Adam kaufman: Leading with humility
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Adam Kaufman
Founder of the Up2 Opportunity Fund, Up2 Foundation, and the Up2 Group, a select peer-group of successful and humble achievers. He's a Sr. Advisor with Palo Alto-based Ovo Fund, and host of the Up2 Podcast—downloaded in over 100 countries.
A Conversation with Adam Kaufman on “Leading with Humility”, Summary by Maya Lockwood
In a world where success is often flaunted and humility can feel like a lost art, Adam Kaufman stands out as a rare breed—a high-achieving venture capitalist and podcast host guided not by ego, but by heart.
I recently had the privilege of interviewing Adam, not in his usual role as the interviewer of influential guests on the UpTo Podcast, but as the subject himself. What unfolded was a powerful and personal conversation about leadership, humility, faith, and the deep value of meaningful human connection.
From Humble Beginnings
Adam’s story begins far from Silicon Valley boardrooms or venture capital business. Raised in a modest American household by parents who hadn’t attended college, Adam was the eldest child and grew up quickly. By fourth grade, he realized something wasn’t quite right at home.
“My father was an alcoholic,” he shared candidly. “My mom, a devout Catholic, eventually made the difficult decision to leave him—for the sake of the family. That shaped a lot of who I became.”
His mother, who had never worked or gone to college, found the strength to rebuild their lives. That experience, Adam says, grounded him in resilience, service, and the ethos of humility—principles that continue to guide him.
Humility in High Places
Adam is the founder of the UpTo Opportunity Fund, an advisor to Palo Alto-based OVO Fund and JumpStart Ventures, and host of the UpTo Podcast, downloaded in over 100 countries. He’s also the former president of the Healthnetwork Foundation and currently serves on multiple nonprofit boards.
Yet despite these impressive roles, he insists he’s often “the least financially successful or least well-known person at the table.” And he’s more than okay with that.
“I just try to be real, follow through on what I say I’ll do, and avoid overpromising. Somehow, being that way keeps getting me invited back to some interesting tables,” he reflected.
The Power of Story and Mentorship
One of Adam’s greatest strengths is his ability to connect through story—especially the ones that reveal struggle, not just success.
“In places like Silicon Valley, people often lead with their accomplishments, but ironically, that distances them from others,” he said. “When I share real-life experiences, it helps people connect.”
He believes mentorship plays a key role in staying grounded. “I mentor others, and I have mentors. It’s not advice—it’s sharing experience,” he said. He also participates in all-male Bible studies that offer accountability and depth. “Guys don’t often talk about these things,” he added. “But those spaces help me stay true to who I want to be.”
Investing With Intention
Adam’s investment philosophy is also values-driven. The OVO Fund, based in Northern California, focuses on early-stage tech startups—often before revenue or even product. The UpTo Opportunity Fund, which he co-founded, backs successful OVO companies as they scale.
“We look for recurring revenue, a great lead investor, and a path to no more fundraising in one to two rounds,” Adam explained. “It’s all about thoughtful growth.”
Two standout investments? Medeloop, an AI-driven company that streamlines clinical trials, and Well Theory, a wellness platform targeting autoimmune conditions with a holistic, data-informed approach. Well Theory primarily serves third-party payers and employers, aligning financial and health outcomes.
Faith, Family, and the Future of Leadership
At home, Adam’s life is deeply influenced by his faith and family. His wife teaches “sanctified yoga”—a blend of Christian scripture, breathwork, and movement. They return to his ancestral village in Lebanon every year, grounding him in heritage and humility.
“I love being around people from different perspectives,” he told me. “I went to a conference in France where I was the token conservative among elite liberal thinkers. It made me reflect and question my beliefs—and sometimes change them. That’s the value of dialogue.”
It’s the spirit of open-minded, heart-led leadership that defines Adam. Whether he’s mentoring entrepreneurs, investing in the next wave of innovation, or interviewing humble leaders on his podcast, Adam is a bridge builder.
“I believe the more real we are, the more we can connect—and maybe even change the world a little,” he said.
I couldn’t be more inspired. In an era when we desperately need connection, compassion, and cross-cultural dialogue, Adam Kaufman’s voice—and his example is truly a gift.
About Adam Kaufman
For the past twenty years, Adam Kaufman has been serving, calling on, and marketing to many of the most successful and influential leaders in the U.S. and abroad. He has earned the trust of CEOs, investors, entrepreneurs, policy makers, and nonprofit leaders. This professional life has created a platform from which he has been able to observe the most effective leaders and what motivates these accomplished people of influence: their leadership styles, their challenges, their worries, and their motivations.
Adam has been an advisor to JumpStart’s CEO and President for five years and is a partner in Palo Alto-based Ovo Fund, a seed-stage venture fund. Adam also serves as the Carol A. Melton Executive-in-Residence at Washington, D.C.-based PathNorth. He loves helping leaders grow their companies and is a board member of South Dakota-based Biltmore Trust Company and an advisor and board member to several entrepreneurs.
Previously, Adam served as president of Healthnetwork Foundation for a decade, providing facilitated access into top hospitals for high net-worth families worldwide. Additionally, he led a fast-growth business which reached #10 on Cleveland’s Weatherhead 100 list.
Get in touch with Adam.
