Today was K9 Ventures’ annual meeting. Each year that I do this, I’m amazed at what K9 founders and K9 portfolio companies have accomplished and I’m grateful to the K9 LPs for the ability to do what I do at K9.

We’re NOT in normal times. At least in my lifetime, I’ve never seen anything like the recent years. And so I felt it is important for me to go on the record with K9 founders, K9 LPs and everyone in the extended #FriendsOfK9 family on what I believe. So here is a transcript of my comments to all K9 founders, and K9 LPs at the close of today’s meeting…

It’s a rare occasion for me to have K9 LPs and Founders together, so I want to take this opportunity to make a statement that’s been on my mind for a while. I wrote this down to make sure I didn’t forget any of the points so here goes:

I am an immigrant, a US citizen, a founder, an investor, and a builder. I came to the United States because of everything this country stands for and what it has to offer. And it pains me to see it be dismantled and ripped apart over the last four years. Granted some of the problems we face have been rooted in long term systemic problems but the political, social, economic conditions in the US today are particularly alarming. We’re boiling the frog, where the frog is democracy, the health of our fellow humans, justice and equality for people of different races and genders, and most importantly the health of our planet—remember that we only have one.

So I want all K9 LPs and K9 founders to know that:

• I believe in Global Warming and that human actions are destroying the delicate balance of our planet. If you haven’t already, please watch David Attenborough’s documentary on Netflix: A Life on our Planet.
• I believe in using renewable energy sources and eliminating fossil fuels — it is possible.
• I believe in Science, and Scientists, and not in politicians who make up and spread lies and misinformation.
• I believe in having healthcare for everyone — because as COVID-19 has shown in a way like we’ve never experienced before, that we’re all connected.
• I believe that women should have equal rights and most importantly have the right to make their own decisions about their own bodies.
• I believe that love is equal and any adult should have the right to marry whoever they want.
• I believe that Black Lives Matter — and that the law enforcement system has a clear and demonstrated issue of different treatment based on the color of your skin.
• I believe that no civil society needs to have guns, and especially not assault weapons. And if we did that, then our local law enforcement would not need to be equipped as if they are going to war with a nation state on every call. And if we did that my kids wouldn’t be practicing “Code Red” drills on how to hide quietly in their school closet.
• I believe that diversity leads to creativity and I support and encourage people of all races, all genders, all ages, all origins, all cultures, all sexual orientations to coexist and not only tolerate each other, but learn from each other and thrive together.
• I believe that the rule of law has to apply equally to everyone, from the person on a street to the President of the United States.
• I believe in free speech, facts, and truth.
• I believe that TV media and social media have broken business models that lead to the propagation of biased and misleading information in self-reinforcing echo chambers. If you haven’t already, please watch The Social Dilemma, also available on Netflix.
• I believe that it is important for us to realize that at the core of it all, most humans want the same things. So we need to live and let live, and as Sting said “We share the same biology, regardless of ideology.”

I know my superpower. My superpower is to create something from nothing. To take an idea, to bring people and resources to it, and make it grow. And I believe that a startup is the most efficient agent of change. So I want all K9 LPs and K9 founders to know that my time, my energy, my money, and YOUR money will go to supporting these causes through the companies K9 invests in, or that I start.

And in case this wasn’t clear enough, I’ll say it clearly for everyone to hear that I believe that Donald Trump is a vile human being who has destroyed the fabric of democracy and civility in the United States and beyond. He is a racist, misogynist, narcissist, corrupt con-artist with no redeeming qualities. I earned my right to vote in this country the hard way—it took me 15 years to earn that right. I am not a Democrat, and I am not a Republican. I am fiercely independent. I am an American. And I will be voting for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. And I sincerely hope that all of you make the same choice.

That’s the end of my rant. Thank you for indulging me and enduring me. Vote!

This brings the 2020 K9 LP meeting to a close. I appreciate all of you being here and being part of K9. And a special thanks to all the K9 founders for all that they do to make the world a better place.