Jason Calacanis

Jason Calacanis is an American entrepreneur, angel investor, and media personality known for his prominent role in the Silicon Valley technology and startup ecosystem. He co-founded several media and technology companies, including Weblogs, Inc. and Mahalo.com, and is a prolific early-stage investor through his syndicate on AngelList. Calacanis is also a noted podcaster, hosting shows like This Week in Startups and The All-In Podcast, where he discusses technology trends and venture capital.

Early life and education

Jason Calacanis was born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and raised in a working-class family in New York City. He developed an early interest in technology and entrepreneurship, reportedly starting his first business, a bulletin board system, during his teenage years. Calacanis attended Xaverian High School before enrolling at Fordham University in the Bronx. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, though he has often noted that his most formative education came from hands-on experience in the burgeoning internet industry of the 1990s.

Career

Calacanis began his career in media, founding the Silicon Alley Reporter in 1996, a print magazine that covered the dot-com boom in New York City. This publication evolved into a conference series, the Silicon Alley Reporter Conference, which became a notable event in the early internet scene. In 2003, he co-founded Weblogs, Inc. with Brian Alvey, a network of blogs that included the influential technology blog Engadget; the company was later sold to AOL in 2005. Following this, Calacanis launched the human-powered search engine Mahalo.com in 2007. He later co-founded the subscription-based news platform Inside.com in 2014 and has been involved with various other ventures, including the launch accelerator LAUNCH Festival.

Investments and portfolio

As an angel investor and venture capitalist, Calacanis has built a significant portfolio of early-stage technology startups, primarily through his syndicate on the online platform AngelList. His notable investments include early stakes in companies such as Uber, Robinhood, Calm, and Tumblr. He is known for his thesis on investing in "unicorn" companies at the seed stage and has been a vocal participant in debates about venture capital strategy and startup valuation. Calacanis also manages a venture fund and frequently shares his investment philosophy on his podcasts and at industry events like TechCrunch Disrupt.

Media and publications

Calacanis is a prolific media creator and commentator. He is the host and producer of the long-running technology podcast This Week in Startups, where he interviews founders and investors. He is also a co-host of the popular The All-In Podcast alongside fellow investors Chamath Palihapitiya, David Sacks, and David Friedberg. He authored the book Angel: How to Invest in Technology Startups in 2017, which outlines his approach to early-stage investing. His writing and commentary have appeared in publications like The Wall Street Journal and on platforms such as Twitter, where he has a substantial following.

Personal life

Jason Calacanis is married to Jasmine Calacanis, and the couple has two children. He resides in Los Angeles, having moved from New York City to be closer to the West Coast technology industry. An avid fitness enthusiast, he often discusses health and wellness topics. Calacanis is also known for his philanthropic interests, particularly in education and supporting entrepreneurial initiatives in underserved communities, and has been involved with organizations like the Kauffman Foundation.

Category:American technology entrepreneurs Category:American podcasters Category:Angel investors Category:1970 births Category:Living people Category:People from Brooklyn Category:Fordham University alumni