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Wes Selke

Founding Partner, Better Ventures

Wes Selke is the Managing Director and Founder of Better Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Oakland, California.1 With over 20 years of experience in venture capital and investment, Selke has established himself as a prominent figure in the impact investing space.1

Professional Background

Selke founded Better Ventures in 2011, focusing on seed-stage investments in mission-driven companies.3 The firm typically invests $500K to $1.5M in early-stage startups, with a sweet spot around $1.5M. Better Ventures backs entrepreneurs leveraging scientific breakthroughs and emerging technologies to address global challenges in areas such as sustainability, healthcare, and economic opportunity.1

Prior to Better Ventures, Selke held positions at:

  • Good Capital as Investment Manager (2006-2014)3
  • William Blair & Company as Equity Research Associate (2003-2005)3
  • Ernst & Young Corporate Finance as Associate in Mergers & Acquisitions (1999-2003)3

Education

Selke holds an MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and a BBA from the University of Michigan.1

Personal

Outside of work, Wes is known for his volunteer activities and enjoys cycling, following Michigan football, and exploring craft beers.2 He resides in Oakland with his wife and three children.

LinkedIn Profile

Wes Selke's LinkedIn username is wdselke.4

Highlights

Jun 4 · linkedin

My 47th b-day coincided with finishing a great book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. I get reflective around my birthday so I thought it would be fitting to share some thoughts and goals for my 48th year after reading Comer's book. I've been trying to read this book for quite some time but I've been...well...too busy. I finally did and a big thank you to Patrick Vaughn for sending me a copy of this life changing book!

First, a quick note that Comer is a pastor at a church in Portland, OR (who is mostly vegan, rides his bike to work, and used to be in an indie rock band - very Portland!) and his book is written primarily for a Christian audience. However, the applications are just as relevant to a secular audience and anyone who finds him/herself stressed out by the hurriedness and businesses of our lives in 2024 (anyone not feel this way??).

The foreword of the book includes this great (paraphrased) quote: "Hurry involves excessive haste or a state of urgency...[and the] frantic effort one falls into in response to inadequacy, fear, and guilt. The good of being delivered from hurry is not simply pleasure but the ability to do calmly and effectively - with strength and joy - that which really matters."

What Comer lays out in his book is a blueprint for slowing down, simplifying our lives, reclaiming our time, and finding joy in being more present. It's also about resisting the Gospel of Materialism, which has run rampant in our society and says that we are defined by what we spend our money on and that the more we have (things and experiences) = the happier we are. Revolting against this paradigm involves what he calls the "spiritual disciplines" of Silence and Solitude (i.e. meditation), Sabbath (setting aside one day/week for real rest), Simplicity (do I really need that?), and Slowing (reducing the distractions).

There is a lot to be said about these disciplines, and I'm not going to summarize them, but here is a quick list of the ones that struck me most and which I'm aspiring to during my 48th trip around the sun: -practice the Sabbath (slow down, make fewer plans, put down the phones, take a nap, and spend more time with your family)
-turn your smartphone into a dumbphone (i.e. delete your social media apps or at least turn off all notifications especially from news sources) -keep your phone off until after your morning quiet time (why allow a negative headline or an urgent email to start off your day?) -set times for email (e.g. beginning/end of day to create space for uninterrupted attention span) -take a regular day alone for silence & solitude

I believe these practices will enable me to slow down, live a less frantic life, and find more joy & happiness in being present and focusing on what matters most. If I'm able to put them into practice, perhaps I'll be a better husband, father, venture capitalist, and person. I'll let Adrienne Selke, Rick Moss, and Lyndsey Boucherle be the judges of that!

Apr 15 · linkedin

Hello friends! If you're up for it, I would LOVE your support of our 110 bike ride from Oakland to Sacramento this Saturday to raise funds for Oakland public schools. My personal goal is to raise $1,500 and any amount helps! As I'm sure you're aware, Oakland schools are grossly underfunded, and we have to raise money for even basic positions like Music, Art, and PE. A bit different from the well funded public schools Adrienne Selke and I attended in the 'burbs, but we love the many great aspects of living here, especially the diverse experiences our kids are growing up with. We have two kids in Oakland public schools and one alumna, and our experience has been excellent thanks to our amazing teachers and the generous support of many families in our district. Thank you for considering a tax deductible donation to the cause! Better Ventures

Related Questions

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Wes Selke
Wes Selke, photo 1
Wes Selke, photo 2
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Location

Oakland, California, United States