Backing impact-driven founders and joining Amplify Capital

by: Harry Gandhi, Venture Partner, Amplify Capital

Over the past few years, I've realized how important it is to back impact-driven founders. While I could write personal cheques to founders here and there, I found they only went so far. And so I decided to join Amplify Capital's team as a Venture Partner. Here's why:

  • We are living in exponential times, and this has led to unprecedented opportunities.

  • We have 5B+ humans who are now connected to the internet - and have access to knowledge + opportunities in ways that were unimaginable 25+ years ago.

  • We produce new therapeutics/diagnostics at a pace unlike before (the FDA approval rate was 88% last year, up from 56% a decade ago).

  • Our quality of life has been the most comfortable than ever before (from ordering coffee to our doorsteps to travelling to almost any part of the world in a matter of hours, some of us have it really good)

But also to some mind-boggling problems:

  • Automation has replaced 80%+ manufacturing jobs in the last 20 years (and will continue to increase in other industries with the advent of automated trucks, robots and intelligence software systems).

  • US and Canada are in the top 5 healthcare spenders globally - spending $13,650 and $6,666 per patient/year (highest in history).

  • Globally, we produce 59 gigatons of CO2/year, and it is expected to increase to ~70 gigatons/year by 2050 if we continue business as usual.

  • While we are the most connected generation, the information problem set has polarized our society more than ever before.

In order to solve these exponential problems with speed and scale, we need to back entrepreneurs who are building zero-to-one solutions. 

I’ve seen the growth of Amplify Capital from the early days (when “impact investing” was still new to our vocabularies). Also, the hustle and grit that Kathryn has shown over the years have been nothing short of extraordinary -  and I couldn’t be more excited to join their ranks.

So here’s my ask for the entrepreneurs and builders. The world needs you, more than ever. And if you are working on these zero-to-one problems, I’d love to hear from you and find ways to help you.