Naval Ravikant

Naval Ravikant – Life, Ventures, and Wisdom

Dive into the life and ideas of Naval Ravikant—entrepreneur, angel investor, philosopher—and explore his journey from immigrant to thought leader, his ventures (like AngelList), and his most impactful quotes and lessons.

Introduction

Naval Ravikant (born November 5, 1974) is an Indian-born American entrepreneur, investor, and philosopher. He is best known as co-founder and former CEO of AngelList, a pioneering platform connecting startups and investors. Over the years, he’s become equally celebrated for his reflections on wealth, happiness, and decision making.

His influence spans two domains: the fast-moving world of tech startups and the deeper realm of life philosophy. He’s often regarded as a “thinking investor” who integrates business insight with clarity of thought.

Early Life and Education

Naval Ravikant was born in New Delhi, India, in 1974. 9 years old, he and his mother and brother emigrated to New York City. Stuyvesant High School in New York, graduating in 1991.

In 1995, he completed his undergraduate studies at Dartmouth College, earning degrees in Computer Science and Economics. Davis Polk & Wardwell.

After college, he briefly worked at Boston Consulting Group before turning to entrepreneurial ventures.

Career and Ventures

Founding and Early Startups

Naval’s entrepreneurial path began in 1999 when he co-founded Epinions, a consumer product review site. DealTime to form

In the 2000s, he also launched Hit Forge, an early-stage venture fund which made early bets on technology startups including Twitter, Uber, and Stack Overflow.

In 2010, Naval co-founded AngelList (with Babak Nivi) — a platform to connect startups with angel investors, democratizing access to early-stage capital. Product Hunt and other startup tools and platforms.

Under Naval’s leadership, AngelList grew into a major node in Silicon Valley’s investment infrastructure.

Crypto, New Projects & AirChat

Naval co-founded MetaStable Capital, a cryptocurrency hedge fund, investing in Bitcoin, Ether, and other digital assets.

In 2024, he launched AirChat, a voice-centric social media platform emphasizing audio communication—positioned as a new mode of social interaction.

He also spearheaded Spearhead, an investment fund that backs founders investing in startups.

Influence, Philosophy & Thought Leadership

Beyond his tech and investing ventures, Naval is widely known for the richness of his ideas—on wealth, decision making, reading, and how to live a deliberate life. His writings, podcasts, and interviews are often curated in The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, compiled by Eric Jorgenson.

His thinking tends toward clarity, synthesis, and a focus on foundational truths rather than trendy hacks. In the The Knowledge Project podcast, he discusses reading habits, life values, mental models, and what gives direction to one’s life.

Famous Quotes of Naval Ravikant

Here are some of his well known, often-cited statements:

• “You’re not going to get rich renting out your time.”

• “Wealth is having assets that earn while you sleep. Money is how we transfer time and wealth.”

• “Valuation is temporary. Control is forever.”

• “Learn to sell. Learn to build. If you can do both, you will be unstoppable.”

These capture his approach: combining rigorous entrepreneurship, leverage, and mental clarity.

Lessons from Naval Ravikant

1. Leverage over labor — Building systems, products, code, or media that scale beyond your hours.

2. Control and quality over superficial valuation — Guarding decision rights matters more long-term than headline numbers.

3. Read broadly and think deeply — He often emphasizes intellectual self-improvement more than chasing fads.

4. Wealth + happiness are distinct goals — Being financially secure is one thing; being internally peaceful is another.

5. Iterate, experiment, fail forward — His path included many ventures before a breakthrough (AngelList).

Conclusion

Naval Ravikant embodies a rare convergence: a builder/investor who also serves as a modern-day philosopher. His life shows how business success and intellectual clarity need not be separate. His voice continues to echo through Silicon Valley, startup communities worldwide, and anyone seeking a more enlightened path in life and work.