Tim DraperFounder and Managing Partne, Draper Associate · I back the ideas that look crazy first

Enjoy your Entrepreneurial Journey | Investor and Former 49er Offensive Lineman Harris Barton

8 Apr 2015 · 1 min

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1:18

In this spoken monologue, former NFL offensive lineman and investor Harris Barton reflects on the parallels between football and entrepreneurship. He recounts the dramatic trajectory of his venture capital firm, Champion Ventures, which grew from a $40 million fund to a $2 billion portfolio before collapsing to zero. Barton emphasizes the importance of enjoying the journey, learning from setbacks, and maintaining integrity. He credits Tim Draper and the Sand Hill Road community for giving him a second chance and expresses gratitude for the opportunity to reconnect with the startup ecosystem, meet entrepreneurs, and re‑enter the "game" of building companies.

Chapters

But I think that football is a brutal sport, but what you learn in football is it's about enjoying the journey. And sure, I enjoyed the journey with Champion Ventures and the run-up from $40 million to $2 billion and then the run-down to zero. And I've restarted again, but I never did the game— I never did the asset management thing for the money. I had great thrills in sports and made a lot of money in sports. I did it for meeting people like yourselves and meeting some of these startup companies and entrepreneurs that are running these smart companies. And that's— I'm just happy to be back in the game. And I appreciate guys like Tim kind of giving me an opportunity to come and speak to his group. They've been super helpful. All the people on Sand Hill Road have been super helpful. Because again, like the chant that you guys said, the integrity and the getting up when you've fallen down, that's what it's all about. And if you do the right thing, people, especially here in the Valley, people will give you a second chance. And I'm just grateful to get a second chance. So.