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I sat down with Ali Hamed, Co-Founder of Treville (formerly CoVenture), a $2 Billion investment firm that's breaking traditional asset class boundaries. Hamed has built one of the most distinctive firms in the industry, combining venture capital, credit, and asset-backed strategies with a uniquely rigorous approach - all starting from cold emails during his college days.
In this episode, we discuss:
The "founder fair" philosophy and lessons from partnering with Michael Ovitz
"Michael is very results oriented... he'll basically give you this incredibly audacious thing that needs to be achieved in a time frame that you think is completely ridiculous."
When it comes to mentors in high-stakes business, they don't get much bigger than Michael Ovitz. The Hollywood super-agent turned investor has become a crucial force in shaping Treville's DNA, particularly through his unorthodox approach to excellence.
"Michael is completely uninterested in why it's hard," Ali explains, describing Ovitz's almost brutal focus on results. "He'll basically give you this incredibly audacious thing that needs to be achieved in a time frame that you think is completely ridiculous. And if you can do it, he'll keep working with you, and if you can't, he writes you off."
But perhaps the most powerful lesson that resonated with me from the Ovitz playbook has been about protecting your time like it's your most valuable asset. Under Ovitz's guidance, Treville has moved from having "14 really mediocre interactions" in a day to "four or five meetings that are like, an hour and a half, and you end up getting stuff done with better people." This focus on time prioritization is an especially important elusive goal in the world of venture capital and high-performance investing, how you spend your time can be just as important as how you spend your capital, and mastering it inevitably leads to better results.
Building authentic relationships and maintaining control of your time
"If I can't have a one-minute conversation with you, I will not pick up the phone when you call me... Being the type of person who can't get off the phone quickly is like kryptonite."
Back in his Cornell college days, while most students were asking alumni for jobs or career advice, Ali took a different path. He'd spend hours crafting detailed research reports about tech companies, then cold email them to Cornell alumni in those industries with a simple ask: "Would love to hear what I got wrong in 15 minutes of your time."
"Alumni want to help, but asking for career advice is a hard ask… Having them read my 10-page deck and give notes was actually an easy ask." This counterintuitive approach worked - executives did respond, but they were often impressed enough to make introductions to other professionals. The snowball grew from there and today at Treville, this scrappy mindset has evolved into a ruthlessly efficient relationship-building system.
Why investing across multiple asset classes creates a competitive edge
"Thank god markets are not perfectly efficient, or we wouldn't have a job."
While most firms in Venture run on a single investment strategy, Treville Capital Group has built what Hamed calls "an investing machine", with segregated business lines across individual venture capital, credit, and asset-backed strategies. For him, this multi-dimensional approach isn't just about diversification - it's about seeing around corners. As Ali puts it with his characteristic frankness, "Thank god markets are not perfectly efficient, or we wouldn't have a job."
Creating a culture of intensity and conviction… and a lot more!
"We don't believe in work-life balance. I don't have any hobbies. I have my family. And I have this."
Forget work-life balance – for Ali, there's just work and family. "I don't have any hobbies," Hamed shares with us. "I have my family. And I have this." It's not just talk either. Before committing to any investment, Treville's team digs deeper. When you ask them about a portfolio company, they'll bend your ear with detailed analysis and conviction that goes above and beyond the industry standard.
"Most people in venture capital think of their investments as option calls," Hamed says. "They're playing the odds. We're looking for companies where we can explain exactly why we think this is going to work."
The approach isn't for everyone - and that's kind of the point. If you're looking for a relaxed, balanced partnership, you might want to keep shopping. But if you're the type who gets excited about diving deep into the details, you might just find your people (and your investor) here.
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