Colman Chamberlain

Founding Partner @unreasonable | making life = the actions not just the ideas | tweets my own

[Kapor Capital @KaporCapital]

In 2011 we made a shift, took a gamble & exclusively invested in impact startups. VCs cautioned us but 8 years later we’re proud to prove that impact investing doesn't mean sacrificing returns. Learn more, view the Kapor Capital Impact report: https://t.co/rc8cEfcBGZ #KaporImpact

[Chuva @chuvaconsulting]

Quick photo-proof, $62 Bilion impact investments 2023 expected to rise to $95 Billion 2024

[Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance @gavi]

Vaccines don’t just save lives—they drive economic growth. Every $1 invested in immunisation brings $54 in wider economic benefits for Gavi-implementing countries, which adds up to a staggering figure.

Help us continue this impact through 2026-2030. Learn more: https://t.co/NaNajseP3A #ForOurFuture

[Colman Chamberlain @ColmanIsHere]

Love this untold story of innovation and disrupting the status quo

[Noah Zender @noahzender]

Who is the most influential entrepreneur you've never heard of?

Malcom McLean.

He cut the cost of shipping bulk cargo by 94% -- transforming the economies of Japan, Taiwan, Korea, China, and Vietnam.

Meet the truck driver who became a billionaire transforming global trade.

McLean made getting rich simple.

In 1934, he realized there was money to be made transporting fuel. So he borrowed a tanker truck and started trucking.

By 1945, he had 162 trucks in his fleet earning him $2.2M per year.

Within a decade he grew his business 3x to 600 trucks simply by:
• Switching to diesel
• Navigating regulations smoothly
• Incentivizing drivers to avoid delays
• Using conveyor belts to move cargo

But he shut this thriving business down.

The roads were too congested. McLean thought to himself:

"Why not drive trucks up to the ships and have rigs pick them up closer to their destination?"

In 1956, he tested the idea with a shipment from New York to Miami.

The result?

A 94% reduction in the cost of shipping. The cost dropped from $5.83 a ton to $0.16. The standardized shipping container was born.

McLean fought long battles to get ports to adopt a standardized container. His competition created all the obstacles. Port workers refused to unload them and people didn't want to change.

His real breakthrough came during the Vietnam War.

The United States was having trouble supplying their troops. They tried to fix the problem but it only kept getting worse.

McLean persuaded the U.S. to let him self-fund a new port in Cam Ranh Bay. A huge risk with high reward. It worked!

The military's problem was solved. McLean's company, Sea-Land, was on a huge contract with the Pentagon.

Shipping 600 containers every two weeks. Quickly McLean realized there wasn't a need to send empty containers back.

Sea-Land sent them to Japan to pick up more goods instead.

McLean's routes kicked off the Asian export boom. All adopting his ports. Developing economies were now connected to major markets around the world. Malcom McLean was right at the center of it.

Malcom McLean is responsible for cheaper goods and unlocking a global network of trade to many developing economies in the 20th century.

Takeaway 1:

Just because something is working doesn't mean it can't be better.

Malcom McLean didn't hesitate to shut down a thriving business. McLean also didn't follow the standard once set in cargo shipping.

My favorite question to ask myself:

"What is the second right answer?"

Takeaway 2:

Macro events in the world provide opportunities.

Ford, the car company, supplied tanks in WW2. Tiffany, the jewelry store, supplied swords and rifles during the Civil War. McLean supplied the goods for the Vietnam War.

The best entrepreneurs are playing chess -- always finding the best positioning on the board.

Takeaway 3:

Balaji says innovators are either: The Paladin or The Dark Knight.

The Paladin risk making money before they lose it all. Profitability is their biggest struggle.

The Dark Knight annoys people and risk being regulated or banned. McLean was a Dark Knight. His competition wanted him gone.

There will always be some battle you have to fight. You choose which one is the hill you'd be willing to die on.

---

"You don't have to start from scratch to do something interesting. You don't have to start from scratch to have a massive impact on the world. You have to have a good idea." — Jack Dorsey

Follow me @noahzender for more content like this!

[Colman Chamberlain @ColmanIsHere]

The young statistician saved thousands of lives...

Great piece from @SahilBloom on the dangers of Survivorship Bias (and how to avoid it). https://t.co/wwCF27tlz0

[Colman Chamberlain @ColmanIsHere]

Hello BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ and/or HR connected friends! I am thrilled to share that my husband has a few openings available in his coaching practice.

If you’re in need of change and unsure how to navigate it, Roberto is the best executive coach. https://t.co/n1yOkn8q0N

[Colman Chamberlain @ColmanIsHere]

Excellent rundown from our Sr. Investment Associate on the state of black venture capital

[Jasiel Martin-Odoom @Jasielinvests]

1/ @BLCKVC dropped a great report on the state of black venture during #BlackHistoryMonth . Here are of my few takeaways in everyone's favorite 🧵 format. Check out the full report here: https://t.co/iNxMsuLd1o

[ReGenerate Trust @ReGenerateTrust]

📣 We’re hiring! Are you passionate about tackling issues such as #ClimateChange, modern slavery, #ESG, and poverty, and believe that businesses have a huge role to play in addressing them? Then this role could be for you! Find out more 👇
https://t.co/DQ3KAjxnWf

[Colman Chamberlain @ColmanIsHere]

Thrilled for the release of my friend and brilliant innovator's book Connect the Dots. It develops a science-based framework of how we can turn unpredictability into opportunity. Buy it here (https://t.co/6FccFHXb03 or https://t.co/oQGRhRiP4l). Huge congrats @ChrisSerendip!

[Colman Chamberlain @ColmanIsHere]

The brilliant and amazing team @HereIAmStudio1 is looking for a Design Director. They are not only doing the most incredible and impactful digital work I've seen, they are also an awesome place to work. Please pass this JD along to anyone you rate highly!

[Colman Chamberlain @ColmanIsHere]

It's real and here. @arturoeliz and the incredible team at @theEVERYcompany have just launched the world's first beverage made with real animal protein without the animal. This is as @unreasonable as it gets!

[EVERY® @theEVERYcompany]

We’ve teamed up with @PressedJuicery to bring you the world’s first animal-free, animal protein smoothie!

You can purchase from https://t.co/itaUmEkZAg or their app for pick-up or delivery and via delivery partners, starting this Friday in NYC & LA🍍

👉https://t.co/QfwFpoG2Sz

[Colman Chamberlain @ColmanIsHere]

#hiring for 2 EPIC roles @unreasonable:
1. Director of People
2. Director of Investor Relations
Join this incredible team to re-purpose capitalism to solve the world's most pressing social + environmental problems. https://t.co/HMg0ciQaGc

[Colman Chamberlain @ColmanIsHere]

Humbled, grateful, and thrilled to have our global initiative with @Barclays named "Partnership of the Year" by @Reuters!

[Unreasonable @unreasonable]

Yesterday, we had the deeply incredible honor of our Unreasonable Impact program, created with @BarclaysCIB, being named "Partnership of the Year" at the Reuters Events 12th Annual Responsible Awards!

Cheers to making an #UnreasonableImpact! 🎉🎉🎉

[Colman Chamberlain @ColmanIsHere]

For every $1 invested into @Cell_Ed, $55 in Social ROI was created - in 2020 alone. LOVE seeing the amazing impact this @unreasonable venture is having and honored to be a Board Member with them on this critical journey.

[Cell-Ed @Cell_Ed]

Recently, an independent study from @ProSocialValue was released measuring the exact $ value of the gain for adult workers after using Cell-Ed. The findings are impressive & the total value of #socialimpact created by Cell-Ed in 2020 came to $30 million: https://t.co/HNPjuD2BDi

[Colman Chamberlain @ColmanIsHere]

Thrilled to be a part of @VodafoneBiz #thosewhodare to amplify the great work of our amazing @unreasonable entrepreneurs @riversimple @frontiermarkets https://t.co/c5OxoIny1O

[Unreasonable @unreasonable]

🔴 Live in the next hour!

Check out @ColmanIsHere, our Global MD, as he talks with bold leaders from @FrontierMkts and @riversimple around how they pivoted their business to address COVID-19 and make a positive impact.

Tune in to #ThoseWhoDare ⬇️

https://t.co/wVFSKbDuJf

[Colman Chamberlain @ColmanIsHere]

Proud to be a part of the remarkable work @ReGenerateTrust is doing to make it easier to start, grow and lead a purpose-driven business in the UK. Check out Re-Generate's purpose-driven ecosystem map here! @unreasonable

[ReGenerate Trust @ReGenerateTrust]

We are proud to support purpose-driven businesses and be part of a thriving and positive ecosystem with the same end goal. Take a look at our new ecosystem map to see all the different support available.
For an interactive version visit https://t.co/C9SztLLm6N.
#Purpose #Business

[Unreasonable @unreasonable]

💼 We also have over 400 job opportunities across our entire global Unreasonable community, including incredible ventures that are working to drive lasting and scalable impact, like @80AcresFarms, @Cell_Ed, @aspectbiosys, @jumbotail and more!

Check it ➡️ https://t.co/4GU9cebFh6

[Unreasonable @unreasonable]

🚨 We're hiring!

💼 Investment Coordinator
💼 Facilitation & Community Engagement Manager
💼 Manager, Investment Sales & Client Management

Learn more about our values here: https://t.co/wLCGPMHkDF
Apply to these opportunities here: https://t.co/HgjtoQrY1Z #nowhiring

[Chris Christie @GovChristie]

I am very happy today for this ad to start to run on TV across America. I urge all Americans to learn from my experience and to, please, wear a mask and stay safe.

[Colman Chamberlain @ColmanIsHere]

Glad to see this critical message getting out there from a powerful GOP voice and beyond proud of my husband for creating this national TV ad to make it possible 😷💪♥️ #WearAMaskSaveALife #COVID19

[CNN @CNN]

Former New Jersey GOP Gov. Chris Christie says in a new national TV ad that he regrets not wearing a mask while visiting the White House earlier this year, a choice he acknowledges led to him contracting the coronavirus and spending a week in the ICU https://t.co/U08HjFELFD