Winter Lessons from Upstate, New York
Growing up in Syracuse, New York, I had more than my fair share of experience with snow. If you’ve ever lived in a place where winter overstays its welcome, you know that snow isn’t just something you shovel—it’s something you adapt to, play with, and sometimes, even use to your advantage.
As kids, we didn’t just watch the snow fall; we turned it into whatever we needed. Snowballs, snow forts, makeshift sleds—you name it. And there was always one universal truth: momentum is everything.
A snowball starts small, barely packing together in your mittened hands. But give it a little push down a hill, and suddenly, it’s picking up more snow, getting bigger, moving faster, and before you know it, it’s unstoppable.
The same principle applies to life, business, and investing. How often do we hesitate to act because we feel too small, too insignificant? “I don’t have enough money to invest.” “My idea isn’t big enough.” “I’m just one person—what difference can I make?”
But just like a snowball, every big movement, every industry-changing innovation, every billion-dollar company once started with something tiny: a single idea, a small investment, or one person willing to take the first step.
The truth is -- you’re never too small to create momentum. This is what The Snowball Effect is all about—how small actions, small investments, and small ideas gather momentum to create lasting change.
1. The First Push: How Small Investments Set Things in Motion
At the heart of every success story is a moment when someone took a chance. Many of today’s most successful companies were once just ideas that needed a small push to get started.
Example: The $250,000 Investment That Created Amazon
In 1995, Jeff Bezos started Amazon in his garage with a vision to build an online bookstore. But to get things moving, he needed funding. His parents, Jackie and Mike Bezos, invested $250,000—a huge risk for them at the time. That initial investment snowballed into a business that today has a market capitalization of over $1.5 trillion.
Bezos later reflected on risk-taking and early investment:
“I knew that if I failed, I wouldn’t regret that. But I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying.”
This illustrates the first principle of the snowball effect: Every big success starts with someone willing to take the first step.
2. Compounding Growth: How Small Contributions Build Big Impact
The power of compounding is not just about money; it’s about belief, effort, and support. When one person backs an idea, it creates a signal for others to follow. The more people who join in, the faster the momentum builds.
Example: Airbnb and the $30,000 That Made a Billion-Dollar Company
Airbnb started in 2007 when founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia struggled to pay rent. They decided to rent out air mattresses in their apartment and called it “Air Bed & Breakfast.” Investors weren’t interested—until Paul Graham from Y Combinator took a chance, giving them $30,000 in seed money and mentorship.
That investment and guidance helped them refine their pitch, build credibility, and attract more investors. Today, Airbnb is worth over $90 billion.
Chesky later reflected:
“When you start something new, the world tells you it’s not possible. Then one person believes in you, then two, then ten. And suddenly, it’s happening.”
Momentum compounds when early believers signal to others that an idea is worth backing.
3. The Role of Small Investors: Why the Little Bets Matter
Many assume that only massive venture capital firms and billionaires shape industries, but history shows that collective small contributions often create the biggest change. The rise of crowdfunding platforms like WeFunder, Kickstarter, and AngelList proves that micro-investments can power innovation just as effectively as big checks.
Example: Oculus Rift and the $2.4 Million Kickstarter Campaign
In 2012, a 19-year-old named Palmer Luckey had a vision for virtual reality. He launched a Kickstarter campaign for Oculus Rift, seeking $250,000 to build his first prototype. Instead, over 9,500 people collectively invested $2.4 million.
Two years later, Facebook acquired Oculus for $2 billion. The thousands of early backers weren’t venture capitalists—they were regular people who believed in the vision and gave it momentum.
Mark Zuckerberg, when announcing the acquisition, said:
“Immersive gaming was just the beginning. Oculus has the chance to create the most social platform ever.
Small investors helped turn an experimental project into a multibillion-dollar industry.
4. How One Investment Creates a Chain Reaction of Success
A snowball doesn’t stop once it starts rolling. When a small investment leads to success, that success often reinvests itself into the next generation of ideas. Founders who succeed often become investors, mentors, or backers of new projects, creating a continuous cycle of innovation.
Example: How Peter Thiel’s $500,000 Investment Led to a Network of Billionaires
In 2004, Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, became Facebook’s first investor, writing a $500,000 check to Mark Zuckerberg. That investment didn’t just make Facebook successful—it kickstarted a network of influential entrepreneurs, known as the “PayPal Mafia.”
Many of the people who worked at PayPal, including Thiel, Elon Musk, and Reid Hoffman, later used their wealth and influence to fund and build other transformative companies like Tesla, LinkedIn, SpaceX, and YouTube.
Elon Musk once said:
“The only thing that makes sense is to strive for greater collective enlightenment.”
This illustrates how investments don’t just create individual success—they create a network effect where one success fuels many more.
5. How You Can Be Part of the Snowball
Many people hesitate to invest—whether financially, in mentorship, or in new ideas—because they assume their contribution is too small to matter. But as these stories show, the smallest contributions can trigger a massive chain reaction.
Ways to Get Involved:
- Micro-Invest: Platforms like WeFunder allow anyone to invest in startups with as little as $100.
- Mentor: A single conversation or piece of advice can change the trajectory of an entrepreneur’s journey.
- Support Early-Stage Ideas: Whether through funding, advocacy, or simply spreading the word, helping startups gain traction fuels their momentum.
- Be Open to Risk: Every great investment starts with uncertainty. If you see a compelling idea, don’t wait for it to be “proven.” Be the proof.
As Richard Branson said:
“Every great business starts small.”
The question is—how will you help roll the next snowball?
Conclusion: The Future is Built One Small Push at a Time
Whether it’s a $250,000 loan from parents, a $30,000 seed check, or a $100 Kickstarter pledge, the pattern is clear: Big change starts small. The next industry-shaping innovation might be just a micro-investment away from taking off.
At The 99 Fund, we believe that empowering one person can transform everything. Because when small contributions gather momentum, they don’t just change individual lives—they change the world.
Are you ready to be part of the next avalanche? Let's get on our boots and get out there.