Fahd Ananta
@fahdananta
Followers
15K
Following
46K
Media
2K
Statuses
24K
Building software. Investing at @RoachCap.
Joined March 2009
We just calling everything that’s automated AI-powered now.
This AI powered pizza robot from a Seattle startup named Picnic can assemble 300 perfect pizzas an hour #CES2020
173
3K
57K
Always remember how badly you once wanted what you already have right now.
31
789
5K
At any point in life, you can just decide to live a different life. It’s one of the most powerful (and scariest) secrets around. Everything is a concept in your head.
In my early twenties I was a heavy smoker. Tried quitting for more than a year with no luck. One day I had a profound realization of my own free will (felt like an insight from meditation or prayer). I could choose not to smoke. Quit overnight with no issues.
22
842
5K
Jay Z works at Square, Dr Dre works at Apple, Nas is one of the best VCs in the world.
63
390
4K
How to sabotage a workplace by the CIA sounds similar to a lot of company culture manuals today
40
537
3K
What are the best things you’ve bought under $500 that you really enjoy or have dramatically improved your life?.
1K
143
3K
Canada, where we only retain ppl that want to make less than 200K for life. Where you should never dream big.
117
254
3K
Gotta admit the way Zuck just copies what works and drops a billion users on it is super gangster.
42
178
2K
The next FAANG will be SSSSS for Square, Shopify, Stripe, Spotify, SpaceX.
78
123
2K
When I was 23 i got a job consulting at McKinsey, felt so cool because I got to travel all the time, live out of hotels, etc. A decade later, that sounds like a nightmare. Legit hate traveling for work and try to fly back same day so I can sleep in my bed.
61
108
2K
Elon couldve bought Lyft instead of Twitter and have an existing rideshare marketplace to lease model 3s to the drivers (and introduce robotaxis over time).
98
59
2K
What is this style of design called where it feels like tech and software are blending in with nature
51
51
1K
Everything has 3 costs:. 1. Upfront cost.2. Opportunity cost.3. Maintenance cost. This applies for material and non-material objects. We tend to focus in 1, sometimes consider 2, and rarely think about 3.
28
210
1K
There are 3 types of angel investors:. 1. Sends wire, never speaks again voluntarily.2. Replies "awesome!" to every monthly update.3. Emails you with "have you seen this?" and link to every competitor that raises a single dollar.
45
88
1K
If my home was burning and I had the resources to save it, no question. Anyone saying otherwise is brainwashed or braindead.
77
13
1K
Friend just signed for a 1.5M mortgage, pays 75K a year in just interest (5% APR). So he's paying his annual salary (post-tax) in interest. And it's higher than median household income in Toronto.
193
46
1K
My first job ever in investing is running this fund. Plz send positive vibes.
117
33
1K
If you grew up poor and eventually "made it", there are still 2 aspects that don't really get resolved. 1. People will depend on you so it's harder to compound.2. The people closest to you still have a scarcity mindset so every risk you take is seen as too risky.
31
82
974
The average Canadian midwit:. - Still taking covid vaccines.- Healthcare is excellent here.- Earning a median salary of $42K a year (30K USD).- Kids are being indoctrinated at school.- Competing against 2K ppl for a entry level job.- Vacation to a 3.5 star resort once a year
62
62
805
I met a guy, raised 1.5M on pre-idea (pre pre seed), now raising again at 3x cap with the idea ???.
122
24
803
Domino’s pizza tracker was before it’s time. The neural nets of pizza tech.
2
2
677
It’s a strange time to share personal news. In a turn of events, I am now employed. I’m joining @Snap to help build commerce into the ecosystem. Will still continue to make angel investments and work on experiments.
86
6
674
Marissa Mayer is the perfect example of a corporate success that got rich af but now conflating that with ability to build startups from scratch. Success in a big company is different than success building from scratch, almost no overlap in skills.
51
24
658
HBO's silicon valley wasn't a parody, just ahead of it's time.
20
31
657
Unreal sunset, unedited pics (except whatever the iphone does automatically)
16
33
647
A funny observation from founders I work with:. Investors investing $10K do more diligence than investors investing $1M.
37
26
623
I've been buying Ethereum daily over the last few weeks. Bank fraud dept called me and asked where I keep transferring money. I told them "the future".
13
27
591
I wish there was a mens wellness place that had all of these things for a membership:. - bloodwork, VO2 Max.- dexa scans.- nutritionists, athletic trainers.- massage.- recovery like normatec, ice baths, cupping, etc.- TRT, IV drips, and other supplements. Does this exist?.
101
25
605
Magical products are a result of someone putting in tremendous amounts of work. They're outworking us so much that we can't believe it, so we conclude it as magic. Work harder and don't let anyone outwork you. Make magical things.
14
55
524
I'm planning to create a series of short videos on product management. They'll be 5-7 mins, each covering a single topic with an example and some visual models. It'll be free on YouTube. What else should I add to this outline. Here's what I have so far:
60
49
481
For all the people complaining that CS grads should stay, put your money where your mouth is and start paying up. Min 200K CAD TC for new grads, 500K-1M TC for experienced ppl in 90th percentile.
34
10
485
If Coinbase can rescind offers, would they be okay if candidate accepted an offer and backed out at the last min
51
20
464
Good early stage founders look unsuccessful for a long time. Bad early stage founders look successful before doing the work.
27
47
463
A mini thread on the Mimetic Theory, Peter Thiel, and taking asymmetric risks. First, let's understand the Mimetic Theory. It's a fancy way of saying we want things because other people want them. Here's how it applies to the way we make decisions:.
27
61
459
90% of all PM jobs in tech are fake. Take full ownership of a product and make good decisions and you'll be in the top 10%. All these checklists of tasks that we're taught are tactics, not strategy. Source: I was a PM at Shopify, Snapchat, etc.
Shocked that these are considered 🌶️ takes. State of Product Management is in shits.
24
21
456
Apparently they also use the heloc to buy a car. Fam this is the definition of over leveraged.
17
5
434
I think the biggest flex ever is making it big and you still having a loving family, wife and kids love you. If you have this, you have won. Nothing else needed, anything else will be an unforced error.
15
26
454
A software engineer in the 90th percentile in Canada makes 2x less than their counterpart in the US and 3x less than SF. The median SWE in Canada earns less than UK or Australia
38
18
433
Honestly, if you're a grifter Canada is an excellent place to live.
20
26
400
This guy founded and sold 4 companies, is mega caked, and still grinding out here 630pm on a Thurs
33
5
404
What are modern day scams that we’re all acclimated to?. For example is there any real basis to preventative wisdom tooth removal.
188
16
388
The most thoughtful people I know think in probabilities while everyone else is thinking in absolutes. Every decision or outcome has a probability tied to it.
20
32
381
One final small announcement before I sign off for the year:. I wanted to grow @RoachCap so we raised a ~$5M fund for investing in early stage companies. This is the first time I've brought on outside LPs and will be Roach Capital Fund I.
We will have a special announcement for Roach Capital before the end of the year.
75
12
380
Pick your commerce leader. Shopify will become Amazon faster than Amazon can become Shopify
15
18
357
My path as a PM:. - McDs cashier @ 21 ($9.75/hr).- PM intern @ 22 ($4.5K/mo).- Math tutor @ 23 ($25/hr).- Sold first co @ 24 (Got the 💰).- First PM job @ 26 ($100K).- Shopify PM @ 27 (📈).- Snap PM @ 31. No such thing as timeline for life. Your journey is defined by only you.
My path as a developer:. - HS dropout @ 17.- College dropout @ 19.- Started coding @ 29.- Fired from first job @ 30.- Landed $60k job @ 33.- Told $80k was too high @ 34.- Landed $120k consulting contract @ 36.- $400k as independent consultant @ 37.- Doing cool shit at FAANG @ 39.
8
15
353
Crazy. You literally make more as a refugee than a new grad software engineer in Canada.
Here is what you would have to gross in each province in order to make the same amount refugees in Canada take. Canada is such a fake & gay country.
20
33
352
The last while I've been off twitter. My dad had a stroke and my mom has cancer. Very unexpected. That's been consuming all my time and energy. I needed to step away from everything to focus on my family. It's been a painful experience. Love you all ❤️
1
1
343
The largest unlock I made in my financial life was to go from a save more and budgeting mindset to “i just need to make more money”.
17
12
342
Since sharing is caring, a lot of ppl also don't know this but it took me 12 years to finish school. I started in 2006 and graduated in 2018 while I was working at Shopify. Everyone has their own timeline, nothing else matters. (I did not pay for the grad photos)
11
2
312
After 7 years of angel investing, finally getting these juicy distributions
11
1
307
In summary:. 1. Form over function.2. Talk a lot.3. More research, decision by committee, involve lots of ppl.4. Irrelevant issues.5. Focus on semantics.6. Reopen past decisions.7. Avoid urgency.8. Escalate and defer decisions.
1
23
291
Largest company in Canada is still a bank, just Shopify instead of RBC now.
7
13
296
Why do companies interview software engineers like they’re going to reinvent PageRank when their actual job is stuff like improve scrolling on gallery view.
13
10
284
A lot of people ask me how to ace PM interviews, here's the actual secret. Say these phrases repeatedly during the interview:. 1. Framework.2. Mental model.3. Thinking from first principles.4. Look at the data and talk to users.5. Build versus buy.
10
10
282
Shopify executives are vocally opposing the Canadian government — and now they’re being openly praised by the Conservative Party leader. They’re trying to extend Silicon Valley’s right-wing project to Canada — and need to be stopped.
10
1
290
People are having a hard time adjusting back to normal life after being in lockdown for a year. Imagine going to prison and trying to re-enter society.
8
21
269
First, an update: We're starting a new company, Sherpa. Sherpa is a new way for busy people to use email, built from first principles. Thariq (@trq212) and I worked together a decade ago on a company called Chime. This time more focused on emails, LLMs, and doing more with less.
Tomorrow morning will share an MFA (Massive F-ing Announcement) here on X. The unfiltered, detailed story of how we sold our first biz to a public company and what it's like to work together again after a decade.
30
8
280
Anyone with multiple locations in their bio live in the less impressive one 99% of the year.
13
12
267
Is there anyone more relentless than the PM that works on YouTube Premium
18
9
266
I feel like a big reason of Shopify’s early success was hiring former founders and builders and then giving them an ambitious mission. Companies today are almost afraid to hire founders and default to hiring career NPCs.
24
16
261
If you wanted to be an angel investor, you can be an investor in Uber today at their 2015 private valuation.
6
19
259
Made two pretty big decisions this past weekend that I think will change the course of my life going forward:. 1. Moving.2. Working with ppl I admire to start another company. Will share more in the next few weeks but I'm really excited.
26
1
260
This is best way to explain my current understanding of these countries
9
7
257
Listen, Jensen funded Nvidia off a credit card. Tobi funded Shopify by asking his father in law. Zuck funded FB by finding a rich student and giving him a lot of equity. Do you think US funds don’t know Canada exists? If you build a monster biz trust me cash will find you.
19
14
255
In startups (and in life), it’s never too late to pivot unless the game is over.
13
31
242
Used Turo once and now this guy msgs me daily shilling his others cars, his IG, and financial advice
30
3
247
What are the best rap lines that also apply to business and entrepreneurship.
300
31
247
You have the rest of this year to make 1M and you start with 25K. How would you do it?. Caveats: must be legal and liquid. (If there's a legit dope answer I will fund it).
111
15
235
This pay transparency thing on job postings is crazy. The same role will be 250K USD in LA/NYC/SF and then 140K CAD in Canada.
20
15
233
I saw somewhere today the guy that invented S3 went to school in Waterloo, Canada. Dont fade but crazy that Canada has a generational retention problem.
13
5
239
I feel like people think my tweets about Canada are bipolar. You have to understand, it feels like investing in a company that could be excellent with management that’s sabotaging it.
33
11
238
If you’re ever thinking of buying rental properties and manage tenants, take it from me: do not do it. Not worth the headache. Buy a REIT or just an ETF.
31
4
237
My tile guy bought 2 warehouses in Toronto in 2008. He sold both lots last week for $11M, more than the enterprise value of his 40 year old tile biz. Asked me if I wanted to buy all his inventory, he’s said “i’m done paying for every else’s pension”.
7
6
223
One benefit of startups raising capital from small, new funds is that they will try to outwork everyone else on your cap table.
15
16
220
I left my job 8 weeks ago. Here's what I've missed the most:.1. Routine and structure without having to define it myself.2. Social aspect of teams.3. Working towards an ambitious goal with lots of smart ppl.4. Lunch and snacks.5. Printer.
13
5
218
If you want to kill a big dream, share it with a small-minded person.
6
59
220
How come everytime someone leaves a job now they put this 4 page report out on LinkedIn. What is the purpose of this.
17
7
216
Everyone should learn the art of developing conviction and going all-in. You look like an idiot until you’re right, but eventually you will be right. Without risk, you stay mid for a lifetime.
18
18
222
For anyone that's moved to a new city later in life, how do you make friends if you don't know many ppl there?.
116
6
212
Traveling for work isn't cool. You know whats cool? People traveling to you.
8
8
211
If you're an angel investor in Canada or actively invest in Canadian startups, please fill out this form. I will add your name to "The Google Sheet of Canadian Angels" and to a mailing list to see upcoming companies. (Plz share with angel friends).
@ericwdolan @araghougassian @fahdananta @Alex_Danco @nachkari @mimurchison I liked @Alex_Danco’s post and don’t think it’s ever destructive to call out *opinionated* sub-optimal behaviour. What I wish I saw more of from this group was ways to reduce friction for 🇨🇦 angels:.* angel list syndicate.* SPV .* mailing list.* new fund .* Google spreadsheet.🤷🏽♂️.
27
31
216
I made my first angel investment in Jan 2019. Now, 2.5 years later, some data points:. - Deployed ~$500K across 20 startups.- First unicorn from seed.- 4x-ed invested capital (on paper).- 1 co shut down. I'm the only capital in @RoachCap for now. That will change soon.
A few ppl asked me how I started angel investing. To date, I’ve invested in 15 startups alongside investors like PG, Founders Fund, Accel, Bessemer, Tribe, Joi Ito, etc. For some background, from 2010 to 2019, I just spent building, learning, and always choosing adventure.
25
8
212
Look in 2013 we had dinner with Dharmesh and sold our company to HubSpot. In 2016 I started working at Shopify and got to know Tobi. Now they're both billionaires. draw the conclusions yourself.
21
4
210
Unsure if this is controversial but I think the USA is truly one of the best places in the world to live. Canada has its pockets if you’re rich otherwise not even in the same tier.
61
4
204
Okay, I have an idea. A YouTube/podcast series focused on Canadian excellence and success stories. Mainly tech, business, and investing. Need someone to run it, build brand, market it, etc. I will help you get interviews and fund it. DM me if you can do it.
43
5
210
Companies should celebrate how small the team is instead of how big it is.
26
15
203
99% of people live their lives worrying about money every day. What store has the cheaper eggs? Can they send their kid on this field trip? Do they have enough to pay rent? I grew up this way, so saw it first hand. If you’re out of this equation, then you’ve already won.
6
5
200
What business is highly unlikely to be disrupted in 10 years?.
166
12
191
Toronto ppl too deep into influencer culture, whole city feels like walking through an IG ad. just gotta not idolize other ppl and focus on yourself.
16
3
190
Ngl this is pretty whack. Very dystopian to see this and then see Trudeau dancing at the Taylor Swift concert while the country burns.
⚠️Masked pro-Hamas thugs, completely gone mad, are smashing windows in Montreal, Canada, attacking everyone and terrorizing the streets as they shout genocidal chants. How the hell did Canada come to this?.
14
5
194