There is an old story about a group of researchers that took 5 monkeys and put them in an enclosure. At the center of the enclosure was a rope with a banana right up at the top. The monkeys would climb the rope and try to get to the banana, but whenever they started climbing, the researchers would blast all five monkeys with water. Eventually, they learned not to climb, because they did not want to get hit with the water blasts.
The researchers then swapped out one monkey for a new one. When the new monkey started to climb, the other monkeys pulled him down knowing what would happen next if he kept going. They swapped out another old monkey for new, and the same thing happened over and over. On it went until there were 4 monkeys pulling down the new one, despite none of them ever having experienced the consequences of reaching for the banana. Climbing the rope is just not accepted in that enclosure, though none remaining even knew why.
The angel investing space has likewise stagnated and cemented its form that may have been valid previously, but rigid and unchanging, is unsuitable for the current conditions faced by both founders and investors.
That is why Horizon was built on a foundation designed to be a constant feedback loop to address the rapidly evolving landscapes that shape what founders need and what investors look for. Every step, every action, every decision backed by a clear “why”, and challenged constantly to ensure the best results now and in a decade.
The world is changing; stagnation is not an option. Institutions cannot sit by and remain operating “because that is how its always been done”. Do what works, adapt what doesn’t, and never stop asking if there is a way to do things better. A network practicing endless evolution will empower the innovation sector with progress of their own, and provide enticing incentives for investors along the way.
With experience spanning a range of sectors, from construction to software, textiles to packaging, and manufacturing to distribution, Chris’ various functions helped make a company’s growing pains less painful during multi-million-dollar expansions. After years of work with real estate investment, alternative assets, and financing, Chris became involved in early-stage start-up investing in Canada. Recognizing the process gaps in the ecosystem, his attention shifted to creating the best opportunities for investors while elevating and empowering hard-working entrepreneurs with the backing and support needed to thrive in today’s global context
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