“Creativity is what you do when you don’t know what to do.”

Maybe we were supposed to wander. Maybe we were never meant to stick to the path someone else drew.

She remembers visiting a childhood friend whose family owned a small business, and for the first time, she saw a different way of living—one where stability wasn’t a dream but a daily reality.

A former Olympic gold medalist, a serial entrepreneur, and someone who still questions what the next big thing might be, an endless pursuit of meaning.

Humans are complex little creatures, constantly swimming through the currents of life, searching for a straight path, only to find ourselves carried in unexpected directions.

Paolo, alongside his partner Matt McDonnell, is now helping shape the future of real estate by backing early-stage software companies that solve deep, operational pain points.

Rick’s early years were shaped by a love for art, tempered by family expectations.

“We did everything in-house,” Paolo recalls. “It was the only way to create efficiencies in a market segment that lacked reliable vendors.”

What does it mean to be an entrepreneur?

This foundation of strength and frugality left an indelible mark on Paolo. “I saw the sacrifices my dad made,” he shares, recalling how his father would save plastic bags and wear his shoes for years.