole world to see, and travel is one of the best ways to evolve your mode of thinking. Here’s my logic: 1) The world is ending so I should do something that I won’t be able to do once it ends. 2) Travel is one of my favorite things to do. 3) I should try to see parts of the world before it is taken over by zombies (who would likely be stopped by TSA).
What is one of the most worthwhile investments (time, money, or energy) you’ve ever made?
Time, money, and energy = my wife. Happiness is mostly a product of relationships and experiences. Investing in this relationship and deliberately seeking out experiences (travel, date nights, etc.) together has been a worthwhile investment.
What was your first investment? Why?
I invested my entire savings in Apple stock upon getting my first iPod when I was 16 (via a custodial account managed by my dad since I was underage at the time). I saw a company that was going to change our relationship with personal devices and I wanted to participate in the future.
What is an unusual habit or absurd thing you love and haven’t admitted… until now?
- I have a strange, deep relationship with podcasts. I have to start each day listening to the Washington Post’s Daily 202 followed by the NY Times Daily podcasts every day as soon as my morning alarm goes off. When I travel internationally, this routine gets totally thrown off since the podcasts aren’t published yet. Podcasts > AM coffee.
- I drink a protein smoothie every night before bed. Otherwise, I’ll wake up in the middle of the night starving. It’s “healthy” — stop scratching your head like that.
What is your most frequently used emoji?
🙌
Spirit gif?
What Billions character would you play, and why?
Taylor Mason because they are a brilliant systems thinker.
What keeps you awake at night?
When I get conviction on a deal, I literally can’t sleep. And hot rooms and/or beds.
What do you do when you can’t sleep?
I reach for my Kindle.
Being a transplant from Oklahoma, what advice would you give for people who want to move to Silicon Valley to find their dream opportunity?
Don’t overthink it and play the long game. Be deliberate about your search and don’t rely on your intuitions in a vacuum. Reach out to people who can help you develop a sense of what it is you think you want to do. You’d be surprised by how willing people in Silicon Valley are to help you find your way.
