Rob Coneybeer built his reputation by focusing on hardware and connected devices well before it became popular, backing companies like Nest and Nutanix when many investors avoided capital-intensive physical products. He describes himself as an engineer first who enjoys building things, and he's known for colorful stories about his past experiences with rockets and Russian missiles that illustrate his approach to risk-taking and problem-solving. Rob Coneybeer built his reputation by focusing on hardware and connected devices well before it became popular, backing companies like Nest and Nutanix when many investors avoided capital-intensive physical products. He describes himself as an engineer first who enjoys building things, and he's known for colorful stories about his past experiences with rockets and Russian missiles that illustrate his approach to risk-taking and problem-solving.