EPISODE 01: TARIK SULTAN, FOUNDER / MANAGING PARTNER AT SULTAN VENTURES AND XLR8UH
Tarik talks about financial models, his personal journey and the future of Sultan Ventures
SV Partner and Founder chats financials, startups and investing. Tarik Co-founded Sultan Ventures and XLR8UH and along with his brother Omar is the recipient of the 2014 Hawaii Venture Capital Association’s (HVCA) Investors of the Year. Tarik serves as the Chair of Startup Hawaii, the regional chapter of Up Global (formerly Startup America) as a Board Member and Treasurer of the HVCA, a non-profit which seeks to foster entrepreneurial development through networking, education, and access to venture capital; and has been federally appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce as a Member of the Hawaii Pacific Export Council, a non-profit organization of local leaders and experienced international business professionals who provide assistance to local businesses expanding in international markets. Tarik has worked with, advised, and led several startups, most recently as Interim CFO of Ibis Networks, a venture backed cleantech startup focused on reducing energy consumption. Tarik holds a BS from Tulane University with a focus on Neuroscience and Cognitive Studies and an MBA from the Shidler College of Business.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Books Referenced:
The One Thing by Gary Keller
The Third Wave: An Entrepreneurs Vision of the Future by Steve Case
The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
Unlabel: Selling You Without Selling Out by Mark Ecko
Blogs Mentioned:
Mark Suster’s Both Sides of The Table
Fred Wilson’s AVC
Tomas Tunguz of Redpoint
Entrepreneurs / Investors Tarik admires:
Jack Dorsey
Elon Musk
SHOW NOTES
3:00 – On Prioritizing Work and Life
4:30 – On Sultan Ventures and XLR8UH
7:15 – How Tarik went from medical to venture investing and working with startups
Undergrad degree in neuroscience and cognitive studies
12:17 – How Tarik learned how to build financial models for startups
19:50 – Tarik discusses the IBIS Story: growth and raising millions
25:30 – All things XLR8UH: what, how, why. Including how XLR8UH has been nationally recognized as a leader in commercializing university technology.
37:23 – What Tarik looks for in a startup company as an investor
40:00 – Common mistakes by founders
46:04 – What he’s excited about in Hawaii?
51:28 – Rapid Fire Q & A including favorite beach in Hawaii, last show he binge-watched on Netflix and what you will find when you google his name