TLDR:
– JD Vance has a background in venture capital but colleagues claim he wasn’t very successful in the field.
– Donald Trump announced Vance as his vice-presidential pick, highlighting his business career.
In a 2021 report, former colleagues of JD Vance, Donald Trump’s vice-presidential pick, revealed that his venture capitalist background was not noteworthy. Despite Trump touting Vance’s success in technology and finance, it remains unclear how impactful Vance’s contributions were in the VC world. Vance, known for his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” joined a Peter Thiel-backed VC firm, Mithril Capital, but coworkers noted that his focus on promoting his book rather than closing deals hindered his performance.
After leaving Mithril Capital, Vance joined Revolution, focusing on investing in tech startups through the Rise of the Rest fund. While he saw some success in securing deals, doubts remained regarding his overall impact. Vance eventually started his own VC firm, Narya Capital, in 2019. However, reports suggest that the firm only had five investments, with questions arising about Vance’s ability to create jobs in Ohio, his pledged state of focus.
As Vance shifts his focus to the political arena, aiming for the White House alongside Trump, skepticism remains about his ability to juggle both venture capitalism and a political career effectively. Critics suggest that Vance may struggle to excel in both fields simultaneously, potentially hindering his success in either role.
