"I started programming when I was nine years old, teaching myself languages like HTML and Java. I was competing in computing Olympiads, but I wasn't interested in programming as a destination. It felt more like a stepping stone toward something bigger."
"I noticed a trend that really stuck with me: community-focused investing. Traditionally, VC has been centered around geographies or sectors, but I saw the rise of funds built around specific communities—alumni networks, underrepresented founders, or college dropouts."
"I realized I was part of a community that was relatively undertapped in venture: the US boarding school system. Universities like Harvard, Brown, and Princeton had strong VC ecosystems backing their alumni, but top boarding schools didn't have that same structure."
"Getting in was a big moment—my parents were really happy, and there was definitely a sense of pride. It felt like a natural continuation of everything I had been working toward."
Smaiyl Makyshov, founder of Multifaceted Capital, began programming at nine and was drawn to technology's applications. After moving to the US for education, he interned at a venture capital firm, discovering community-focused investing. He identified a gap in venture capital for the US boarding school system, which lacked the support seen in university alumni networks. Makyshov's experiences led him to question his path while attending Brown University, ultimately shaping his vision for his venture capital firm.
Read at www.businessinsider.com
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