Andy Applebaum

In a couple sentences, how would you describe your path to becoming an investor?

Save for an 18-month stint as a corporate lawyer, I have been a career entrepreneur with a focus on creating marketplaces and disrupting inefficient supply chains. I’ve co-founded five companies that have spanned a broad diversity of industries including technology, energy, food services, e-commerce, media, and real estate. These include Seamless, Cleaner Options, mdenergy, Blue Ribbon Partners and Domino Media Group. Prior to co-founding RiverPark Ventures in 2013, I was an active angel investor.

Investment Approach: What are the key factors you consider when evaluating a founding team?

Deep industry expertise and/or unique insight into the problem at hand; ability to communicate a vision; data-driven; clear GTM strategy...we have a broad, diverse portfolio, but the common thread between these seemingly unrelated businesses is a stellar founding team tackling a big issue with a novel solution

What's your style and approach when it comes to working with founders post-investment? What are the characteristics of founders you've worked well with?

We are as involved as our founders want us to be. A hands-on approach could involve weekly check-ins about high-level strategy, marketing tactics, hiring plans, etc. A more distant approach has us checking in with our founding teams every ~2 months to get an update on the business – KPIs, strategy, asks, etc.

More than anything, we pride ourselves on being connectors within our vast network of portfolio companies, LPs, co-investors, and more. We consider our network to be a strong suit and look to leverage it for whatever purpose best furthers the agenda of our portfolio companies.

If I'm coming to pitch to you or your firm, what's the one piece of advice you'd give me?

The best founders think many steps ahead. They have a calculated idea of how much capital they will need to raise, milestones they want to hit, new hires they want to make, and most importantly, their mission. Be maniacal about these things.

How would you describe your own personal mission and values, and how do they impact the way you invest?

I started RiverPark Ventures after my own experience raising venture dollars and being a founder in the NYC tech ecosystem. I found that many investors did not have operating experience, so I wanted to start a fund built by founders for founders. I understand what it’s like to be on that side of the table, so I can empathize with each founder, ask critical questions and give honest advice/feedback based on 25+ years as an entrepreneur

What do you like best about investing in NYC, and what’s your outlook on the future of NYC tech?

We appreciate the vast diversity of backgrounds, viewpoints, and skillsets that make up the New York tech scene. Meeting brilliant minds tackling important issues is the highlight of our jobs. Despite the recent refrain that ‘New York is dead,’ we could not be more bullish on the vitality of the New York startup scene, and are excited to continue our mission of supporting great founders from New York and beyond.

‍