Mormon Mission Investment Signals

Shaan Puri discusses unconventional but effective investment signals that may seem inappropriate or silly but have proven to be reliable indicators of success. He emphasizes that while these signals can be gamed once widely known, finding unique patterns early can be valuable.

Key Investment Signals:

• Fierce Nerds (Paul Graham concept):

  • Overly competitive individuals
  • Often unrefined in other life areas
  • Looking to break or beat the system
  • Even better if they "love money"

• Background Indicators:

  • Mormon mission experience
  • Eastern European/Slavic origin
  • Harvard dropouts > Harvard graduates
    • Shows conviction to leave against social pressure
    • Demonstrates ability to get in + willingness to take risks

• Revenge Companies:

  • Companies built from a place of revenge or deep motivation
  • Sam Lessin's quote: "If during diligence you find it's a form of deep revenge, cut the check"
  • Negative emotions like hate and revenge can be powerful motivators

• Pattern Recognition Cautions:

  • These signals become less valuable once widely known
  • Some founders may try to game these signals
  • Best when patterns are not yet common knowledge

• Emotional Drivers:

  • Guilt and shame can be useful motivators for improvement
  • Negative emotions, when channeled properly, can drive success
  • Deep emotional investment in the problem being solved is valuable