Monday, December 30, 2019

Reflections On 2019: Mike Jones, Science Inc.

Every year, at the end of the year, we share some reflections on the past year from our readers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, sponsors, and others in the local technology community. Today, we share the thoughts of Mike Jones, Co-founder and CEO of Science, Inc. (www.science-inc.com), which has been behind such companies as Dollar Shave Club, August Home, DogVacay, Hello Society, Playhaven, and many others. We'll be featuring contributions all through the holiday season.

What was the biggest news for you/your company this year?

This year was our resurgence into the direct-to-consumer space since Dollar Shave Club, and we’ve been adding some exciting companies to our portfolio including Liquid Death (Water packaged in tallboy aluminum cans that look like craft beer, with the motto #DeathToPlastic), Arrive (an outdoor gear rental platform), Kyoku, a personalized active nutrition made from plant-based superfoods, Lambs (radiation-proof apparel), The Good Patch (a hemp and plant-infused patch that helps with insomnia, pain, and hangovers), and more.

What new technology area, startup, service, or app did you find most interesting or useful this year, and why?

I love Notion, the self-service database tool that allows you to build, collect and organize all the ‘structured’ things in your life. I organize everything from documents, media files to trip planning, and family calendars on Notion.

What was the biggest lesson you learned this year?

I keep returning to the concept of focusing on the process versus the outcome. I find that when founders or investors, including myself, focus exclusively on the outcome, they lose the wonder, enjoyment, and love that is found within the process. I fell in love again with the process of working with founders, designing systems, executing business ideas and driving to mass scale and audience. Loving that process is something I can focus on today that drives founders and their visions forward.

What are you most looking forward to in the technology/startup world in 2020?

I am excited about brands that create disruptive experiences paired with unique brands that also solve issues within our environment. Brands where the solution is the product - be that removal of plastic through the sales of canned water or the encouragement of rental use products vs purchase. Systems that are beyond just donating proceeds to efforts, but companies where the operational success is tied to actual positive environmental impact.

Mike Jones is an internet executive, investor, and strategic advisor and the CEO of Science, Inc. He is one of Los Angeles' most active angel investors, with more than $2.5B in exits. His exits in 2016 alone included Science portfolio companies HelloSociety (acquired by The New York Times), FameBit (acquired by Google), and Dollar Shave Club (acquired by Unilever).