LEADing the Way: Thomas Rudy, Chief Investment Officer

Take the expert’s tips on how to build a winning investment portfolio.

At our core, we're more than our investments. LEAD is a group of passionate people driven by a shared belief: assisting entrepreneurs evolve to where they need to be. We know that those behind every cutting-edge innovation and world-altering idea are those who dare to lead the way.

We truly embrace the strength of connection, so we want the world to know our leadership team. That’s why each installment in our Q&A series, LEADing the Way, showcases how the authentic, forward-thinking individuals who make up our team coexist to act on LEAD’s selfless goals and vision.

Having gone from Wall Street's soaring skyscrapers to being a core element of our operation, Thomas Rudy's extensive career in the investment world is wide-spanning. His financial acumen is undeniable, with experience in investment banking, hedge funds, private equity, and venture capital.

Read along as Thomas delves into the rapidly evolving landscape of sports and health tech, revealing some of the biggest opportunities and challenges to watch. He shares his insights on constructing a winning investment portfolio, his day-to-day experiences at the helm of LEAD's investments, and the unwavering passion that fuels his dedication to improving the human condition.

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Q: What are the biggest opportunities and challenges you see coming in sports and health tech in the next 5-10 years?A: Often, the biggest opportunities will also pose the biggest challenges. We see AI as a significant driver of sub-verticals within health tech. However, those advances need to be reined in by proper regulation that balances innovation with ethics and high standards, which, given the velocity of AI innovation, poses a substantial challenge. We also anticipate sports and health to continue merging into what we call the "medical consumer." You will see applications on the performance side as well as on the regulated health side.

Q: What is essential to consider when building a strong and successful investment portfolio?

A: Portfolio construction is important for building a solid portfolio and track record. We believe in balancing the portfolio between companies that can exit faster (i.e., through acquisition) at valuations of $100 million or less with the fitting target returns and in less than 4-5 years to have some smaller but quicker wins. The rest of the portfolio should focus on companies with substantial addressable markets and the ability to reach valuations of $1 billion or more (unicorn status), which takes more, such as 5 to 7 years, but can significantly enhance returns. A portfolio with only small exits or moonshot companies will not create the desired outcomes.

Q: Can you take us through what a day in your life looks like at LEAD?

A: Every day in the life of the LEAD Chief Investment Officer looks different. I travel a lot to spend time with many of our outstanding investors and shareholders. Given that most of our investors have had tremendously successful careers, I learned a lot from them regarding strategies and got great insights into deal flow. In addition, I spend a lot of time with my investment team to evaluate deal flow, discuss due diligence findings, make investment decisions in investment committee meetings, and ideate new funding vehicles to grow our family of funds. Lastly, significant time is spent with our portfolio companies, both virtually and in person, to understand how we can help and drive value. Of course, fundraising plays a role in this business at all times, on top of that.

Q: What excites you about being a part of a company improving lives in sports and health?

A: First of all, I am a huge sports fan and care deeply about advancements in health. So combining both passions is a dream come true. Combine that with working with a world-class team and a highly diverse set of entrepreneurs and investors, and you can quickly see how every day is different, fun, and challenging at all times. This is not for the faint of heart, but the best job if you're willing to work hard with a "whatever it takes" mentality. It also does not hurt that we often combine our work with unique sporting events.

Q: What is the most impactful thing you do to maintain your health and well-being?

A: Regular exercise. In my opinion, a fit body also promotes a fit mind. Given that I often work 100+ hours per week, travel 40 weeks of the year, and deal with high-stress situations every day, I need to stay healthy to be focused and have the energy to do my job. The more I exercise, the healthier I am and the less sick I get. It's the absolute key to success in my world.