Adam Draper

CEO and Founder of Boost VC

Sneakers with a Suit

I am the CEO and Founder of Boost, where we accelerate startup companies. I have invested in companies, started companies and daydreamed at different times in my life. My life's ambition is to assist in the creation of an Iron Man Suit.

How to Pitch a VC

August 08, 2014

Venture Capitalists are an interesting species. I have grown up around many, and they come in all shapes and sizes.

Bitcoin Startups! These Are The Trends We See

July 11, 2014

Boost first announced we were accepting Bitcoin companies on March 4, 2012. We were accepting Bitcoin companies before it was cool to fund Bitcoin companies.

BlockScore Raises $2m!

June 26, 2014

bout one year ago, I was invited by Chris Morton to speak to Stanford's Bitcoin group. I showed up to a dinner at the Cheese Cake Factory in downtown Palo Alto

6 Things Elves Need To Know About Startup Accelerators

May 30, 2014

Accelerators in general are great, the whole purpose of an accelerator or incubator is to bring together a group of like minded individuals who are doing awesome things and assist them in progressing their company forward.

Why Bitcoin, Not Altcoins?

May 14, 2014

Everywhere I go I am asked whether Boost is looking at "Bitcoin" companies or do I mean "Digital Currency?" And my answer is - I mean Bitcoin.

Boost VC Company Vaurum Raised $4m

May 08, 2014

I am writing this post in order to announce to the world that the Boost VC company Vaurum, a Bitcoin exchange for institutions, has raised $4 Million dollars from Battery Ventures, RRE, Tim Draper and Steve Case, among others.

The Boost 200 and the Bitcoin 100 (Apply to Boost now!)

May 07, 2014

13 months ago, Boost VC was the first accelerator or investor of any kind to very publicly take a stance on Bitcoin companies.

Congratulations Boost Batch #3

March 31, 2014

I'm announcing that the third session of Boost has launched and are making their dents in the universe! Bitcoin, Rockets, Robots, Enterprise and Consumer! These companies are wreaking havoc on their industries (In a good way). Congratulations...

Why Invest In Bitcoin Companies and Not Just Bitcoin?

March 10, 2014

"Bitcoin won't succeed unless there are a lot of Bitcoin companies building the Bitcoin infrastructure / Bitcoin economy. So there seems to be a classic public good / positive externality problem here: People are better off free riding on the...

Marketplace Advice

January 29, 2014

It surprises me how few people have written about marketplaces and how to get a chicken/egg marketplace going.

How To Explain Bitcoin To Your Parents

December 20, 2013

My friend Kevin Twohy, who is a very talented designer and all around good guy, posted a comment on Facebook during this holiday season: "Have a great holiday, everyone! Enjoy explaining Bitcoin to your parents."

Boost Summer 2013

September 30, 2013

Do you know that scene at the end of "October Sky", the movie with Jake Gyllenhaal, who plays the character Homer Hickam, where he is pitching rockets at the science fair? Also, if you are a fan of that movie, let me blow your mind for a second,

Rule 3: You Are The Rule Not The Exception

September 06, 2013

Have you ever read the book "He's Just Not That into You"? Me neither, however I have seen the movie, and although it is lacking a whimsically charming Hugh Grant in order to make it into the "Best RomCom" category, there is one part of the movie...

Rule 2: Focus Is The Most Important Thing

August 20, 2013

When an entrepreneur starts a company, they set out to solve a problem. In order to solve the problem they end up trying a lot of things. This rule is for those of you who have lost focus on the original problem.

Rule 1: Make Mistakes and Move On.

August 05, 2013

In school you are taught that mistakes are not allowed. That if you make a mistake it is a bad thing. You will do worse if you make mistakes on homework or tests. However, in the entrepreneurial world, the only way you can learn is from mistakes.

Boost VC, The Accelerator That Brought You Bang With Friends

May 22, 2013

Five months ago BoostVC started an accelerator to help start-up companies get to the next level.

The Boost Bitcoin Fund

May 14, 2013

Bitcoin, the decentralized, ungoverned currency has become an obsession of mine.

Ender's Game is My Favorite Book

May 07, 2013

“Ender’s Game”, is my favorite book, and now it is being made into a movie. I generally tell entrepreneurs to read the book to learn about leadership.

Fundraising Is An Art

April 29, 2013

As the great philosopher Pitbull once said, “Ask for advice, get money twice.” Last week, a company I invested in approached me asking for advice on how they should start their next fundraise.

Stop Saying Bitcoin Bubble

April 16, 2013

I dislike the term “Bubble”, and I don’t dislike many things. People throw out the term anytime anyone is getting traction and any industry is doing well, and they want to throw a wrench in the concept.

Thank You Bitcoin Community

April 05, 2013

10 Weeks ago, my partners and I made the decision to aid in the development of the Bitcoin economy. Our decision was to do what we do best and incubate 5-7 Bitcoin related companies in our next batch.

Bitcoin Hits One Thousand Million, Why?

March 28, 2013

Since Boost VC’s announcement that we would be looking at Bitcoin related companies for our next accelerator session, the market has gone crazy!

Bitcoin Company Ideas

March 06, 2013

After my last post on Bitcoin, there have been a lot of people asking me: “What kind of Bitcoin companies are you looking for?”

Boost VC Welcomes Bitcoin

March 04, 2013

Why I Stopped CrowdFunding

January 10, 2013

Last night I got an email from one of the investors in Boost (www.boost.vc) informing me I was mentioned in the Sunday NYT. I looked it up: http://nyti.ms/UU1pGZ