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The most successful asset class of the last 40 years w/ Jon Staenberg, Founder of Agate Hound Fund

If you had invested in every search fund over the last 40 years, you would be getting a net annual return of over 35%, which would blow Buffett out of the water.

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Episode Description

Jon Staenberg, Founder and CEO of Agate Hound Fund joins the show to talk about

  • Growing up in Nebraska to Silicon Valley to Microsoft to Venture
  • How Venture Capital has changed and the rise of the Search Fund.
  • What is a "Search Fund" and the reason behind why it's such a successful asset class.
  • The Silver Tsunami and baby boomers without an exit plan.
  • The criteria that Jon has established for the successful businesses he backs and the traits that his funds look for in the entrepreneurs they invest in.
  • Launching "Hand of God" wines and challenges of building an independent wine brand.

Episode Transcript

Jon Staenberg

Founder of Agate Hound Fund

Jon Staenberg has been an active venture capitalist for over 30 years, serving as a General Partner in three Funds managing over $250 million. As an angel investor, Jon has made over 250 investments. Currently, he is focused on building Agate Hound Fund, a fund for Search Funds. This asset class is relatively unknown but has shown exceptional performance over the past 40 years. Additionally, he spends his spare time working on his vineyard in Argentina, www.handofgodwines.com.

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