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Jim Curry

Co-Founder, BuildGroup

Based on the available information, Jim Curry is a prominent figure in the entrepreneurial and technology sectors:

Professional Background

Jim Curry is the co-founder and CEO of BuildGroup, an investment firm.13 He has significant experience in the tech industry, having previously served as a Senior Vice President at Rackspace and being recognized as a co-founder of OpenStack.3

Entrepreneurial Involvement

As a member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization, Jim Curry demonstrates his commitment to fostering entrepreneurship. His LinkedIn profile (username: jimncurry) indicates he is based in Austin, Texas, and has over 500 connections in his professional network.2

Investment Philosophy

Jim Curry and BuildGroup take a unique approach to investing:

  • They focus on long-term company building rather than quick exits
  • BuildGroup is structured differently from traditional VC funds, without the typical 10-year liquidation requirement
  • Curry emphasizes the importance of alignment between investors and entrepreneurs1

Expertise and Interests

  • Curry is known as the "Godfather of OpenStack" and describes himself as a "Chief Banh Mi Enthusiast"
  • He has a passion for technology, particularly in areas like cloud computing and open-source software
  • Curry frequently speaks on topics related to entrepreneurship and investment strategies1

Jim Curry's experience, leadership roles, and involvement in the Entrepreneurs' Organization position him as a valuable resource for founders and startups seeking guidance and investment in the technology sector.

Highlights

May 10 · linkedin

A few weeks ago, I gave a talk for the Texas Women in Economics and the Texas Women in Business Association at The University of Texas at Austin. I got an overwhelming response from students wanting to learn more about the differences between VC and PE, so I wrote a blog post for BuildGroup as a primer for college students (or anyone looking to understand the space) to help them navigate these industries.

Here are the cliff notes:

The venture capital and private equity industries are often lumped together, but they exist on a continuum. While both invest in private companies, VC focuses on early-stage, high-risk startups with the potential for massive growth, and PE targets more mature, profitable companies. Here are the seven key distinctions:

  1. Stage: VCs invest in new or young companies, while PE deals with established, profitable firms.

  2. Risk: VC-backed companies have less revenue and are usually unprofitable (high risk), while PE -backed companies have more revenue and typically profitable (less risk).

  3. Portfolio: VCs have larger portfolios to account for higher risk, while PE can have smaller portfolios.

  4. Source of Returns: VCs rely on a startup's growth potential, while PE derives returns through financial engineering and operational improvements.

  5. Industries: VC is concentrated in tech, while PE cuts across industries.

  6. Check Size: VC provides smaller growth capital, while PE writes larger checks, often buying out existing shareholders.

  7. Ownership: VCs take minority stakes, while PE firms frequently take control.

Entry-level VC roles focus on sourcing and pitching new deals, while PE roles are more financial modeling and analysis of mature companies. Understanding the difference will help align your interests and skills.

You can read the full blogpost here: https://lnkd.in/gj3W933B

Thanks to Bethany Vodicka and Akshara Viruthagiri for hosting the original talk.

Texas Career Engagement | The University of Texas at Austin UT Austin Department of Economics

May 11 · linkedin

Ben Eachus of Flowspace has a nice take on the value of an asset-lite fulfillment orchestration (vs. operator) to customers.

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Jim Curry
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Location

Austin, Texas, United States