


October 27, 2025
Pre-Seed Playbook: Eric Bahn on Investing in Grit Over Pedigree
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Eric Bahn, co-founder of Hustle Fund, joins Saxon on Skin in the Game to break down what really matters in pre-seed investing. Spoiler: it's not your degree or your zip code.
"Great founders look like anyone and come from anywhere." Eric's conviction shows in the numbers: 620 companies across four funds, with an investment strategy that prioritizes grit over pedigree. That high school dropout might outperform the Ivy League engineer. The bartender could be your next breakout founder.Eric also shares how Silicon Valley's approach to failure creates space for innovation. The question after a startup doesn't work out is "What did you learn, and when will you try again?"
He drops tactical wisdom on what separates signal from noise in early-stage investing.
Connect with Eric on LinkedIn.
