Most investors are interested only in a tried and true startup idea guaranteed to make money. To do this, they shy away from companies that might seem a bit crazy, choosing the safer bets instead.
But Bryan Johnson isn’t one of those investors. Instead, the serial tech entrepreneur turned investor goes after those ideas that seem impossible. He tells Fortune:
“I want to get a company from ‘crazy’ to ‘viable.’ With today’s technology, we can now create in days, weeks or months what previous generations couldn’t do in a lifetime. Where DaVinci could sketch, we can build. Yet, we don’t have sufficient resources and people pursuing these goals.”
To date, he has invested $15 million in seven startups. One of those companies is Planetary Resources, which wants to mine asteroids for precious metals. Vicarious, which is building a computer system that learns like the human brain, is another. And Human Longevity aims to lengthen the average human lifespan to 120 years.
These are admirable goals, and certainly could have huge impacts if successful. But the likelihood of that happening is low, Johnson admits. And it’s also harder to measure the likelihood and risk for companies that don’t fit into an existing market.
When looking at companies like tech startups, investors are able to assess a business’s ability to succeed and make money fairly easily. There are already tried and true ways for products like apps and services like social networks to bring in revenue. So investors can make some pretty good estimates about whether or not a company is likely to be successful, just by examining its business plan.
But a company that wants to mine asteroids for precious metals is going to be a little tougher to evaluate. The risk doesn’t stop him though. Johnson is more concerned with ambition and big ideas. He says:
“I invest in entrepreneurs who understand generally where the world is going, the enormous power of their tools and the enormous stakes that we have.”
While taking the easy path with your business might help you better gauge your future success, pursuing a less conventional approach might bring even greater rewards in the long run.
Don’t forget about the insane success experienced by companies like Google and Apple. Maybe your next business idea should be a little bit crazy too.
Desktop Photo via Shutterstock
Aira Bongco
I guess it pays to be insane. This is because the most crazy and unique ideas will usually result to the best busines ideas.
Annie Pilon
I don’t think they will necessarily usually lead to the best ideas, but just one success could be massive.
Making small investments in these types of ideas seems like a recipe for failure. To get a mining operation to an asteroid would require massive financial investment and the likelihood of failure even then would be high. Crazy indeed.
Annie Pilon
It definitely does seem like a huge undertaking with an even bigger risk. But that appears to be what draws him. It’s interesting to say the least.
Ali Alikarimi
Dear Ideas Investors
Hi
I have millions of dollars in mind and have made them in the handmade prototypes they are an Insane Startup Idea and are looking for ideas investor, my ideas are recipes of many carbonated natural soft drinks and natural combination flavors using in beverage, edibles, pharmaceutical and cosmetic factories. I am in per- production phase (prototypes) certainly there is not concern for ideas investors in the field of natural products there are good the global market valve, segmentation, targets, strategy and promotion.The international community is keen to use natural products. Showing BP studies such these investments are very interest and lower risk. I am ready to negotiation with ideas investor in the topic. I am waiting to hear from you in near future.
Sincerely Yours sincerely, I ask for cooperation in one of the options, tips, help support, partnership and innovation project management from idea to register herbal combination flavors
Best regards,
Ali.
Sam
I have new idea for phones tablets and laptop please contact me
thank you
Helen Ornelas
I have the best money making idea but don’t know nothing about business I just know it’s a great opportunity to make money but at the same time we’ll be helping our community.