Diversifying the World of Wealth | Interview w/ Craig Cecilio | Founder of DiversifyFund
Diversyfund is opening up the world of investments to everyday people. Its founder Craig Cecilio believes that making a difference is just as important as making money and that everyone should benefit from the opportunities traditionally reserved for the ultra-wealthy.
Summary:
Craig Cecilio came full circle: after growing up in a middle-class family where his father scowled at the rich, he became a real estate developer and investor serving the ultra-wealthy when it dawned on him that by leveraging his extensive experience and modern technology, he could bridge the gap between wealthy, ‘accredited’ investors and the everyday Joe helping the masses benefit from access to a traditionally exclusive asset class, and much-needed diversification in turbulent times like the present moment.
His company Diversyfund provides a fully automated platform that allows anyone to invest amounts starting from 500USD. Financial education is a large part of their mission: since Diversyfund is open to people from all walks of life, it is important that users can educate themselves about this “savings account on steroids”.
Beyond the fascinating story of Diversyfund, Craig also touches upon the general shift in investment priorities, the importance of failure in the making of an entrepreneur, and the truth behind the old adage “money can’t buy happiness”.
Key takeaways:
- an employee should have skills the founder doesn’t, a mentee should have intangible skills and drive
- business success comes after some inevitable failure, so why not say “learn” instead of “fail”
- the money/happiness tradeoff becomes meaningless at a certain level, so investors are looking at ESG (environmental, social, and governance) components
Mentions:
Diversyfund – website www.diversyfund.com
Craig Cecilio http://craigcecilio.com/
- on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigcecilio/
- on Twitter https://twitter.com/CXCecilio
- on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/craig.cecilio
Movies:
Glengarry Glen Ross: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104348/
Boiler Room: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181984/
The Money Pit: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091541/
That is not Waste Which can Eternal Lie | Interview w/ Britt Espinosa | Co-Founder of Tulu Systems
Tulu Systems was able to launch and grow successfully during the pandemic by providing IoT solutions that save up to 25% of the cost of heating, ventilation and air conditioning in commercial buildings. Not only does this help the environment and the clients’ bottom line, it also gives overworked and overwhelmed technicians their lives back.
Summary:
Standardization of most things will benefit a large number of those affected, but anyone who does not fit in will be penalized. This applies to buildings as well as schoolchildren. Therefore, it is fitting that Britt Espinosa, a homeschooled son of entrepreneurial parents, chose to disrupt the commercial HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) industry.
Diagnostics and maintenance of these systems has been prohibitively expensive due to exorbitant labor costs. But Brett’s aha-moment came upon realizing that technicians were so overwhelmed they were unable to take holidays.
Brett and his business partner designed a system of smart-sensors to detect possible energy savings and preventable failures, providing input and recommendations for commercial building operators and owners. Beyond saving money on mechanical and energy costs (owners save up to 20% of their HVAC costs), Tulu Systems’ solutions free up considerable time for their overworked technicians, leading to considerable additional savings and ultimately enabling them to keep more of their employees in times of crisis.
With the clients’ bottom line, the environment, and workers all being winners, Tulu Systems is clearly playing a non-zero sum game.
Key Takeaways:
- 30-50% of the energy used to heat, ventilate and cool air goes to waste
- automation is a good thing because it frees up people’s time, who can do things they are passionate about
- by detecting a preventable equipment failure, repairs get considerably cheaper
Mentions:
Tulu Systems
- website: www.tulusystems.com
- on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tulusystems?lang=en
- on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tulusystems/
Britt Espinosa
- on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittespinosa/
Sustainable Living Innovations: https://sli.co/
Events that Decorate our Existence | Interview w/ Mitch Thrower | Founder of Events.com
The most meaningful moments of people’s lives are events. Despite the setbacks the events industry has experienced due to COVID-19, connecting with one another is a hardwired human need. Mitch Thrower, founder of events.com shares the story of his company and his vision for the future, while going deep into basic human drives and the secrets of a visionary.
Summary:
Entrepreneurship is an endurance sport. This would sound like an empty catchphrase if it wasn’t coming from Mitch Thrower, who became passionate about triathlon after several knee surgeries. Beyond physical discomfort, the pain of signing up for races propelled him to create his company, Events, which is thriving to be a universal platform for event organizers worldwide.
Human connections and relationships are what really make our existence worthwhile. Millennials and Gen Z have already discovered that experiences are more valuable than physical possessions – and they get more love on social media, too. Unfortunately, this year, live events suffered a blow. However, Mitch predicts that once it is safe to gather again, people will quickly adjust to whatever the new normal will be, and their urge to connect will be greater than ever.
Mitch has a people-centric philosophy as a leader; after all, companies are bought and sold every day, but good employees will stick around. A true visionary is not someone who has the most up-to-date tech knowledge, but someone who knows just enough not to be naive is able to identify superpowers in others and is capable of keeping an eye on the future as well as the present.
The uncertainties of the future are an important topic on everyone’s mind nowadays. Mitch offers a unique perspective on what really went down mentally during COVID. He is convinced that at an unspecified time in the future and among conditions yet unknown, but we will meet again – and Events will be there.
Key takeaways:
- how entrepreneurship and professional sports overlap in the necessary commitment, preparation, and mindset
- how Events is creating the same experience for events as Airbnb did for accommodation
- the shift in focus from the things we own to the experiences we share
- a ‘Bezosian’ leadership philosophy where people come first, and hiring smarter people than you is the best thing you can do for your business
- how the shared experience of 2020 will enrich our lives by bringing us closer together
Links:
Events.com – https://events.com/
Mitch Thrower – https://www.mitchthrower.com/
- on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchthrower/
- on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mitchthrower
- on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mitch.thrower