Andre Iguodala, 4X NBA Champion, Finals MVP, GP at Mosaic Ventures, Point Forward Podcast

Lessons from a 19-Year Hall of Fame Career

We’ve been on a streak! We had the absolute pleasure of hosting 4X NBA Champion and Finals MVP, Andre Iguodala, who’s now leading a new $200M Fund – Mosaic Ventures. Andre is no stranger to investing, having backed some of the most iconic companies, from Coinbase to Zoom to Twitter to Mercury. Andre is also a NYT Best Seller, hosts the Point Forward podcast, and owns a soccer team. He’s a true version of a modern-day renaissance man. 

We learned a ton from Andre, here are a few lessons: 

Talent and Discipline

Andre shared so much wisdom and knowledge on what it takes to be a champion. Achieving greatness demands more than just raw talent; it hinges on discipline and an unwavering commitment to honing one's craft. Andre pays tribute to his beloved mother for instilling in him the invaluable trait of discipline. He has witnessed firsthand the remarkable journey that the fusion of talent and discipline can facilitate, exemplified not only in his own experience but also in the likes of Steph Curry and numerous other individuals. He also sees this in the great founders and actively seeks this out whenever he speaks to founders.

Mindset and Work Ethic 

To achieve greatness, Andre emphasized the importance of a mindset and being mission-oriented. According to him, greatness is born when individuals commit to a purpose larger than themselves, coupled with an unwavering work ethic. Andre's experiences with the Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors vividly illustrated the significance of these principles. Before embarking on any endeavor, he advises individuals to reflect on two fundamental questions: "What do you stand for?" and "What mindset do I need to cultivate to reach my goals?"

The importance of humility 

Andre shared with us the story of how he became the sixth man. At a point when he was undoubtedly a starting player, head coach Steve Kerr approached him with a proposition: lead the second squad, as it would make the entire team 10X better. This could have been a tough pill to swallow for any player in their prime, but Andre put the team over himself and knew what the end goal was – win championships and build a dynasty. And that’s what happened, and in 2015, he became NBA Finals MVP for his god-tier performance and lockdown defense against Lebron James. Team above self.  

Two Sides of Ego

Speaking of humility, Andre also brought a counter insight about humility. Quoting Jay Z, “Sometimes you need your ego”. The truly great ones in sports or business know when to turn this on, especially when everyone is doubting you. But it’s a slippery slope and you have to know when it’s additive to success and when it’s destructive. 

Culture, Culture 

During his stints with the Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors, Andre had a unique vantage point, observing two contrasting team cultures that underpinned successful dynasties. In Miami, he witnessed a culture steeped in discipline and a highly regimented system. This unwavering dedication to structure has kept the Heat at the forefront of the game for decades, and Andre believes that most teams, whether in sports or business, should embrace this discipline, particularly in their formative stages, to cultivate an unshakable, goal-oriented culture. On the other hand, his time with the Warriors revealed a more fluid and creative atmosphere, where discipline coexisted with a sense of freedom. This dynamic culture, akin to that of an early-stage company, allowed innovation to flourish—a fitting characteristic for a team owned by a former VC. 

Andre the Investor 

When Andre made his move to the Bay Area, he reached out to numerous GPs, but only one person, who I’m a fan of, gave him a chance. This leap of faith led to a series of remarkable events, including investments in several unicorn startups while he was still actively playing. Last week, he launched a $200 million fund called Mosaic Ventures. 

As an investor, Andre operates as a generalist but has a keen eye for unconventional businesses founded by often-overlooked entrepreneurs. What matters most to him when evaluating a founder is gaining a comprehensive understanding of their talent, discipline, and overall mindset. He has a unique approach of taking founders out to play golf for hours, a test that tends to reveal their true character. Beyond his investment endeavors, Andre is deeply committed to supporting underrepresented founders and bridging the gap between athletes and private asset-class investments that have generated trillions of dollars in Silicon Valley. 

Empowering underrepresented communities 

Andre is a man of the people and believes his life’s purpose is to give back and uplift underrepresented communities. He champions this cause through initiatives, mentorship, and advocacy, actively working to break the cycle of inequality and uplift communities. For Andre, providing access to economic opportunities is at the heart of this mission. Lastly, to underscore the importance of giving back, Andre quoted legendary private equity investor, Robert Smith, “If you have done well in whatever discipline you are in, it is your duty to send the elevator back down and try to help bring up the next generation of undiscovered talent.”

Andre, thank you!

Thanks Lilly Chan for the notes :)