I grow people and businesses.
I led M&A for a billion-dollar company, helped scale a bootstrapped business to the top of the Inc. 5000, and now run Outperform Ventures. This is where I write down what I've learned about business, investing and leadership. Connect with me on LinkedIn and X to see what I'm investing in and building.
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Tools for leaders who build companies
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- AI-Proof Test
How AI‑proof is my business?
See how easily AI could copy or undercut what you sell.Get your answer - AI Check
Is AI helping or hurting us?
Find where AI is paying off and where it is costing you.Get your answer - Exit Math
What would I take home?
Work out what lands in your pocket if you sell.Get your answer - Valuation
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Latest writing
All writingOct 26, 2026
Why Most AI Apps Don't Make Money, and Which Ones Do
Lovable users have built 50 million projects, but most builders aren't making money yet. The AI apps that pay solve a need people already pay for.
Oct 26, 2026
Anthropic Hits $6.6 Million in Revenue per Employee
Anthropic's S-1 reports over $6.6 million in revenue per employee. I told a room of executives a good number was $1 million. Here's what founders should plan for in 2027.
Oct 25, 2026
Plan 2027 Around Your Vision, Not Your Investors
The best way to give your investors a return is to run the company like you don't need their next check. How to plan 2027 around a business that sustains itself.
Oct 24, 2026
Why Your Best Engineers Need Unlimited Tokens
If you need token limits, you don't trust your team. Why your best engineers should have unlimited AI tokens, and what to do when someone wastes them.
Oct 23, 2026
How to Spot Aphorism Slop in AI Writing
AI adds quotable lines that sound wise and carry no facts. I gave the habit a name. Here's how to spot it, with examples and the one test I use on every draft.
Oct 23, 2026
Why California's Poor Will Pay the Billionaire Tax
California's billionaire tax sounds like a bill for a few hundred people. Meta built Mark Zuckerberg a way to pay it without giving up any control, and the cost flows back to everyday Californians through higher prices.