Key Takeaways
- • Peter Thiel's political influence and investment strategy are examined in a deep-dive analysis published November 23, 2022, covering his multi-million-dollar political donations and venture capital deployment across candidates and ideological causes.
- • Aaron Samuels, managing partner at Collide Capital, represents a distinctive profile in venture capital as a Black Jewish poet-entrepreneur who previously co-founded Blavity & AfroTech and is backed by major tech platforms including Amazon, Alphabet, and Twitter.
- • Thiel's documented political giving includes $10 million behind JD Vance's candidacy and $4 million across various campaigns in 2016, including $1 million to a Trump-supporting super-PAC, illustrating his sustained political engagement beyond traditional venture investing.
- • Jerusalem experienced twin terrorist attacks on November 23, 2022, killing a 16-year-old yeshiva student (Aryeh Shechopek, a Canadian citizen) and injuring nearly two dozen people, marking the first Canadian civilian casualty from Palestinian terror in seven years.
Summary
The November 23, 2022 edition of Jewish Insider's Daily Kickoff examines two significant profiles within venture capital and technology sectors: a comprehensive analysis of billionaire investor Peter Thiel's political positioning and strategy, and an interview with Aaron Samuels, managing partner of Collide Capital. The publication combines financial and political commentary with breaking news from Jerusalem.
Peter Thiel's political involvement extends substantially beyond traditional venture capital deployment. His documented political giving demonstrates a sustained commitment to specific ideological candidates and causes, including a reported $10 million investment backing JD Vance and $4 million distributed across various campaigns during the 2016 election cycle, with $1 million directed to a super-PAC supporting Donald Trump. Thiel's investment philosophy, which emphasizes that "competition is for losers" and that founders should pursue monopolistic rather than competitive market positions, reflects a broader ideological framework that extends into his political engagement.
Aaron Samuels represents an emergent profile within venture capital: a self-identified Black Jewish poet and entrepreneur serving as managing partner of Collide Capital. Prior to this role, Samuels co-founded Blavity and AfroTech, and his firm has secured backing from major technology platforms including Amazon, Alphabet, and Twitter. Samuels combines venture capital activity with national touring as a writer and speaker, bridging technology investment with literary and cultural engagement.
On the same publication date, Jerusalem experienced twin terrorist attacks treated by Israeli authorities as coordinated operations. An explosion at approximately 7 a.m. local time at a bus stop near the city's main entrance killed a 16-year-old yeshiva student identified as Aryeh Shechopek, a Canadian citizen, and injured nearly two dozen others. A second explosion occurred approximately 30 minutes later in the Ramot suburb. According to reports, the first explosion was caused by a suitcase packed with explosives and was forceful enough to be heard across Jerusalem and surrounding areas. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides characterized the attacks as "cowardly terrorist attacks targeting innocent civilians, including children," while Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid conducted a security assessment and briefed incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the incidents.
Peter Thiel's political involvement extends substantially beyond traditional venture capital deployment. His documented political giving demonstrates a sustained commitment to specific ideological candidates and causes, including a reported $10 million investment backing JD Vance and $4 million distributed across various campaigns during the 2016 election cycle, with $1 million directed to a super-PAC supporting Donald Trump. Thiel's investment philosophy, which emphasizes that "competition is for losers" and that founders should pursue monopolistic rather than competitive market positions, reflects a broader ideological framework that extends into his political engagement.
Aaron Samuels represents an emergent profile within venture capital: a self-identified Black Jewish poet and entrepreneur serving as managing partner of Collide Capital. Prior to this role, Samuels co-founded Blavity and AfroTech, and his firm has secured backing from major technology platforms including Amazon, Alphabet, and Twitter. Samuels combines venture capital activity with national touring as a writer and speaker, bridging technology investment with literary and cultural engagement.
On the same publication date, Jerusalem experienced twin terrorist attacks treated by Israeli authorities as coordinated operations. An explosion at approximately 7 a.m. local time at a bus stop near the city's main entrance killed a 16-year-old yeshiva student identified as Aryeh Shechopek, a Canadian citizen, and injured nearly two dozen others. A second explosion occurred approximately 30 minutes later in the Ramot suburb. According to reports, the first explosion was caused by a suitcase packed with explosives and was forceful enough to be heard across Jerusalem and surrounding areas. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides characterized the attacks as "cowardly terrorist attacks targeting innocent civilians, including children," while Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid conducted a security assessment and briefed incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the incidents.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.