Magna Technology Investments

What is your personal approach to investing with startups?

I’m an angel investor and a corporate investor. I sit on Boards in both capacities. As an angel investor, I am looking to support the entrepreneurial scene with my experience and my personal dollars. I invest in early-stage companies unrelated to automotive mobility. For some examples, I’m involved in a social events platform that enhances the experience of live and in-person events before, during and after the experience. This company allows you host events, buy tickets, take/share photos with all sorts of engaging features. The Founder and CEO of that company is incredible. Another investment is in a first of its kind software platform for internet service providers. The set up entrepreneurs running the company have had many successful exits. They know how to identify and solve pain points for large enterprise customers and they focus on execution every day. A third, involves using a digital music NFTs or tokens that can be redeemed for life changing experiences such as a personalized guitar lesson from Bob Weir, the lead guitarist for the Grateful Dead. The NFT space has lost a good deal of shine in the past few months. What sets this company apart is that is all about combining a digital music experience with real life opportunities. A consistent thread throughout all of my investments is focusing on the Founders and the Management team. Ideas, even great ideas are easy to come by. In my opinion, vision + leadership + focus is what separates mediocrity from greatness.

I love virtual reality and physical reality, but I’m most happy in the wilderness. I’ve led a six-week wilderness experience for kids in Alaska. My honeymoon was six weeks in Argentina, mostly in the Patagonia, and then on to Australia and New Zealand. I’m an adventure person at heart.

What makes me unique as an investor is I’ve learned to identify people I can trust. It gives me an edge over other investors. I get to know startup founders on a personal level. I find that is really important. I have a good track record of finding people to believe in. I love connecting with people. I like learning what gets other people excited.

Your LinkedIn profile says: “if you are a startup that shares my disdain for mediocrity and are pushing to change the status quo, let’s connect.” Why else should Magna be attractive as a partner for startups and new entrants?

As a venture investor, my goal is make Magna the perfect partner for startups and new entrants seeking to succeed in the ever-evolving global mobility market.

We are the best choice if you are a startup looking to break into automotive and the new mobility space. Magna is a mobility technology company and one of the largest global automotive suppliers. That’s an unbeatable combination, and why we think of ourselves as a 65-year-old startup.

We’re a company of more than 175,000 entrepreneurs who are advancing mobility for everyone and everything. We understand and respect entrepreneurs, and can add a lot of value as a business builder and a tech investor. Thinking big and never settling for the status quo makes us a natural fit for startups and new entrants.

What can startups expect by partnering with Magna?

There is tremendous value in coming to us first because you will get the backing of our resources and our access to the OEM market. If you approach an OEM, they typically will advise you to find a supplier to work with. Startups need a partner that can help navigate the challenges of massive global companies.