Jared Winegrad
Listen to the interview (approx. 52 min.) or download it.
Graduated in 2013 with a major in Music Business. Principal Instrument: Voice
Principal at Cultivation Capital‘s (Financial Technology) Fintech Growth Fund. Working with three “Partners” on a $50,000,000+ fund Jared’s responsibilities include vetting new investment opportunities, supporting companies which they have invested in, and raising investment money.
Overview: After graduation, Jared got an internship with now-defunct Flo Capital in Nashville, a venture/seed capital investment firm which had helped Kenny Chesney launch a brand of rum. Jared was asked to do financial modeling. “I was spending 50 hrs/week on my internship, and another 40/week trying to learn how to do what I was supposed to do.” Three months later, he corrected the founder of his company about a financial issue, saving his own company big money, and soon thereafter was offered a job as a financial analyst at 60K/year.
Jared stayed there for 2.5 years, and sensed that Flo Capital was “circling the drain” so he started reaching out for other opportunities. A good friend and former co-worker recommended him to one of the founders of the Fintech Growth Fund, which had not yet launched and they met. Then in October 2015 Jared got laid off (along with half the company). He reached out again to his contact and searched aggressively for new work, but he got the job.
You can view Jared’s LinkedIn profile here.
Choice Quotes: “It’s great to wake up every morning and think ‘What am I going to see today?’ How can I help this company out? Every day is different. There’s always something new. There’s always a fire to put out, but if you’re surrounded by good people it’s not a stressful thing–it’s an exciting thing!”
“NEVER tell someone you can’t do something in an interview. Believe in yourself and your ability to be better and learn to do something someone asks you to do.”
“The thing about venture capital investing is we do well if and only if they do well. A good investor brings insight, experience, and connections. Not just a check.”
“Normally people working at fund principals have ten years of experience and an MBA. What got me the job at the Fintech Growth Fund—-was that I had seen a company fail. People who have only seen success don’t know how to spot a red flag. I know to be paranoid enough to poke holes in some entrepreneurs optimism.”
“Doing music non-professionally is the best thing that happened to my music. Wnen you take the pressure off and don’t worry about the effect on your career, it’s a more enjoyable experience. I write & perform better.”
See the full Index of Successful Berklee Grads.