DeepSummary
In this podcast episode, former mayor of Stockton, California, Michael Tubbs discusses his upbringing, his time in local government, and his new venture capital firm Tubbs Ventures. Tubbs grew up in Stockton in an entrepreneurial community, valuing education and the belief that no one is better than anyone else. After attending Stanford, he ran for city council at age 21 and later became the youngest mayor of a major American city at 26.
As mayor, Tubbs implemented initiatives like a basic income program and reduced homicides and shootings. However, he lost his reelection bid, attributing it partly to manipulation on social media platforms that shaped a negative perception of his tenure despite actual improvements. Tubbs reflects on the lessons learned, such as the importance of prioritizing and pacing change, and the difference between purpose and position.
Tubbs Ventures focuses on investing in companies that aim to improve government and solve societal problems. Tubbs sees the ubiquity of government and technology as crucial areas to create change at scale. He emphasizes the need for better communication between government and the tech sector to enable effective regulation and address fundamental issues like access to benefits.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Tubbs' upbringing instilled in him values of education, equality, and actively doing good for society.
- As the youngest mayor of a major U.S. city, Tubbs implemented initiatives like a basic income program and reduced homicides and shootings.
- Losing his reelection bid taught Tubbs lessons about prioritizing change, differentiating purpose from position, and using rejections as opportunities for redirection.
- Tubbs Ventures focuses on investing in companies that aim to improve government and solve societal problems through technology.
- Effective communication involves understanding the audience, framing the message as a gift, and considering how the audience wants to receive the information.
- There is a need for better communication and collaboration between government and the tech sector to enable effective regulation and address fundamental issues.
- Tubbs emphasizes the importance of identifying and supporting founders who are passionate about using technology to create positive change in government and adjacent fields.
- Tubbs sees government and technology as ubiquitous and crucial areas to create change at scale and address societal problems.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I think if you think about communicating as like, this is a message I'm really excited to give. I think I have something to give you. I'm offering you something. And let me figure out how to give you this gift. Probably get better outcomes.“ by Michael Tubbs
- “So Tubbs Ventures is really sort of output of the ideas I share, but it's really around sort of, how do we identify and support founders who are trying to build a technology that makes government better, or in government adjacent fields like healthcare, climate, et cetera.“ by Michael Tubbs
- “I think oftentimes people speak with the idea of what they want to say versus speaking in terms of it's not just what you want to say, because that's important, what's your message, but it's also, what does your audience want to hear, or how do they want to hear it?“ by Michael Tubbs
Entities
Person
Company
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Episode Information
LA Venture
TenOneTen
3/20/24
Michael Tubbs gained national prominence when he became the youngest mayor of any major American city at age 26. He was a hero of the universal basic income movement until he suddenly lost reelection. Listen to his lessons learned and think about what you're willing to stick your neck out and lose for.
Tubbs is now investing out of Tubbs Ventures, where he focuses on government technology and solving fundamental societal problems.