Tom Chavez
Founding General Partner
Tom Chavez is a Founding Partner at super{set}. As a serial entrepreneur, he has spent the last 20 years using data, decision science, and AI to solve hard, interesting problems.
Prior to forming super{set}, Tom was CEO and co-founder of Krux, a marketing technology platform acquired by Salesforce in 2016. Before Krux, he was CEO and co-founder of Rapt, a provider of software for media monetization acquired by Microsoft in 2008. Before Rapt he worked as a researcher in probabilistic AI and decision theory at Rockwell and as a Systems Architect at Sun Microsystems, the original ‘Big Tech’ company, where he was employee #35,642. To date, the companies Tom built have generated a 17.5x return for investors and substantial wealth for employees.
Tom holds a B.A. in Computer Science and Philosophy from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in Engineering-Economic Systems and Operations Research from Stanford University. He grew up in Albuquerque, NM, the middle child in a family of five kids. To take a break, he likes to play and write music and see live shows.
Navigating the Startup Journey from Launch to Finish Line
Are you a launcher, or a finisher? The balance of conviction, a guiding vision, and the right team to execute it all make the difference between entrepreneurial success and failure. Tom Chavez delves into his journey as a first-time CEO and the invaluable guidance he received from a key mentor.
Hold Fast: Game-Changing Wisdom from Seamus Blackley
Creator of the XBox and serial entrepreneur Seamus Blackley joined Tom Chavez on stage at the 2023 super{summit} in New Orleans, Louisiana, for a free-ranging conversation covering the intersection of creativity and technology, recovering back from setbacks to reach new heights, and a pragmatic reflection on the role of fear and regret in entrepreneurship.
Q&A with Accel Founder Arthur Patterson
Arthur Patterson, founder of venture capital firm Accel, sits down for a fireside chat with super{set} founding partner Tom Chavez as part of our biweekly super{set} Community Call. Arthur and Tom cover venture investing, company-building, and even some personal stories from their history together.
The Era of Easy $ Is Over
The era of easy money - or at least, easy returns for VCs - is over. Tom Chavez is calling for VCs to show up in-person at August board meetings, get off the sidelines, and start adding real value and hands-on support for founders.
Too Dumb to Quit
The decision to start a company – or to join an early stage one – is an act of the gut. On good days, I see it as a quasi-spiritual commitment. On bad days, I see it as sheer irrationality. Whichever it is, you’ll be happier if you acknowledge and calmly accept the lunacy of it all...
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