Private EquityRIA · CRD 322950SEC-RegisteredPrivate Fund Adviser

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First Principles Group

Ben Holland's First Principles Group uses a 250,000-follower investment community built by co-founder Rob Maurer to source direct private-tech bets in…

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First Principles Group

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General information

Firm type

Private Equity

Year founded

AUM

Undisclosed

Location

Region

North America

Country

United States

City

Chicago

Corporate office

Chicago, IL, United States

Principals

Ben Holland

Founder & Managing Partner

Rob Maurer

Managing Partner

Sector focus

SpaceTechMobility & TransportationEnergy Transition & Renewables

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at First Principles Group?

Ben Holland, Founder and Managing Partner, leads investment decisions. He spent over 15 years at Oppenheimer & Co., finishing as Executive Director of Investments. His co-founder, Rob Maurer, serves as Managing Partner and brings a dedicated research capability through his widely followed Tesla Daily podcast.

How does First Principles Group source proprietary deal flow?

FPG's sourcing is unusual — co-founder Rob Maurer operates Tesla Daily, a podcast that has generated millions of views and a follower base of over 250,000. This audience and the trust it represents function as a thematic radar and a co-investor aggregation channel, surfacing opportunities in electric mobility, space, and energy transition before they appear on traditional platforms.

Is First Principles Group structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?

It operates as a hybrid asset manager, not a single family office. While it lacks a disclosed blind-pool fund and emphasizes "tailored" investments, its strategy — direct venture allocations into frontier tech — resembles that of a thematic venture firm. Its distinct structure blends wealth management with a media-driven research engine.

Does First Principles Group participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

FPG's public materials emphasize direct, tailored investments and a first-principles philosophy, strongly suggesting a direct-deal or special-purpose-vehicle model. The firm does not disclose any allocations to third-party venture funds as a limited partner.

What investment stages does First Principles Group typically target?

The firm targets venture-stage companies, given its focus on "visionary technologies" in capital-intensive sectors like space exploration and next-gen energy. The specific round stages are not publicly defined, but its public-facing, thesis-driven community is structured to back early-to-growth stage companies aligned with its core themes.

How is First Principles Group related to Tesla Daily?

Tesla Daily is the podcast and media brand founded and run by Rob Maurer, FPG's Managing Partner. It operates as a separate, adjacent property that continuously analyzes the EV and tech landscape. FPG uses the podcast's audience and research as a direct pipeline for investment thesis validation and investor access.

Which sectors does First Principles Group target?

The firm targets space exploration, electrified mobility, and energy transition. These are reflected in the partners' stated passions — Ben Holland's focus on space opportunities and Rob Maurer's deep coverage of Tesla and the EV sector — and the firm's mission to back "visionary technologies shaping a bold future."

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