Eric Hanson on venture capital
From Successful Funding - Eric Hanson - Changing Funding · · Motivated Money
“Probably the biggest glaring problem is the expectations by the people putting in or allowing funding — their expected returns are mostly unrealistic. The very first thing VCs want to see is how they're going to get a minimum of four to five times return on their money, and some say they want to make ten times their money in five years.”
On , Eric Hanson, President & Chief Operating Officer at CELSIUS HOLDINGS INC, spoke about venture capital during Successful Funding - Eric Hanson - Changing Funding on Motivated Money.
About Eric Hanson
Eric Hanson, president and chief operating officer of Celsius Holdings, has continued to appear on the "Successful Funding" show hosted by Carl Dayon, where he discussed topics such as investing in communities, changing funding expectations, and getting investor commitments. In those appearances, Hanson argued that unrealistic return expectations are a major problem in capital markets, stating that venture capitalists often seek "a minimum of four to five times return on their money" and that the U.S. focus on quarterly financial reports "breeds wanting these unrealistic expectations." He also emphasized that projects must offer tangible benefits to attract sponsors, saying "self-interest drives participation." Separately, Hanson has maintained a public presence as a hiking and backpacking YouTuber. In a December 2023 video, he detailed a legal case in which he was charged with a Class B misdemeanor for camping out of bounds in a national park. He stated that prosecutors initially sought a sentence of up to six months in prison, a $5,000 fine, and five years of probation, and that they discussed in court wanting to "bring down the hammer" on him because of his public profile. Hanson said he ultimately accepted a plea agreement that resulted in a $1,000 fine and a criminal record. In a later video, he shared personal background, noting that he spent eight years working for a production company called Heliconia before launching his own YouTube channel full-time in 2023.