VC Invests 20% of Fund in Teenage Entrepreneurs
In a move that’s shaking up the staid world of venture capital, Eventbrite co-founder Kevin Hartz has pivoted from ticketing giants to teenage founders, channeling a staggering 20% of his latest fund into entrepreneurs who can’t yet vote. This isn’t some philanthropic side project or a social experiment; it’s a calculated, unplanned investment thesis emerging from the front lines of innovation, and it speaks volumes about where the next generation of wealth is being built.Hartz, a veteran who navigated Eventbrite through its IPO and into the fabric of global event culture, is now betting that the raw, unfiltered creativity of youth—untethered by corporate baggage and conventional risk aversion—holds the key to outsized returns. Think about it: while most VCs are busy courting Stanford MBAs with polished pitch decks, Hartz is scouring science fairs, hackathons, and even Discord servers for prodigies building the next big thing from their dorm rooms or childhood bedrooms.It’s a strategy straight out of the 'Rich Dad Poor Dad' playbook—invest in assets that others overlook, educate yourself on emerging trends, and leverage your network to mentor these young minds into formidable CEOs. Consider the broader context: the digital native generation has an intuitive grasp of technologies like AI, blockchain, and social platforms that many seasoned executives still struggle to comprehend.They’re not just users; they’re architects of the digital economy, launching apps, crypto protocols, and e-commerce empires with the ease of ordering a latte. Historical precedents abound—Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook at 19, and Michael Dell started his computer company out of a university dorm.But Hartz’s systematic allocation signals a maturation of this trend, moving from anecdotal success stories to a diversified portfolio approach. I’ve spoken with fintech analysts who note that this shift mirrors the early days of angel investing in Silicon Valley, where backing college dropouts seemed reckless until it spawned trillion-dollar companies.However, critics warn of pitfalls: teenage founders often lack the operational experience to scale, face legal complexities around contracts and equity, and may buckle under the psychological pressure of running a startup before they’ve even applied to college. Yet, Hartz’s bet is backed by a robust support system—his fund provides not just capital but also access to seasoned advisors, legal counsel, and a community of fellow young founders to mitigate these risks.The potential consequences are profound. If successful, this could democratize venture funding, forcing traditional firms to look beyond Ivy League pedigrees and reassess what 'founder-material' really means.It might also ignite a cultural shift, inspiring high schoolers to pursue entrepreneurship as a viable career path rather than a distant dream. On a macroeconomic level, funneling capital into youth-driven innovation could accelerate breakthroughs in sectors like edtech, climate tech, and digital health—areas where fresh perspectives are desperately needed.From a personal finance perspective, this is a masterclass in identifying alpha; by getting in on the ground floor of trends most investors dismiss as trivial, Hartz is positioning his fund for exponential growth. It’s a reminder that the best investments often lie where conventional wisdom fears to tread.As one startup coach I interviewed put it, 'Teens aren’t just building lemonade stands anymore; they’re coding the future, and Kevin Hartz is smart enough to buy a seat at their table. '.
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