Howard
_
Leibman
Howard
_
Leibman
As a kid, my Commodore VIC-20 was my most prized possession. I remember well the stack of RUN magazines, the countless hours transcribing printed lines of software, and the thrill of successfully coding the most basic of arcade games. Back when 5KB was all the memory in the world!
An early interest in technology led me to electrical engineering. I still view the world largely in mathematical terms, with the conceptual framework of an engineer. But I’ve always been intrigued by the “soft edge” that exists at the margin. I was drawn to the works of Professor Lofti Zadeh, whose “fuzzy set theory” provided a mathematical framework for handling partial truth, for dealing with ambiguity in highly analytical terms. I based my engineering thesis on his work, designing a control system for a power plant using the algorithms of “fuzzy logic”.
Venture investing, like the fuzzy logic of my engineering days, demands conviction in the face of ambiguity. Bridging the gap is all about people. We’re privileged to work every day with individuals who embrace uncertainty, who back themselves against the odds, who lead and inspire others. In turn, as investors, we don’t play the numbers game. When we take the leap, we do so with conviction and with a profound commitment to every relationship.
I’ve spent my career at the intersection of technology and finance – as an operator, adviser and investor. I finished business school at the peak of the dot com boom. Inspired by the emerging possibilities of the internet, I jumped straight into a startup, and lived both the euphoria and the heartbreak as the fanciful business models of the day came crashing down. I spent the next several years in corporate finance, advising listed technology clients on a range of corporate transactions.
Before starting EVP, I worked at a US venture backed medical technology company. I helped navigate multiple funding rounds and dual listings on ASX and NASDAQ. It was there that I saw first hand the power of technology to transform lives, and the potential for early stage risk capital to deliver truly exceptional returns.
Being a venture investor is about so much more than capital. I place immense value on building authentic, real relationships. I listen well, both to what’s said, and to that which goes unsaid, and aim to be sensitive to the weight of personal and emotional expectation that the founder journey entails. I aim to provide a measure of insight, drawing on experience from multiple startup journeys, and concrete assistance with strategy and capital when it counts.
My commitment to founders is that I’ll have your back. I’ll plant myself squarely in your corner and I’ll be your greatest advocate. But I’ll always aim to be transparent. I’ll celebrate the wins and will tackle the difficult conversations head on. The most enduring partnerships are those grounded in a fundamental alignment of values. In my experience, it is these that deliver the greatest outcomes.
As a kid, my Commodore VIC-20 was my most prized possession. I remember well the stack of RUN magazines, the countless hours transcribing printed lines of software, and the thrill of successfully coding the most basic of arcade games. Back when 5KB was all the memory in the world!
An early interest in technology led me to electrical engineering. I still view the world largely in mathematical terms, with the conceptual framework of an engineer. But I’ve always been intrigued by the “soft edge” that exists at the margin. I was drawn to the works of Professor Lofti Zadeh, whose “fuzzy set theory” provided a mathematical framework for handling partial truth, for dealing with ambiguity in highly analytical terms. I based my engineering thesis on his work, designing a control system for a power plant using the algorithms of “fuzzy logic”.
Venture investing, like the fuzzy logic of my engineering days, demands conviction in the face of ambiguity. Bridging the gap is all about people. We’re privileged to work every day with individuals who embrace uncertainty, who back themselves against the odds, who lead and inspire others. In turn, as investors, we don’t play the numbers game. When we take the leap, we do so with conviction and with a profound commitment to every relationship.
I’ve spent my career at the intersection of technology and finance – as an operator, adviser and investor. I finished business school at the peak of the dot com boom. Inspired by the emerging possibilities of the internet, I jumped straight into a startup, and lived both the euphoria and the heartbreak as the fanciful business models of the day came crashing down. I spent the next several years in corporate finance, advising listed technology clients on a range of corporate transactions.
Before starting EVP, I worked at a US venture backed medical technology company. I helped navigate multiple funding rounds and dual listings on ASX and NASDAQ. It was there that I saw first hand the power of technology to transform lives, and the potential for early stage risk capital to deliver truly exceptional returns.
Being a venture investor is about so much more than capital. I place immense value on building authentic, real relationships. I listen well, both to what’s said, and to that which goes unsaid, and aim to be sensitive to the weight of personal and emotional expectation that the founder journey entails. I aim to provide a measure of insight, drawing on experience from multiple startup journeys, and concrete assistance with strategy and capital when it counts.
My commitment to founders is that I’ll have your back. I’ll plant myself squarely in your corner and I’ll be your greatest advocate. But I’ll always aim to be transparent. I’ll celebrate the wins and will tackle the difficult conversations head on. The most enduring partnerships are those grounded in a fundamental alignment of values. In my experience, it is these that deliver the greatest outcomes.
