Shaq-nology: Slam-Dunking Education’s Future with AI & Edsoma

9:30PM Sep 19, 2023

Speakers:

Matthew Panzarino

Shaquille O'Neal

Kyle Wallgren

Keywords:

education

work

children

company

money

kyle

soma

read

shaq

investments

years

invest

business

bulls

kids

ai

jeff bezos

important

built

love

When we got a huge guest next, he's a very giant person, but also a legend in his own right in terms of basketball, but also in terms of investing. So he actually backed Google during a Series A when it was worth only $100 million. And then he's made all kinds of other investments as well, including the company that's going to appear here with him, which is EdSoma. So the person I'm talking about is Shaquille O'Neal, and he's here with Kyle Wallgren and also your moderator Matthew Panzarino. So welcome him in

Welcome, welcome.

Before we get started, man, I want to let you know I'm upset. Okay. This is the Charles Barkley seat my ass is not that big. You can continue.

All right. Very good.

Charles, if you're watching Yes, I hate you.

Okay, so

don't get flustered.

You have you have made a lot of investments over the years. This particular investment Kyle is the CEO of a company called Ed Soma. It's an ed tech company. We'll have him talk about it in a second but I wanted to kind of hear from you why this particular company? Why education, why is that important to you?

Okay, I went to a conference like this and 9798 I heard a beautiful bald head man by the name of Jeff Bezos say. If you invest in things, it's going to change people's lives. Most of the time, it'll work out for you. So when Kyle came in the office and he started talking about children just to talk about education and his love for children. I knew it was going to be a great fit. I'm over investing, worrying about the monetary returns. I did that 92 to 95 and I lost them every penny I had. And when I heard Jeff Bezos say that I started investing in things that's gonna change people's lives. And that's been great for me. And you know, I don't like to sit up here like I'm an expert, but that has always been my style. And you know, Kyle doesn't really have a lot of competition out there. He's first he cares about it. And I care about it. And I think it's gonna be great. I let him elaborate on, you know what it is, but it's just a beautiful thing. Education is very important. You know, for me in my business 79% of retired athletes when they're done playing have zero income, zero income. I didn't want to be part of that stat. So my parents really pushed education as a great story about how I spend a million dollars in first day because I didn't have you know, financial knowledge. I get a million dollars. It wasn't a million dollars. I had no idea what state income tax was. And I was looking at my report and I asked my guy who the hell is FICA they had took so much money from me, but I went out and bought two cars and bought a whole bunch of stuff. And I had, you know, end up owing the bank money, so I had to learn financial literacy. And I had to learn it very quick because I left school so you know, my first book was the dummies guide to starting your own business. And then I started surrounding myself with people that were smarter than me. And, you know, my journey began but I eventually went back and obtained my Bachelor's, my masters and my PhD. My education is very important. And you know, a lot of kids fell behind during COVID. And you know what, Kyle has done this tip, definitely bring them back up to speed and I think it's like it's easier to learn for these children than it was for us. I tell my kids all like when, you know, one of my kids came home with a C and told them that was unacceptable. And he said why I said, Well, my only source was encyclopedia that you had to borrow from a neighbor you guys got chat. GPT you got Google, you got all these sources that can give you the information you need. is no excuse. So you know, Kyle, Kyle has done a wonderful job.

I think that's a great lead in to talk about it soma and what it's doing so can you explain what the company is what the goal is?

Yeah, so at Soma is a tool that we've developed to help kids learn how to read when we reached out with Shaquille we wanted to make sure that kids from every type of environment had access to education and make sure that if a pandemic ever happened again, people that couldn't afford tutoring still had access to tutoring. So as someone's voice recognition tool that has user based content or published based content, and we use voice to identify where a child's at in real time with their reading and provide that data to parents or teachers. The main thing that we've done totally different is allow the content to be of interest of children where the standard things that have happened in the past was curriculum driven content and we know what the way everything is my kids are all on roadblocks all the time they needed to speak to them. So if we're going to continue to push education, we need the education to be able to speak to the individual and customize things for their needs, instead of just the old fashioned way of doing things.

And what was your What was your pitch to check what how did you come to him to say look, we think we have something unique in the market and how'd you approach him?

It was funny because he looked at me like I couldn't read. Read, I said what do you mean, or he just took me back when I was in fifth grade and I really wasn't a good reader. And I just I told him, I'll take the zero. I don't feel like we read it. And I had to read it again. I had to read it again. You know, when you just like I was just, you know, just going through the motions. I was reading it and it was saying, if you're not really a good reader, and I was like, Hey, what is this and he was explaining to me and he was showing me and that's when I really really felt like I was just shocked. Knology slam dunk and you know, he was saying no technology saying you're not a good reader. Then I got upset. I had to pull out the intelligent check. But it was I mean, it was just great. It just blew me away. And it was a very short meeting. You know, again, he expressed his love for children and you know, express his care and you know about our children and academics. And when I saw how to technology work, I told him I said, Oh man, because I know this is definitely going to change a child's life.

When we built the technology. I built it for kids and you can hear the difference between his voice and a child's voice and we hadn't noticed when we walked out here you saw the height difference. So I gave him the device.

Even if I go to my kids voice is still the same voice.

When I gave him the device, it dawned on me that we had never tested it run with his tone. So all I could think about is this isn't going to work. And because he's so much taller than me I couldn't see if it was working. So until like you know that facial expression change as I go thank God.

I think a lot of founders have been in that spot that demo fail possibility. Like is it gonna work at the moment it needs to work? That's very cool. And like when you when you look at education market or the education market specifically, it is very difficult to get funding for education focused companies and maintain funding or long term you know, get reinvestment. Why do you think that is why do you think it's so hard? Because I guarantee you if you go to the average person on the street, they'll say of course I care about education, of course, I think we should invest in it. But yet when it comes time to actually take part of the fund and put it into it, it's so hard to get them to commit. Why do you think that is? And that's a question for both of you.

One of the things that I think is, you know, we've built education to build factory workers, and we no longer have factory workers. So the idea of changing things scares people, but from an investment standpoint, it has to be purpose driven. You know, it's no secret that everything Shaquille does and the Shaquille O'Neal foundation is purpose driven. So when we went to them, it wasn't necessarily about making money, although the investments gonna make plenty of money, but it was more about making a difference. And when you look at education, there's studies that show that they actually design or select how many prison cells are going to be needed based off third grade literacy levels. 10 years out. So you need to be able to tell that story and have it read resignate with the people that are investing in it, they we can actually change the way the entire country operates just by teaching kids how to read and he really got that

or my favorite word when it comes to business is friends and family. You're correct. It is difficult some time but I have a lot of friends that feel the same way that I do. And you know, sometimes it's a easy phone call. So you know for this one, it was a pretty pretty much easy phone call.

And when you go to when you want to assess a company like at Soma, you mentioned before that's like, hey, if the purpose is clear, and if I see you see the mission, then you're okay with it. Do you find it hard to weed those out? Because I'm sure you get an enormous amount of noise, right? There's an enormous amount of people approaching you

get hundreds a week, a lot and you have to go with the gut feeling. Then I have to give it to my panel. General Eisenhower said the greatest leaders are the ones that are smart enough to hire people that are smarter. So I'm not the smartest guy in my camp. I like it. Give it a give it to be give it to see if it passed all the channels. Then we'll go you know, when we had to meet with him a B, C and D was in the office and they all liked it and you know they all tested it you know they gave him some some some troubles but you know, he passed all the tests and and here we are, again. I'm my days of if I put this down in two years that those days are over like I used to be like that a lot like you can sell me anything a man invest in us now and two years we're gonna sell for 500 I mean, I was that guy, but now it's just no like I don't even know how much I put it. I don't even know how much I'm making. It doesn't matter if we can help our children especially African American children. Catch up. That's what I'm all about

how is the how's the early traction been? How's it how's the rollout goes?

So it took about three years to get to where we are today. Shaquille was the first believer, believe it or not. I showed somebody today the first email that went to Perry to get the introduction, but we spent a year testing the markets and the consumer base markets our first month which was about three months ago, going into schools, we on boarded 300 students. Our second month we on boarded 1000 students this month, we should do over 9000 students so we're seeing tremendous growth. The teachers that get to put their hands on it, love it. Not only do we help kids, but we help teachers and this is super important to skill as well as teachers. You know what I mean? We put a lot of time back into their hands. They're under valued for sure there's a shortage in teachers in the United States. So the time that we give back to them and the data that we provide them allow them to focus on solutions instead of just identifying problems we take that and that out of their their days. So we've had a great response.

And what what characteristics do you think are of the school districts you're approaching? Like how you're selling into these things? What do you think is your target school districts? Is it districts that are under resourced or is it districts that are over resourced and applying it incorrectly? How do you approach that?

So we started off, you know, because we were short on data, we had just done a small small pilot last year very focused pilot. We thought that our go to market strategy was going to be private and charter schools just because they can make the funding a little bit more available. But because of COVID and the funds that were available through their SRF funding, the government funding programs, they do have a lot of resources that they can focus on catching up through tutoring and stuff right now. So we are getting into you know, underfunded inner city communities where the deal that we're closing right now is in one of the top five districts in the United States that needs it the most. So we're getting a great response and they're, they're pulling the resources together to make sure that it happens.

What is what is your what do you look for in a founder because you mentioned you met Kyle and you kind of knew right away and you're like, hey, there's something here, obviously, that the product works helps for sure. But aside from that, there had to be something because you as you mentioned, you get approached a lot. What do you look for in a person when they approach you in you look in their eyes, and you're like, ah, you know, this is somebody I want to be in business with

versus I'm looking for as the passion and he came and he was a little nervous at first and they just just got right to it and the passion in his voice and, you know, wanting to help the children and you know, he had his facts in order he and everything straight. It made unbelievable. And then once he showed me the technology, I was in, never mentioned money, never mentioned anything. And he expressed that he would like me to be a partner. I thought that was nice of him and then I told him I said listen I'm here with all my guys, we like it. We will get back to you. And we had another chat and everybody was like, you know this is pretty good. And Perry and him had further conversations and then Perry called me and said, You know this pass all the tests. We did our due diligence. On this gentleman right here. He's well respected because you know, he's his friends know my agent. And that's how we got a meeting because usually, you know, this doesn't happen that easy. But you know, I was in Vegas one day and my agent said, Hey, I got something you need to look at because you know, Perry so first, he's like I said, we need to look at so again when I when I when I met met the gentleman, a lot of passion is voiced and never mentioned money like the guys that never mentioned money are the guys that I can have a conversation with for a long time. So once you come in, I need this. I need that we got to do this and we're gonna flip it. I'll never take that deal ever again. My last deal I took like that I lost a lot of money and that was in 95. And then the 95 I had to you know, restructure my team and hire people that were smarter than me and, and really learn about financial literacy and really learn how these things work. And then I heard Jeff Bezos say that and I tried it. First thing company I tried it was Google. I was at Four Seasons, I was eating lunch and it was four distinguished gentleman sitting there playing with the kids and the kids recognize me and Shaq and they're playing with me. Basically, I'm doing a babysitting job. I'm sitting there playing with the kids. And after that, one a gentleman says Shaq. I want to talk about this company called Google and just talking about search engines and you'll be able to type in anything and comms I was like, that sounds good. And I introduced him to Perry and you know, we had a meeting with them and it looked good and I put some money in and I forgot about it. And then the newspaper told me how much I made and I couldn't believe how much I made. I forgot. I forgot I invested in this company. It was it was a nice hit. Too bad I lost it all in divorce. But that's that's neither here nor there. Divorces Sign Language beautiful. Oh, this beg you to bet I lost it all.

Okay, best early in Google and don't get divorced are both tips. I think we can agree on it. Kyle. I have a question for you. Because like this is I'm I'm a non technical person. I have definitely spent my career like understanding technical people and trying to learn how they do what they do, and it's a great joy. You're a non technical founder in a very technical business. How did you attract the talent you needed to your mission?

Shaquille keeps touching on it. I read a book early on, hit with Henry Ford, and he just talks about not needing to know all the answers. But know the people that do know the answers. So I just reached out to the best people I could reach in the fields that I felt like we needed to focus on. I've been super blessed. We got Shaquille and the AB G and PRP team looking after marketing with us. My CTO happened to build one of the very first online sporting businesses way back when and has had multiple exits. And then just recently, we brought on a new chief education officer who was the president of the American administration of superintendents, you know, so we're just super blessed to have talent want to be a part of it. But I think it's a lot easier when you talk about the mission and how you can actually change lives and affect children's futures. By literacy. There's actually a study that shows that if you can teach somebody that's in prison, how to read and increase to grade levels, they go from an 87% chance of reoccurring down to an 18% chance. So literacy can drive you know, economies that can change can change everything. So

and I don't want to I don't want out you but you mentioned something that I think is really cool. And it's the you rode bulls professionally. Yeah, I did. And like what that okay. So he wrote previous life. You rode bulls. Yeah.

Yeah. I wouldn't say I was the greatest at it. I did it for a long time. I was good at selling myself. So the sponsors really helped me get down the road. But coming out and talking to all these people is way scarier than their writing anymore.

I don't believe you wrote a book. You can Google it. No, no, go show me. I want to see. I want to see that shoulder go a couple seconds just just go all right. All right. I believe you know, I made a decision to go back. You Robles. Yeah,

I was a cowboy in my first life.

I think that speaks to tenacity, right? Like, you know, founders got to ride. You know, a lot of waves. You had some waves just getting here. Today. So

yeah, we had our car broken last night and they stole all our computers, our iPads, everything that we had for today.

See the headlines now? I can invest with bull rider.

It's like, seriously though, do you think that that helps you? You know that kind of like, you know, you're obviously it's an intense sport, right?

basing your fear? Yeah, yeah, totally. I'm a father first and foremost. That's my first passion above anything else. So to be able to watch kids and see how if you eliminate like fear throughout guiding them what they can achieve. I think it's great. I think it's like a necessity in order being a founder is to be able to hide your fear get rid of it or you know, look through it in order to get through all this stuff because it is scary. You know, things happen every day and it's a matter how you're going to, you know, put your shoes on each day to get to the finish lines. So if you're scared this isn't a sport for you.

Well, I'm scared no road no damn bull.

We could get you on

one of my road Charles Barkley road no bull. Road bulls were Yeah, that's awesome.

I know you're not scared of Charles but I am and so I just can't. Let's see.

You can both fit in that couch though. No, no.

Way out there. Charles has got a new BBL to look really good.

You look good yourself.

Thank you. Yeah. Look a lot of salads. Or you say salads most beautiful. So I learned

about education. Yes, exactly. How has your approach changed over the years? You mentioned some early failures kind of like allowed you to get to a moment where you're like, Hey, I gotta invest in things that I actually believe in. But like how is your approach changed over the years? It hasn't

changed. I only invest in things it's gonna change people's lives. You know, Aristotle said you You are what you repeatedly do. So with the Google hit going well, I said might as well try it again. The second hit went well and the third hit and the fourth hit. I will never change that strategy. Now get a lot of hey, man, we boom boom. Nope. I can't do it. So you know, I grew up with military structure. So we're taught not to make the same mistakes twice. So I've made a couple of mistakes trying to try to get rich quick. I had to change my strategy. But once that strategy work, I'm sticking with it. Like every time I see one of my former teammates always give him a hug. And then when we've been doing that for years, Rick Fox is over in the next room. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't definitely won the three championships in a row. So we have it when we see each other. We show love. We show respect. We reminisce about oh Todd laka just he was busy, but I was like, Nope, I'm gonna interrupt him on the stage. I'm gonna stick to the plan. Hey, Rick, I love you. I miss you. I'll see you soon. So I am a creature of habit. I will continue to do the same thing.

And why was it when you went back to get your degree that you chose education specifically?

F or myself, for my children, and the children that follow me. I wanted to show them that like, you know, in the times we live in now. Kids want things quickly. And I have to be the one to break the news to him that it doesn't really work like that. And then I also tell them if you're going to get it quickly. You still have to educate yourself. Now as you know when I first came into number 65% of our profession now 79% 79% Of all professional athletes go broke and have no income five years after their retirement that's, that's horrible. I definitely didn't want to be part of that stat. My father who was a drill sergeant, definitely made sure my mother made sure they they did a great job of I don't want to use the word tricking me but everything I did they were never impressed like that. I have 40 points last night but yeah, when you going back to school that I made seven free throws in a row. Yeah, but when you're going back to school, that was a joke by the way. So for those that I shot a movie called because then oh that movie suck when you go back to school. It was another joke. I know. Because I was bad. Hey, you can laugh. Let's laugh. But so I said you know what I mean? Let me go back. So like six years after being an MBA, I finally went and got my bachelor's. Then we used to go to tech conferences like this and whenever we have pitch meetings, I like the people to talk to me, it's me to talk to but the guy was just treating me like a basketball player that day is a hey, check how you doing? And he turned away and he was just talking to my guys. The whole meeting like it wouldn't even look at me. So I was like, Oh, you think I'm one of those dumb athletes. So I really I said you know what, let me go back and get my master's in business. So I was still playing at the time. So I got a contact the University of Phoenix and they talked about the online program and I said Can I Can I fly in to see you guys and they had a canvas in LA I said I don't want to do online. I want to go to class and the guy was like, Well, if you want to go to class, you need 15 other people I say give me a week. So got 15 of my friends and I paid for all of them to get their masters. Even though even though it was online program, none of my courses online like I wanted to be there. And of course they build the Romo schedule. So instead of taking four years to five years, me to get my masters out there got my masters you know, my mother was crying. She said we don't have any. We don't have any doctors in our family. Like it was a challenge but okay, mom, so, but to answer your question, I did it for me. I did it for my children, and I did it for the children that follow me just wanted them to know that. No education is very, very important. Like I'm rich and famous and got a lot of followers but I wanted to show him that there's more to that and you know, the ones that follow me and the ones that listen to me that's those are the ones that we want to be around. Thanks

So Carly, if this works, well, it seems to be better work. When what is your what's the ultimate goal? What is what would you view as a success marker for it? So

our next goal is to change a million lives in America and literacy changes lives like it changes the direction that you had, it can take you out of poverty. So teaching a million kids to read in America is the next goal from there. So I'm actually stands for education, social marketplace, we want to be able to give back to education build a marketplace where teachers aren't pulling money out of their pockets anymore, so they can focus on the things that are important. So I've got lots of goals but you know, right now I want to teach a million kids how to read or assist a million kids. Learning how to write where's my

girlfriend? Oh, there you okay, I love you. Because I was about to beat you up dude. How did you say beat you up dude. That's too much. I got I got what I got salad and divorce.

If you had to, if you were looking ahead to investments that you might make in the future, what how? How much of your portfolio? Would you want to be? Public Good education, focus, that sort of thing versus things that you believe in, but are primarily there to be monetary engines.

This is gonna sound weird. Just pay attention to him saying I don't know what to wear. I do know but it's not something that focus on knowing. Like I'm like when I made my portfolio managers I see it I memorize it but it's not I don't go temperature here. If I was there. I'm just because, you know, I was talking to a child the other day and he said Shaq wish How's it feel to be rich? And my answer shocked him. I said my definition of being rich is growing up. Watching a mother work nine to five. not have enough money to buy a dress to go to a company outing not having enough money to buy shoes for ourselves but always sacrificing for us. So my definition of riches just having my mother be able to buy whatever she wants. So you know, you ask him my portfolios. I don't like to sit up here and say I got this and that because really I don't know because I don't pay attention to it. I know if I have to look again but you know, I don't I don't base anything of monetary value. I've made a lot of money playing basketball. I've made a lot of friends. I've made a lot of investments, but I'm not the guy that goes 15% here 5% Like, you know, I'll take these meetings 1015 times a year and if it makes sense if it's going to help out other people, I'll do it but I don't have the answer to that.

How important is is ml to your overall strategy like aI using that to enhance your the features of the app and to kind of fuel growth.

The biggest thing is that we all understand that people learn differently, right? So being able to identify what each child's individual needs is, I think it's going to be super important. I think that if so, one of the things that I didn't say is that I built that Soma because when my daughter asked me to teach her how to read I couldn't do it. I got kicked out from grade nine and I can't read very well at all. So it was something that were

Euro bulls and the carry imagine that I just do

so when when she asked me you know, to teach you how to read it crushed me that I couldn't do it. So to be able to like focus on individual needs, but also bring resources into the home because one of the big things that is the disconnection on becoming a better reader is being able to go home and have a parent help you with that. You know what I mean in a big part of our population, that's where the breakdown is. So the AI is really important when it comes to supporting the parent and making this a foundation in their home not just for the child but for the family. You can take each other out of poverty together and you know really expand that way. So the AI really is going to drive that at home use and bringing confidence back in to the family and to the home foundation. But then, you know, be able to really grow things on as an individual user based off of their interests and the way that they learn some

cool and what advice would you give to a founder starting out in education today like what do you think it's important? Obviously, not everybody can have a champion like Shaquille on their team, but do you think it's important to get buy in from the investor side? Do you think it's important to engage like at the Education architecture first, because a lot of times building an education start delay you're coming from outside having to sell into school channels you're having to address like the kind of, you know, honestly slow moving education system. So if you were to give advice to an education founder today, what would you

I think the advice that I would give is not be intimidated by what you don't know. A lot of people that come to do what we're doing they're like you should have never made it here. There was all this red tape that you had to go around and because I didn't know what the red tape looked like, I never took that direction. I was just like, this is the direction I'm gonna go. So believing in yourself first and foremost believing in what you're doing. Knowing why you're doing it. If you're doing it for money, just move on. You've already lost. But really understanding that and then not being scared to learn and ask questions.

And then on your side. I think that the You've mentioned a couple of times about like athletes coming out of the system and not being able to make success for themselves outside. Are you working on anything to help them in that regard?

Okay, there's a lot of help in place. Really is like when when when you're a rookie, they they tell you the good stories, they tell you the bad stories, they tell you how to continue education. It's all about listening. No, my father told me a long time ago if you listen. The things you can accomplish are endless. So I had to learn to quit to become a good listener. So no, I listened to the stories about a $40 million as your first contract but when you're done playing you could have nothing and I'm already at nothing now and I get this quick hit. I want to keep this hit and I want to keep it forever. How do you keep it forever? Invest what's invest. Let me give you this and you'll give me money back real quick. Nope, that didn't work. Take your time. Learn invest. So you know I'm just I never want to do again. I never wanted to be part of that story. And it's all about listening. And when I read that, quote, the smarter leaders are the ones who are smart enough to hire people smarter. It actually changed my life because if you don't know it all and elementary school, you don't know it all. In high school. You don't know it all in college. Just because you become a millionaire overnight. Doesn't mean you know it all. So I realized I don't know at all and I enjoy not knowing all because my friends know it all and I get to learn you know I you know he just made the point that people learn in different ways. If I'm talking to a guy that I know he's an expert in this field, he tells me I can learn like that because I already know you're expert on how to do due diligence and read. Like, we all know who Jeff Bezos is. So when he says you invest in things, it's going to change people's lives. I already know this guy's expert. That's what I'm gonna do. That's how I'm going to do it. So, you know, the first key to being successful to all the young guys over there is you have to listen, listen to the right people.

And do you talk to other because there's a handful of athlete investors, xs X athletes or even current that I think are making really smart, interesting choices and investment. Some really clever stuff that they're investing in and they clearly are highly engaged. Do you do talk amongst those

folks? No, everyone has their own strategy. Everyone has their own routine. And you know, when I do talks like these and sometimes they go viral, sometimes they don't I don't know if they take my advice. But, you know, again, I'm not an expert. So I don't go, you should do this. You should do that. Don't talk to this guy. Like I've never I've never been that guy. It's just this is my routine. And it's been working for me since 97. And it will continue to be my routine and I've had I'm gonna say I'm glad, like over 90% success. Now when I say success, I don't mean money's coming back. I mean, just you know, whatever. You know, when I had the meeting, whatever he said it was that's what it became. So I'm happy with you know my results, but I don't I don't go around telling people they should do this and they should do that because I'm not an expert, but I know a lot of people that are experts, so I may refer somebody to somebody but you know, I'm just a creature of habit.

And do you do you go into like, the next six months or a year whatever, looking for new projects to invest in it with a certain space in mind, like do you think to yourself, hey, everybody's talking about ML and AI and how it's going to change the world. And obviously, there's a lot of a lot of movement in the space. Do you think I have to find a way to get into that sector? Or do you not do you have no preconceived notion about the companies you want to invest in at all?

We'll look we'll read will comprehend. We'll keep it up here. Then I will wait. Like if I like just having to read like, you know, take information I see like there's a young company and they're doing something that I like, sometimes I'll reach out, but I never go searching. I never go whatever. Like I'll just you see what's out there. Read know make sure the companies are who they say they are when I'm interested. Call up a few friends. Have you heard about this? So it's a process that takes a while. It's never like a quick process because especially you know, with AI, so many AI companies coming out and if I do invest I want to invest with with one that's going to change people's lives. And one that's you know, properly ran that's a proper management. So there's your questions. No, I don't look but again, I know it's out there because hopefully this word doesn't offend anybody, but I am a geek. So I love technology. I like you know, finding out new things and you know, just love that stuff. So I'll look but our search.

Yeah, I mean, I know one of our previous Battlefield companies Photomath I think he put a little money into them there

in my portfolio.

I want to I don't want out it. But I mean, I think that's it's a it's always interesting to me to

overlay this guy keep coming. You keep making faces that may come up. Yeah, come up here and sit next to me. Who's gonna keep making faces? He told me he loved me. I love you too. But uh, yeah, come on up. What are you doing? What's your name? I'm George. I didn't say you could talk I just say you know he was he kept making pizza like prom during the speech. Be quiet. So now you're next to me

all right, nice to meet you, George. How you doing? Welcome to stage or you can leave now George. Okay. Thank you, man. Maybe we'll be back here someday. Oh, you will given him for George.

I just always find it interesting when somebody has so much. I guess in the VC world, they call it deal flow, right? It's like everybody, you're very recognizable personal brand. And you just get kind of like a firehose. So the philosophy of sort of, you know, observing, waiting and seeing I think is it's it's makes total sense when you say it probably surprising to me, you know, it would definitely make more sense for you to go like hey, you know, do your business managers I kind of be in the space give me five companies give me 10 companies that are interesting here.

Not that smart. Nor am I that good. It's just that I'm a nice guy. And me, me being nice. Me being nice, has gotten me a lot of opportunity. So no, I guess he was he was a fan and, you know, when he was building his company, he thought of man, you know, I thanked him and said his family was a fan of mine. And so I just I guess I have to attribute it to being nice and being respectful because we come from a military background. You're taught to things you're taught to respect people you taught to be nice. So you know, I wish it was a formula to how I get all my deal flows, but it's just me being me and me having a sense of humor being being nice and I've been very, very lucky. And again, when he was building this and you know, trying to teach your daughter how to read and he built a system. He told me that he thought of me because he knows the relationship that I have with children. So I can't sit up here and say you do this and do that. It's just it's just all been luck, but I think I could attribute it to it. Just by being a nice respectful guy, because I respect everybody. I like everybody. I shake hands with everybody. I don't have entourage I don't have bodyguards. I denounce myself for being a celebrity four years ago because celebrities are freaking stupid. They're crazy. I don't want to be affiliated with those people. You know, people always ask me Shaq What do you want your legacy to be when you're when you're no longer on this earth? Wants to Say Shaq was a nice guy. Doesn't matter. I mean, how much money you got, how many investments you made? How many rings Shaq was a nice guy. Because like I told the child my definition of being wealthy is just having my mother worked her tail off, to be able to just go buy a pair of shoes. My mom's not even like that, but you know, just for her to just be able to just go take care of herself because I've seen this woman work so hard and struggle and never complain. So as well when I got my first MBA check first thing I did was buy her brand new Mercedes. Here you go lady. Used to have a Dodge Caravan. I wanted her to feel good when she showed up to work. Here you go. I want her to show off baby. I can't take this. No, you take it and then your house though house but we never had a house before but it was a house like I just met right there as well work hard. That's why I'm nice to people. That's why I stay out of trouble for her.

Well, I think it's a beautiful way to end it. Thank you both very much. Thank you Kyle, and I'm sorry about all your travails. Glad you were here to be able to

do more any more surprises?

I don't think so. Can I do a harmless plug though? Of course we got Shaquille O'Neal's autographed Jersey I verify validate that it's real, that we're gonna give away to anybody that downloads the app not anybody will pick a winner from anybody that downloads the app this week and gives us some feedback. So there you go. You entered for

two Oh my God, my God. I came up to sit over here. I'm gonna give you one brother. I love you. Appreciate it. Thank you guys. And have fun at TechCrunch Get home safe