🏒🏎️ From Hockey Drills to Italian Racecars: Here's the Scoop on My Unforgettable European Adventure! 🇪🇺🇮🇹

I ended up spending $100m on this trip                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 August 21, 2023 [A newsletter about raising capital for early stage growth companies]( 🏒🏎️ From Hockey Drills to Italian Racecars: Here's the Scoop on My Unforgettable European Adventure! 🇪🇺🇮🇹 I ended up spending $100m on this trip Hey Pitch Anything fam! Just touched down after an epic month-long Euro escapade that was equal parts business and bonding with my 9-year-old hockey player. Here’s 5 takeaways from my whirlwind journey that had it all – sports drills, customer meetings, and the stunning vistas of Italy. Ready? Here we go! 🏒 Hockey Fever in Europe 🏒 The adventure kicked off in Denmark for an intensive hockey training camp for the little guy. In the frosty rinks of Esbjerg I watched endless drills like the ones below, my little champ honed his skills while I froze my butt off. Opening ceremonies in their pro rink, they take their youth hockey seriously! Key takeaway: In Denmark and Sweden, they do NOT pamper their youth players like we do in California! - Get hurt? shake it off - Don’t like the lunch? go hungry - Show up late? skate laps 🛫 Ciao, Italy! 🇮🇹 But we weren't done yet – we traded our skates for double espressos and hopped over to Italy. Amidst picturesque piazzas and cobblestone streets, we blended business with pleasure. A face-to-face with a valued customer was a chance to bridge oceans and share visions. 🤝 Landing in Venice at sunset … Key Takeaways: every wonder WHY we enjoy going to Italy so much? It just seems like they know how to make everything beautiful and sensual. Here’s what I think is going on there: - Artistic Heritage: Italy has a rich history of art and craftsmanship, dating back to the Renaissance and beyond. Masters like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Botticelli set a high standard for aesthetics and visual expression. - Passion for Design: Italians have a passion for design that permeates every aspects of their lives. From fashion and architecture to interior design and product packaging, they prioritize aesthetics and strive for beauty in everything they create. - Cultural Values: Italian culture places a strong emphasis on aesthetics, beauty, and the sensory experience, evident in everyday life, from the way food is prepared and presented to the way buildings are designed. - Fashion Excellence: Italy is a global hub for high-end fashion and luxury brands. - Culinary Excellence: Italian cuisine is not only renowned for its delicious flavors but also for its presentation. The careful arrangement of ingredients on a plate is part of what makes Italian dishes so enticing. - Stunning landscapes: rolling vineyards and coastal vistas have influenced the way Italians perceive and incorporate beauty into their everyday lives. - Lifestyle and Elegance: Italians often prioritize living well and enjoying life's pleasures. This attitude extends to their surroundings, as they seek to create environments that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. - Creative Industries: Italy is home to numerous creative industries, including design, fashion, art, and architecture. These industries foster an environment of innovation and artistic expression that contributes to the country's aesthetic prowess. While I LOVE traveling in Italy, I’m not leaving the US (or California) anytime soon! We have the biggest economy, best financial markets and best sports leagues in the world - and this is my forever home. 🍕 La Dolce Vita in Italia 🍕 Of course, it wasn't all work and no play – who could resist the siren call of Italian gelato, pasta, and awe-inspiring history? We wandered through the streets of Milan where racing culture is everywhere and stopped in the Ferrari store. Every ancient cobblestone seemed to whisper tales of generations past. I thought I was going to get out of Milan without spending too much, but I did end up buying a Ducati 1299 R Final Edition … 🤑 I Even Spent Time in Business Mode 🤑 My biggest client is based just outside of Bassano … They make the world’s most sophisticated large format machine tools … This is where I spent some real money :-) Here’s Asher and I on the factory tour, where we literally placed an order for $100 million of equipment (that’s a story I’ll have to tell you over the next few weeks.) Finally it was time to come back home …. Getting Asher’s hockey gear wrapped at the airport … And we’re back … totally exhausted from a month on the road, hockey camp and way too much spaghetti bolognese, my family crashed out on the Uber ride to our house: And now, as I sit back at my desk (no more Gelato), I'm invigorated, inspired, and ready to take on the world again. It's amazing how travel broadens horizons, energizes the mind, and reminds us that the business game is important, but it’s not everything. So, here's to a month of chasing pucks and chasing dreams, to cultural explorations and clinching deals. I'm back, ready to weave the lessons from this journey into the fabric of our business strategies. 🌟 — OREN PS. Stay in the game with me here, and stay tuned because I have some new moves to show you in the next few week. [fb]( [tw]( [ig]( [yt]( [in]( Update your email preferences or unsubscribe [here]( © Intersection Capital, LLC 2443 Impala Drive Carlsbad, California 92010, United States [[beehiiv logo]Powered by beehiiv](