Rising ICON #61: Adam Choe
photo credit: Soona
What name do you prefer to be called?
Adam
What are your pronouns?
he/him
Where did you grow up?
Minnesota to New York, back to Minnesota
What city are you currently based in?
I’m in Maple Grove
How do you typically introduce yourself to new people?
I am a partner at a pre-seed VC firm called Tundra Ventures.
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you?
I'm passionate about using my skills to help others. While I don't have as much time for volunteering as I used to, I'm always looking for ways to contribute. In fact, I'm hoping to get back to it more once Tundra is more established.
Who do you help?
I'm always happy to lend a hand whenever possible, as long as the request seems genuine. But I find myself especially drawn to helping those just starting out or facing challenges. There's something rewarding about giving someone a boost when they need it most. I’ll do anything in my power for someone I think is tackling an issue worth solving.
What are you building now?
I’m building a Venture Capital firm with my two partners, Amanda Heyman and Danielle Steer. The firm is called Tundra Ventures, and we’re currently getting ready to do our final close for Fund I. We invest in the most resilient preseed founders nationwide with unique insight into untapped markets and overlooked end users.
What were you building ten years ago today?
Ten years ago today, I was just getting ready to apply for master's programs across the country to restart my professional career. Which led to two research fellowships, a bootstrapped startup, and an opportunity to help scale a national startup accelerator.
What do you predict of yourself 10 years from now?
It’s hard to look that far into the future, but hopefully, I’m fortunate enough to continue doing early-stage investing in high-potential startups led by amazing founders.
What’s a fact or statistic you wish everyone knew about your industry?
While the VC industry is exciting, it's also unforgiving. Only two-thirds of first-time funds manage to raise a follow-up fund. This high-performance bar creates a strong alignment of interests between emerging managers and investors.
Why do you believe the work you do matters?
The work matters because it has the potential to break the cycle of financial struggle for generations. I come from a family of entrepreneurs, and I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of business ownership. By supporting founders of all scales, from local heroes on Main Street to future Wall Street icons, we can create a more equitable landscape where everyone has the chance to build wealth and achieve their dreams.
Who is your mentor and what is the best advice they’ve given you?
I don't have a single traditional mentor, but I'm fortunate to learn from a remarkable group of founders and experienced professionals. Every day, interacting with passionate entrepreneurs building innovative businesses keeps me grounded in the real world's challenges and opportunities. Additionally, I have a network of founder peers and seasoned advisors who offer invaluable guidance and support. I don’t have a list of mentors written on a notepad but I know who I need to thank when it’s all said and done.
What piece of content about you or your company are you most proud of?
When it comes to Tundra Ventures we are still in the early days and the best stories about our founders are on the horizon. But I am really proud of the 38 episodes of The Founder’s Cut I’ve recorded so far, these are stories highlighting early-stage founders building solutions for the future and it’s always great to learn about their visions for a better tomorrow.
What publication do you hope to appear in next?
I can’t say that I have any specific publications in mind.
Who would you love to be interviewed by?
Lex Fridman, I love his approach and he seems like a genuinely good human.
If you had to give a TEDTalk tomorrow, what would the title be?
The Power of Empathy and Courage: Building a Better Future
What award would mean the most to win?
I feel like a lot of awards are pay to play, so honestly, the biggest award will be if I’m still writing checks to pre-seed founders 10 years from now.
What makes zero sense to you?
Career politicians.
What’s a word in your industry you hope gets re-evaluated?
"Track record" can be limiting, especially for early-stage investors. It often favors established firms over those with fresh perspectives and new approaches. I believe strong frameworks for evaluating potential and fit are just as important as past successes.
What game are you changing?
We're still establishing ourselves, but I'd love to see a future where access to capital isn't a barrier for talented first-time founders. Leveling the playing field for these early-stage ventures is a game worth changing.
What’s the next thing you’re a part of that you want to invite more people to participate in?
On the investing side, Tundra Ventures is actively seeking passionate individuals to join us in backing the next generation of groundbreaking companies. And for aspiring entrepreneurs, we want to see more people take the leap and turn their ideas into reality. There's a thriving ecosystem here, and we're here to support it.
Where can we follow you online?
I’m usually talking about the economy, stocks and crypto on twitter @choeyoutheway and if not there, I’m fairly active on linkedin as well www.linkedin.com/in/adamchoe and if you want to watch or listen to my interviews with early stage founders search for The Founder’s Cut.
What’s one thing that makes every leader better?
Strong Convictions, Loosely Held.
You can also find Adam by visiting links:
My founder interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@choe
My blog https://adamtheory.substack.com/
Our Fund https://tundravc.com/
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We’re grateful to each Rising ICON for their transformative work. Thank you, Adam, for sharing your story!
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“By supporting founders of all scales, from local heroes on Main Street to future Wall Street icons, we can create a more equitable landscape where everyone has the chance to build wealth and achieve their dreams.”
Notice: It’s important for our readers to understand the origin of the interview content. The featured ICON contributed responses that were not edited from the original submission. All claims are made solely by the contributor and do not reflect the views of LAUREL or its partners. Thank you for supporting innovation leaders. We’re convinced, the future is bold.
