Samuel Garcia is a partner at venture capital fund Amplo, where he leads early-stage investing. He is also a part-time lecturer at Harvard Law School, where he teaches a class called “Applying Legal Knowledge in VC Business Diligence,” which centers on how to drive outsized returns and avoid costly mistakes by leveraging legal knowledge.
What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
My greatest career accomplishment has been becoming one of the youngest Hispanics ever to join Harvard Law’s faculty. It was such an amazing honor to go there as a student and now to be picked to come back and teach is such a huge honor.
What is your greatest personal accomplishment to date?
Getting engaged to my fiancé!
What do you do today to impact your community?
I serve on the board of SomosVC where I help with mentorship on bringing more Latinos and Latinas into the VC community.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I see myself still in VC and hopefully with my first IPO under my belt!
What is the biggest issue that you want to help solve, and why?
I would love to help solve the digital divide. As AI use skyrockets, our data usage will increase exponentially. The only way to make sure a huge part of America does not fall behind is to upgrade our broadband infrastructure.
What is a moment when you realized the impact of your work?
When the first company I ever invested in sold to Deel! It was not a straightforward road to get there, and it was so rewarding to be a part of.
Who inspires your leadership?
My dad! He passed when I had just turned eighteen but many of his lessons are still relevant to me.
What is a surprising hobby or interest that helps you stay creative and energized?
As a kid, I was a goat herder for about six years and I loved it. It made me excited about all things agriculture. Getting into new innovations in farming always gets me excited.
What is your Latino background?
Mexican American. I was born in a border town on the US-Mexico border. My family is Mexican American as well on both sides.
What song do you listen to that motivates you?
“Vivir Mi Vida” by Marc Anthony.
