Cyan Banister is one of the greatest investors of all time. She goes to a lot of weird conferences. So I’ve decided to do the same.
To that end, I’ll be hitting New York Build in March.
I know nothing about real estate or construction. I have 0 involvement with the industry.
But one of the biggest problems we face is high housing costs.
Solving a big problem is a big opportunity. And given the power law nature of startupland, the big opportunities drive all the returns.
So if we want returns, we need to solve a big problem.
That’s where New York Build comes in. It will let me learn more about construction and meet people in the industry.
The more I learn and the more people I meet, the better I will understand why housing costs are so high.
I already have small investments in a few startups that are trying to solve this problem. Argyle is making construction easier with augmented reality. TANGObuilder automates structural engineering. Jome is a marketplace for new construction homes and is one of my most successful investments so far.
I hope to invest in more startups that are trying to lower the cost of housing. What I learn at this conference will inform those investments.
I’m hoping to learn about zoning, building techniques, labor issues and a lot more. And there’s no better way to learn than surrounded by people who build stuff every day.
This is one of those times that living just outside NYC pays off. There are a zillion conferences here. I can find a conference on practically any subject and be there in a few minutes.
Best of all, New York Build happens to be free!
If I want to deliver above average returns, I cannot do what everyone else is doing. If everyone is at TechCrunch Disrupt, I need to be somewhere else.
What’s more, Cyan is one of the greatest investors of all time. Lately, I’ve been listening to interviews with her on numerous podcasts.
At first, her actions were completely inscrutable to me. I didn’t understand what she does or how she does it.
I’m at a disadvantage in understanding her work because, from what I can tell, our personality types are very different.
I tend to be very rigid and process oriented. She seems to be much more intuitive.
But bit by bit, I think I’m starting to figure it out.
This weird conferences technique is one that I’m excited to try out. Another, daydreaming about the future, I’ll be trying this afternoon.
After all, what do I have to lose?
If you’ll be at New York Build, I hope to see you there!
There will be no blog tomorrow. Have a great weekend and see you on Monday!
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