How I Source & How We Invest. I get asked these questions a lot and figure putting this out in the open can help save everyone's time. 1. We only lead/co-lead and exclusively focus on the first round/pre-seed. 2. I read all deal-related DM on here on X & LinkedIn. You don't need.

My favorite kind of DM goes something like:. "Hey Cat, we crossed paths at ___ and I’m looking to explore new opportunities. Got anything for me?". The answer is yes — always. Whether it’s at one of our portfolio companies, a friend’s, or (even better) if you’re thinking about.

In pursuit of happiness:. Prioritize objective joy — the kind that doesn’t need an audience. The only kind that nourish your soul. Track how much time, money, and energy you spend chasing subjective highs — then start cutting back. Own your joy. Don’t borrow it. /End.

So what's the point?. Subjective joy and pain aren’t real — they exist because you think you're being watched. The reality? You're not. It’s a fundamental cognitive bias — the Spotlight Effect — where we overestimate how much others notice us. Most people are too busy thinking.

and sometimes they clash in a single experience:. ◇ Objective Joy + Subjective Pain. Example: Eating alone at a restaurant or traveling solo. → Freedom (Objective Joy) vs. Perceived judgment of "being alone" (Subjective Pain). ◇ Subjective Joy + Objective Pain. Example:.

But in reality, it's never so black & white. Many experience are mixed: . - Buying a Ferrari: thrill of speed (objective) + status signal (subjective). - Achieving success: satisfaction from self actulization (objective) + spotlight recognition (subjective). - Feeling insecure:.

So is Subjective Pain:. - Feeling “behind” because others are ahead.- Insecurity from imagined judgment.- Shame from not fitting social timelines.- Pressure from others' expectations. Not real pain — they are illusory social pain.

On the other hand, the existence of Subjective Joy requires observers:. - Luxury logos that signal status.- Social media validation: likes & follows.- Fame.- Prestige that only works if others still care. Without an audience, the payoff fades.

Objective Pain is just as real:. - Physical pain/discomfort.- Burnout.- Grief.- Sensory overload.- Money stress for survival. It’s embodied. Not imagined.

Objective Joy examples:. - A great meal.- Spotting a beautiful rainbow.- Self actualization.- Freedom (time, financial, location).- The high after a workout.- Flow, peace, presence.- Confidence rooted in you.

Subjective causes are indirect, shaped by outside perception. You feel joy or distress because someone else is watching — or because you think they are.

There are two types of causes of Joy and Pain:.→ Objective.→ Subjective. Objective causes are direct. They don’t need validation or witnesses. The joy or pain comes from the thing itself - even if no one else ever knew.

It’s no secret that at Portal, we enjoy thinking in mental models — for startups, crypto, or capital. Occasionally, I also write about my mental models in life as inspiration surfaces. This is one of those pieces, a WIP framework to map out how we experience joy and pain. May it.

RT @evanbfish: I'm hosting a student-only office hours in SF on August 7th. If you're a student building something ambitious or exploring t….

I wonder how many deals have been lost in the history of venture because of VC egos.

Passion doesn’t keep one motivated forever. But winning does.

I have an idea. DM if you want to build.

Mark my words: “X to earn” in crypto will come back. This time it will be different and here to stay.

Should’ve tweeted this a month ago when I first said it, but guess now isn’t too late. Lots of VCs / hedge fund managers worry there won’t be another altcoin season. Disagree. Fresh retail liquidity will always look for beta plays to outperform BTC ETH SOL (> 2-3x), but won’t.

RT @sxtvik: This whole week has been surreal, lot of love and support from all our internet friends and lots of validations. And while I'm….

If it's not obvious enough — and this is what I tell all of my portcos: the ONLY way for investors + founders to make money is to build a company that's here to stay. We all know the game of low-float, TGE playbook, and short-term pump. But hey, neither investors nor the team.