In Loving Memory Of Om Malik, Friend, Writer, Venture Capitalist, And Ever The Believer

I made a decision long ago to never use Hodinkee as a personal platform – rather, to keep it to professional writing about things that impact people who come here solely for watches. Today, I may be breaking my own rule, but sometimes, some things are worth it – or in this case, some people. Om Malik died yesterday at Stanford Hospital after a prolonged fight with issues related to his heart. 

For those who don’t know Om, he was born in India, educated in the UK, and was one of the first people to take legacy media brands online (he was a founding member of the Forbes.com team in 1997!) After that, he launched an early and important digital business publication called GigaOm, as well as contributing to the likes of Business 2.0, the WSJ, and more. He is credited with being among the first people to cite companies that would shape the world, such as Twitter, and being part of their fabric at times. One such example is Hodinkee. 

Om reached out to me via Twitter in January of 2012. I went back tonight and checked. In those early emails, we talked mostly about watches – he attended an event I hosted for the Harry Winston Opus 12. And another for the Cartier ID2. He came to Nomos launch parties (before they were in the USA), and the same for Tudor. He was early and awesome with Hodinkee, and watches for that matter, but that’s not why I’m writing this post tonight.

Om changed my life. He did it in many ways, often slowly and with subtlety, always with kindness and eminent belief in me. It was serendipitous, perhaps, that after his time with GigaOm, he would join True Ventures as a partner, who, thanks to his friendship with Kevin Rose and Tony Conrad, had become Hodinkee’s earliest and most ardent supporters. But even as Hodinkee went out to conquer the watch world (or whatever we used to say ten years ago to get people excited about what we were doing), our conversations seldom were about watches. 

They were about life, friendships, and finding meaning in those around you. A prime example of this was actually a conversation we recorded back in just the fourth episode ever of Hodinkee Radio. Stephen and I were talking about collecting watches, he was talking about “collecting people”, or rather, relationships that mean something to you in a truly authentic way.  It was around that time that Cara and I were just getting together, and I remember calling her after the chat with Om, and saying to her that I was sure she was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. 

As the years went on, and my relationship grew more professional with his firm, True Ventures, he always acted as a sounding board and voice of reason, and though his bills were paid by True, I never had a doubt in my mind that he was on my side and simply wanted the best for me. Frankly, I could say the same about everyone at True Ventures (and I have in an upcoming Harvard Business School Case Study to publish in the coming months), and Om approached me and Hodinkee with even greater love and care. 

As for the watches? Man, the dude had good taste. He bought one of the first Eichi II’s in the world when it came out. He was into Moser in 2016, Ressence even earlier. He loved to support actual independents, from Laurent Ferrier to Autodromo. He loved to meet the people behind the brands, and made as many introductions for me as I did for him. Through it all, Om Malik was just a kind, warm, funny (af), true, and honest friend who helped me get to the good times and ride out the bad. He’d been through a lot and wasn’t afraid to tell you all about it. He was a rare breed indeed in many ways, but having the confidence to show kindness and vulnerability in the world of venture capital is something that should be studied. 

Looking back at the emails, texts, and various exchanges Om and I had over the years, it’s remarkable to see how few of them were actually about watches past about 2018 or so. As some of you may remember, I distanced myself pretty seriously from the front pages of this very website and even deactivated my own social media accounts for a full three years to allow myself the breathing room to focus on more important things than work, watches, and Hodinkee – me, and my actual life and well-being. He was one of the few from the space that I brought into that part of my life, and now, almost a decade later, it just makes me smile to know that he was always in my corner and not afraid to tell me that. 

And when I found out, just an hour ago, that Om had passed away, my heart sank. We’d not seen each other in a few years – just the product of living across the country from one another and my life’s focus shifting to two tiny Clymers living in upstate New York, but we’d been chatting about a month ago while he was in the hospital. Admittedly, I didn’t realize just how bad things were, and I wish I had taken the time to go visit him at Stanford. The very last thing he said to me was that he was feeling joy watching my old (and new) videos. Which is such an incredible compliment. And then asked about the things that really mattered. Because it was watches that connected us, but it was real life that kept us together. I will miss Om Malik dearly, and I am so grateful that this world had the opportunity to experience him for the brief period it did – there aren’t many like Om Malik out there.

For those who want to hear Om Malik on his early mechanical fasciations in 2018, click here. For a 2020 check-in, click here. And then for his talk with the folks on the Apple design team, click here. You’ll learn something every time you listen to Om. And it’s just a shame there won’t be any more new chances for me, and the world, to do so. Rest in peace, Om Malik. You are truly loved by so many here at Hodinkee and beyond.