Episode 232: Gerry Hays – Venture Staking: Creating Opportunities for Everyday Investors that VCs can’t

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Description:

In this episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt sits down with Gerry Hays — founder of Doriot and the creator of Venture Staking, a bold new model that reimagines how people invest in startups.

Gerry shares his journey from the world of law and government to entrepreneurship, and how his early frustration with the gatekeeping of traditional venture capital led him to build a more inclusive system — one designed not just for the wealthy elite, but for everyday people eager to learn and grow alongside real founders.

Through the lens of education, Gerry walks us through the concept of Venture Staking: how individuals can buy low-cost “stakes” to follow a startup’s journey, learn from real entrepreneurs, and eventually earn the right to invest. It’s a system built on shared learning, shared risk, and shared opportunity — flipping the script on everything we’ve been told about startup investing.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Traditional Venture Capital Is Built for the Elite: The Accredited Investor Rule, rooted in 1930s-era thinking, excludes everyday people from participating in high-upside investment opportunities — and it’s long overdue for disruption.
• Venture Staking = Education + Access: Gerry’s model isn’t about selling equity upfront — it’s about letting people learn the game of entrepreneurship by riding along with founders through their early journey.
• “Buy a Ticket to the Journey”: For as little as $10, you can become a venture staker — gaining access to behind-the-scenes updates, insights, and potentially future investment opportunities as the startup grows.
• Training Founders from the Ground Up: Doriot screens entrepreneurs not by their pedigree, but by their passion, preparation, and potential. Venture stakers are encouraged to back builders who are just getting started — but ready to go the distance.
• Global Momentum Is Growing: While the U.S. hesitates, international markets are embracing the idea of democratized venture funding. The future of retail VC might emerge outside Silicon Valley entirely.
• Entrepreneurship Starts from the Inside Out: Gerry emphasizes that building something meaningful starts with deep intention, not external validation — and that focus, clarity, and mission are the foundation of lasting impact.

THE MEAT OF IT!

1. Origin Story: From Law to Launch

• Gerry’s path from government and law to entrepreneurship
• Early ventures and real-world experience with VC rejection

2. The Broken Game of Traditional VC

• What’s wrong with the Silicon Valley model
• The Accredited Investor Rule and structural barriers
• Why most people can’t access high-upside deals

3. Venture Staking: A New Model for Builders

• How Venture Staking flips the script
• Investing as education: Buy a “ticket” to the journey
• Shared information, shared risk, shared prosperity

4. Building an Educational Infrastructure

• Fantasy Startup and the power law of portfolios
• Training entrepreneurs and vetting them for readiness
• Community and transparency over pedigree and privilege

5. Global Vision & The Future of Retail VC

• Why the U.S. may be slow to adopt
• Global momentum in the UAE, Singapore, and beyond
• Democratizing access to innovation, worldwide

6. Inside-Out Entrepreneurship

• Building from intention, not just opportunity
• Why this work is about legacy, meritocracy, and mission

Check out these related Episodes:

• Episode 231: James Elliman – Building Simple, Human-Centered IT: Corporate Pains to All-In-One Service
• Episode 203: Matt Raad – Real Estate Expert: How to Buy, Renovate, and Sell ONLINE ‘Real Estate’
• Episode 201: Nick Jain – Small Changes, Big Impact: Introducing New Features & Intentional Innovation