From Journalist to Investor: The Esther Dyson Story

Lessons from the angel investor behind 100+ startups

As part of Funders & Founders Unplugged series, I had the opportunity to talk to Esther Dyson - a pioneer in angel investing with over 190 investments.

Esther Dyson's career is a fascinating blend of journalism, technology, and angel investing. With a portfolio boasting over 190 investments across multiple sectors, she has navigated the evolving tech landscape with a unique blend of curiosity and a knack for building meaningful connections.

She has built a career rooted in curiosity, connection, and an unparalleled willingness to learn.

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Contents

• A Scientific Legacy, A Journalistic Start

• PC Forum: Shaping the Tech World

• The Leap Into Angel Investing

• VC vs. Angel Investing: A Fundamental Difference

• U.S. vs. Eastern Europe: Contrasting Ecosystems

• Red Flags: What She Avoids in Founders

• A Life of Curiosity and Connection

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A Scientific Legacy, A Journalistic Start

Dyson’s beginnings were anything but ordinary. Her parents, both accomplished scientists, worked for Oppenheimer at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, NJ. Her father, Freeman Dyson, was a theoretical physicist, while her mother, Verena Huber-Dyson, was a mathematician. But Esther chose a different path, moving away from science to pursue journalism.

Starting at Forbes Magazine, she quickly made a name for herself, covering business and technology. This role gave her a front-row seat for the burgeoning tech revolution and planted the seeds for what would later become her defining career as an investor.

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For Dyson, the transition from journalism to investing wasn’t a departure but a continuation. “As an investor, I continue to have the curiosity of a journalist, and I invest in my own education as well as profits,” she shared. This parallel approach has shaped her journey, allowing her to explore and learn across multiple dimensions simultaneously.

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PC Forum: Shaping the Tech World

Before Dyson became an angel investor, she was the mind behind the legendary PC Forum, an annual conference that ran from 1982 to 2007. The event became a hub for tech visionaries, attracting speakers like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Reid Hoffman.

While the proceeds from selling her newsletter and conference business were modest, she drew on multiple resources to fund this transition: the advance for her book Release 2.0: A Design for Living in the Digital Age, as well as returns from her early investments in Eastern Europe.

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The Leap Into Angel Investing