Benjamin Sack is an investor and a poker player, two passions that often work together in harmony.

“Annie Duke’s Thinking in Bets has been instrumental to how I navigate uncertainty,” said Ben. “Investing and poker are both about making decisions with limited information. In venture capital, you use a blend of knowledge and experience to get a read on companies and their potential for scale. You make an investment based on the information you have, but elements of the unknown inevitably come into play. Perhaps that’s what makes it such rewarding work.”

Ben recently joined the 53 Stations team as an Investor after completing a fellowship with the firm during his second year of business school. A recent MBA graduate from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, he started his venture capital career through a less traditional lens: from the LP’s point of view. While attending Tufts University for his undergraduate degree, Ben interned at the school’s endowment. While sitting in on frequent pitch meetings from firms, Ben became fascinated by the world of venture – and its role as an innovation engine for the American economy.

Thus began Ben’s venture career, with stints at Silicon Valley Bank, Sands Capital, and BBQ Capital, where he provided both equity and debt financing to early-stage companies. He honed his operator chops as an early employee at a biotech, where he experienced first hand what it is like to raise venture funding as an early stage company. Ben now focuses on the firm’s investments in early-stage construction tech and restaurant tech companies. 

“Adding value is thrown around so often by VCs as they try to win deals,” Ben said. “But it’s truly part of the fabric of everything here. It’s why 53 Stations was started.”

Ben is currently working on an initiative to support contech founders in their go-to-market, leveraging unique portfolio company data from The Pritzker Organization (TPO) and personally speaking to dozens of buyers across the construction industry to understand their swiftly changing need states. 

Ben is particularly excited about opportunities in construction tech in 2024 and beyond. “Looking outside my window in Chicago right now, the explosive growth in construction is evident everywhere,” he said. “It’s 5% of GDP, yet adoption of technology lags behind other industries.”

He notes a younger generation is coming into the industry and looking to make their work more efficient, integrated and streamlined. “There are a lot of brilliant founders out there already – some that I’ve met in just the past two weeks alone – looking to solve the burdens that fall on both general contractors and subcontractors.” 

Ben notes that his favorite part of investing is walking alongside founders on what can often be a lonely journey, something he equates to his days as a collegiate track runner. It’s his experience running relays that best illustrates his  – and 53 Stations’  – commitment to founders. “You always support your team and commit to the race plan, no matter the challenges,” he said. “We’re all in with our founders, working together toward success. Ultimately, we want to run across the finish line together.”

53 Stations welcomes Ben to the team!