From High School Dropout To $952 Million At 33
About This Episode
Shaan Puri interviews serial entrepreneur Jessica Mah about her unconventional journey from a high school dropout running server businesses to managing a holding company worth nearly $1 billion. The episode explores her shift from a hands-on CEO to an investment manager focused on 'bold science' ventures and reveals billionaire-level strategies for tax optimization, health, and relationship building.
Episode Description
Show Notes
- 0:00Intro
- 7:00Jess's non-small boy holdco
- 11:00Building without fear of failure
- 16:00Overcoming negative the self talk
- 20:00What would Shaan do if he was a billionaire?
- 26:00The danger of waiting
- 32:00Realistic breakthroughs in the future
- 36:30Meeting belly-to-belly in business
- 41:00Pulling it off with no reputation
- 47:00Billionaire tax secrets
- 52:0080/20-ing the Bryan Johnson Blueprint
- 58:30Buying yachts, private jets, and other luxury assets
- 1:07:00Takeaways from a 1-on-1 with Paul Graham
- 1:12:00Bold bets on science
Check Out Shaan's Stuff
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- Ideation Bootcamp
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Key Takeaways
Adopt the 'HoldCo' model by transitioning from an operator to an investment manager, allowing for greater leverage and the pursuit of multiple high-impact ventures simultaneously.
Prioritize 'belly to belly' networking by being willing to fly anywhere for in-person meetings, as face-to-face interaction builds trust and rapport far more effectively than digital communication.
Treat tax optimization as a primary business expense and a high-IRR investment by hiring multiple specialist strategists and utilizing asset financing for items like planes or yachts to offset liabilities.
Business Ideas Mentioned
Alternative Campus for Non-Traditional Entrepreneurs
Boring Business
Bespoke Longevity and Nootropic Stack
E-commerce
Manifestation Studio for Idea Execution
Agency