Apr 18, 2026, 11:19 AM ETInterview, Fireside Chat

Jake Paul: Traditional VC is Toast & Attention is More Valuable than Cash

Jake Paul and Jeffrey Wu founded Antifund, a venture capital firm that has backed companies including Ramp, Cognition, Chronosphere, and Better.
The fund targets a growth trajectory from an initial $30 million to managing $10–20 billion in assets over time.
Paul's investment thesis relies on "attention is more valuable than capital," leveraging his and his brother Logan's distribution networks to accelerate portfolio company growth.
Antifund competes with traditional VCs by offering founders high-level introductions to billionaires and executives, claiming a response rate superior to legacy firms.
The firm focuses on "late-stage" acquisitions with "sniper shot" strategies, leveraging mass media branding capabilities that software-only funds cannot match.
Paul co-founded the sports gaming company Better (now W) to address market gaps in marketing efficiency and user experience, aiming for high equity ownership.
Antifund is currently considering expansion into public markets and the establishment of a growth fund or credit vehicle to capitalize on trillions in assets.
Ramp is cited as a personal angel investment that has generated a 300x return, entered at a $50 million valuation.
Aerodrome (via Rahul) is noted as a portfolio company that achieved a 10x return in 18 months, with the founder now serving as Chief Strategy Officer at Flock Safety.

Paul argues that "attention" is the primary asset, noting that 70–100 million dollars can be generated from a single fight, whereas traditional VC funds start small.
He describes his content creation process as a "science" where every 0.1 second of video is calculated and edited, contrasting the "art" of filming with the "science" of post-production.
Paul claims to predict video view counts with 85% accuracy alongside his lead content strategist, attributing this to a deep, instinctual understanding of cultural trends.
He distinguishes his approach by leaning into controversy and "brashness," asserting that being "uncancellable" is possible if no genuinely harmful actions are taken.
Paul acknowledges the difficulty of maintaining relevance in a saturated creator economy but claims to have achieved "escape velocity" where his personal brand sustains itself without constant new input.
He admits to struggling with the "treadmill of relevance" but notes that his dual ecosystem with Logan Paul (e.g., the NFL flag football beef with Tom Brady) keeps them at the forefront of cultural conversation.

Paul generates nearly 100% of the net revenue from his boxing matches because he acts as his own promoter and negotiates directly with platforms, bypassing traditional promoters like Eddie Hearn who typically take 50%.
He plans to pursue a world championship title in boxing, aiming to create an inspiring narrative for youth as the "ultimate underdog."
Paul estimates the market value of a fight against Conor McGregor at approximately $150 million.
He describes his training regimen as a "lonely" and "monotonous" process involving intense sprint work and pattern recognition to identify and exploit opponent habits.
Paul identifies boxing as a defensible asset class against AI because the human element of sport cannot be replicated by robots.
He notes that his transition from YouTube to boxing required "creating space" by stopping content creation for a period, allowing him to fall in love with the sport organically.

Paul explicitly states he does not intend to run for office unless a candidate like Kamala Harris poses a direct threat to the US, at which point he would consider it a necessity.
He expresses strong support for Donald Trump, describing him as a "founder president" who makes bold decisions compared to career politicians, and predicts Trump is currently doing a "good job."
Paul argues that democratically elected leaders, not unelected tech CEOs (like Sam Altman), should hold decision-making power regarding war and national security.
He identifies as an optimist regarding technological advancement, believing humanity will adapt to AI-driven unemployment despite current fears of societal depression.
Paul expresses concern about the rise of "low-level" and white-collar job displacement due to AI, warning of a potential "depressed society" and worsening mental health crises.
He rejects the idea that tech leaders have the moral right to make war-making decisions, calling such ego-centric views "techno-fascist."

Paul cites his father's financial distress during his parents' divorce (specifically having to sell personal items like a snowboard for $150) as the primary driver of his "animalistic drive" for wealth.
He describes himself as "addicted to work," viewing this addiction not as a vice but as a necessary trait for operating at the highest levels of athletics and business.
Paul advocates for a "60/40" relationship dynamic where both partners strive to be the 60% contributor, fostering a "friendly competition" to provide more love and support.
He admits to managing mental health struggles through breath work, meditation, and spiritual journeys involving substances like ayahuasca.
Paul identifies as "sapiosexual," stating that his primary motivation for investing is the intellectual stimulation of working with the world's smartest people.
He ranks his career priorities as: 1. Investing (due to the desire to advance human evolution and meet smart people), 2. Content, and 3. Boxing.
In a final prediction, Paul states his goal in 10 years is to be a "comrade in arms" to the 100 humans who will fundamentally change history.

Paul and Wu argue that traditional VCs are losing relevance because they lack "cultural taste" and the ability to navigate the "attention economy" as effectively as native influencers.
Wu defends Paul's polarizing persona, asserting that the market rewards results and that dismissing Paul due to his "brashness" ignores the profitability of their track record.
Paul dismisses concerns about "cancel culture" by challenging critics to find any genuinely bad behavior, arguing that past mistakes (like setting a pool on fire) are minor compared to the scrutiny placed on a public life.
Both participants reject the notion that creators cannot be serious investors, framing the skill set as identical: identifying winners, understanding consumer sentiment, and executing a vision.
Paul and Wu challenge the traditional "boomer VC" model, claiming that their fresh perspective and ability to context-switch between sports, media, and high-level business give them a decisive edge.