Satisfying Work

Malcolm Gladwell says the qualities of satisfying work are autonomy, complexity, and a connection between effort and reward. Mountain Guiding and Venture Capital are rich in all three.

Read More
James Dudley
What We Do

At Boulder Ventures, we’re only interested in important projects, where successful outcomes can move the dial financially for our investors and for the society we live in.


Read More
James Dudley
Living in the Future

Venture Capitalists and Mountain Guides live in the future. To be good at what we do, we have to. Planning for the next adventure is a constant in guiding and requires both a near term and a long-term view to dial in the best experience for our Clients.

Read More
James Dudley
Safety First, Then Drinking

Mountain guides and venture capitalists love to share success with our partners. After struggling together for many years, it is a special moment when a VC and her entrepreneur celebrate the exit of their company. Within the context of their authentic relationship, this moment is both joyous and bittersweet.

Read More
James Dudley
Stacked Blocks

Stacked blocks are an alpinist’s worst nightmare. You’ve come to a place where the only path forward is through a loose, vertical pile of giant boulders, held together by an unknown combination of ice, grit, and gravity.

Read More
James Dudley
Bouldering

All climbers like to boulder and most lifers would rather get a workout touching actual rock than climbing in a gym. Bouldering in my generation was an extension of being a rock climber; having a repertoire of hard local problems in your quiver was a requirement if you wanted to burn off the visitors.

Read More
James DudleyBouldering
Never Leave Snow to Find Snow

People who hire professional mountain guides to take them skiing in the mountains spend a lot of time and money getting there. When they arrive at their destination, they expect to find good snow.

Read More
James Dudley
Don't Let the Perfect be the Enemy of the Good

Venture capitalists and mountain guides are perfectionists. We plan, and scheme, and study, and try to map out all the nuances to achieve the ideal result. Some of these we share with our entrepreneurs and clients because we need and value their input. Some we do not because the sausage-making would freak them out.

Read More
James Dudley