30 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM share very similar career paths. The Drapers are a family dynasty in the world of high tech. Adam, founder of Boost VC, is a fourthgeneration venture capitalist who has followed in the family footsteps that started with great-grandfather William Henry Draper; his grandfather, who goes by Bill or Pops; and his father, Tim. You might think that Adam was born with investment know-how flowing through his veins but in reality, he once considered other options. “I’ve wanted to be so many things: comic book collector, tennis player, professional ninja,” jokes Adam. “It turns out venture capital is a good balance of having too many ideas.” So how did the twice-a-month It’s a chilly, rainy Friday but the vibe inside Buck’s Restaurant in Woodside is as warm and funky as always. Despite the diminutive Statue of Liberty in sunglasses hanging out by the host stand and flying nuns dangling from the ceiling in the Peninsula’s most eccentrically decorated diner—or maybe because of them—Buck’s has long been the go-to meeting place for hungry families and Silicon Valley movers-and-shakers alike. Two of its regulars, Adam and William Draper, match both of those descriptions. Every other week, you’ll find Adam and his grandfather sitting in a booth, talking about business and life over a hearty breakfast. There’s an easy rapport as they slip into conversation the moment they arrive, the close bond evident between two men from different generations who COPYRIGHT © 2024 get-togethers with his grandfather come about? Adam’s wife Andrea played a key role, suggesting that he consider doing it after the death of his grandmother Phyllis Draper in 2018. “When someone you love passes away, most people are incredibly sorry for the first few months, but then life goes on. My wife and I came up with something that could be enduring and consistent.” Over the course of the past seven years, the breakfasts have become an integral part of Adam’s life. “It has been the most rewarding experience of my last decade,” he shares. “During these breakfasts, he has gone from being my grandfather to being one of my best friends.” It is easy to see the warm camaraderie the two share as they laugh over their appetizer plates of bacon. The family resemblance is noticeable but the two men {punchline}
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