Paul Hirschbiel has spent decades investing in companies and evaluating the people behind them.
Long before becoming the founding chairman of Innovate 757, Hirschbiel built a career in venture capital, backed Michael Dell in the company's early years and spent 13 years on Dell's board.
On Fervent Four, Paul shares what he saw in Michael Dell, why ego can destroy great companies, what separates exceptional leaders from everyone else, how he helped build Hampton Roads' entrepreneurial ecosystem and why his run for Congress changed the way he looks at politics.
This episode is a firsthand look at investing, leadership, entrepreneurship and the people behind companies that actually win.
00:00 Why Great Ideas Fail and "Stupid" Ideas Win
00:28 Paul Hirschbiel Finally Comes on the Show
01:31 Building What Became Innovate 757
03:07 The Origins of 757 Angels
06:38 How Paul Got Into Venture Capital
08:42 The Early Days of Silicon Valley
10:53 Starting an $86 Million Venture Fund
13:52 The Michael Dell Story Begins
15:59 Why Dell Wasn't Really a Technology Company
16:52 "One Day I'll Get a Real CEO in There"
17:18 Investing in Dell During the 1987 Market Crash
18:40 What Made Michael Dell Different
20:13 What Dell, Staples and Starbucks Had in Common
22:07 How to Spot Ego in a Founder
24:22 "Dell Was a Pretty Stupid Idea"
25:14 The Business Model That Helped Dell Win
28:51 How Many Companies Has Paul Invested In?
29:06 Why Investors Bet on the Jockey
30:27 Can You Judge a Founder in One Meeting?
31:25 Why Paul Left New York for Virginia Beach
35:15 The Wall Street Career Behind Paul's Marriage
39:25 Should Spouses Build a Company Together?
40:12 How Paul Became Friends With Mark Warner
41:02 Building Envest Ventures in Hampton Roads
44:33 Why Government Reports End Up on Shelves
46:07 Why Paul Ran for Congress
48:22 What Raising $2.5 Million for Congress Actually Looks Like
49:42 The Reality of Fundraising After You Win
