Ben Lerer is a venture capital investor at Lerer Hippeau who spent over 10 years simultaneously running a high-growth media company while investing, giving him unusually current operating experience that shapes his practical, founder-focused approach. He helped build Lerer Hippeau into what he considers the leading early-stage firm in New York by backing breakout consumer brands like Warby Parker, Casper, and Glossier, and now uses that pattern recognition to focus on companies with real unfair advantages rather than just strong marketing.

• Appreciation for character and kindness. He places significant weight on the personality of the founders he backs, explicitly praising individuals who are thoughtful, intelligent, and kind. For example, he highlighted how meeting people like Eli is the reason he loves his job.
• Valuing repeat partnerships and long-term relationships. He frequently invests in the same people multiple times, showing a loyalty to founders he has worked with previously. He mentioned his excitement about backing a specific team for the third time and partnering with Brian Sugar again and again.
• Respect for execution in difficult markets. He acknowledges the difficulty of raising capital in tight financial environments and praises teams that manage to secure funding through steady, deliberate business management. He noted that raising a round in a challenging late-stage market is a testament to an excellently run business.
• Interest in solving broken or challenging categories. He looks for mission-oriented teams that are tackling deeply broken markets with specific competitive advantages. He used this exact criteria—broken market, passionate team, and unfair advantages—to describe the reasoning behind a recent investment.
• Focus on tangible, life-improving technologies. He shows enthusiasm for companies that have a clear impact on health and longevity, such as a venture focused on genome sequencing to help people live longer, healthier lives.
• Deep roots in the New York ecosystem. He reflects often on the evolution of the New York tech scene over the last 15 years and takes pride in his firm's long-standing role within that specific community.