Roots Run Deep: Community at Penny Jar

In venture, we spend a lot of time talking about greatness. Exceptional founders.  Category-defining companies. Generational outcomes. The pursuit of being the best in the world. But behind every “Greatest Of All Time” story is something far less flashy and far more important: a team, a belief system, and a community that shows up.

That’s the story of GOAT, the new animated film from Sony Pictures Animation produced by Penny Jar Special Advisor Stephen Curry. Already #1 at the box office and surpassing $102M worldwide, the film explores determination, resilience, leadership, teamwork, and community—told through the story of Will Harris, a goat who gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot to join the pros and play roarball—a high-intensity, full-contact sport dominated by the fastest and fiercest animals in the world.

The start-up world often feels like roarball—granted, without tectonic floors spewing lava. The adversity, the pivots, the rivals, the naysayers, and the supporters easily translate to what founders face as they dare to dream big and change the game. And while founders are often in the spotlight of success and bear the weight of failure, a hero’s journey is shaped and shared by many, a story the film tells beautifully. Like Will, founders often tell us they were taught at a young age to dream big, were inspired by leaders, teachers, or parents, and are quick to attribute success to their team and greater support system—they know being a founder doesn’t happen without community. 

It was with that spirit that we brought the Penny Jar community together in the Bay Area last night for a private screening of GOAT. Our LPs and founders brought their family, friends, and team members, filling the theater with the full scope of the Penny Jar network: the builders, the backers, and the people who support them behind the scenes. And like the start-up journey, it was messy: popcorn on the floor, kids running around, emotions following the arc of the story, but above all, there was a quiet knowing as we watched the story unfold, how relatable and meaningful it was to everyone in the room.

Behind every enduring team are roots that run deep—the people who believe early, the people doing the work, and the families and friends who make it possible. Creating space for that entire support system to be together without an agenda is intentional. Gatherings like this strengthen the roots and, over time, compound into something great and worthy of celebration.

Dream Big.

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