Justin Caldbeck: Why This Binary Capital Co-Founder Recommends Duke University

It can be difficult to pick a college or university; according to The Washington Post, there are over 5,300 colleges/universities in the United States, which means there are many more if we count those located overseas.

With so many colleges, and a majority of them offering similar courses and degrees, it can be challenging to figure out what school is the right one for you. When it comes to selecting the school where you will pursue your college education, it is important to get granular and nit-pick through the resources the school provides, as well as what the school is known to specialize in.

We had the chance to sit down with Justin Caldbeck, longtime venture capitalist and former co-founder of Binary Capital and Duke Alumni, to learn why Justin Caldbeck chose Duke when it came to his undergraduate education.

Why Should I Go to Duke: According to Justin Caldbeck

When it comes to picking a school, ultimately, the decision will come down to individual preference, what a person is looking for in the school, what they would like their career track to be, and location.

When we asked Justin Caldbeck why he chose Duke, this is what Justin Caldbeck said:

“I had originally had my eyes set on Duke from the time I was in 6th grade. I was a big fan of the basketball team, their star player at the time, Johnny Dawkins and Coach Mike Krzyzewski. I watched them religiously through high school and dreamed of playing for the team.

When I was a junior in high school, it became real for me; during a visit to a number of schools along the east coast. I stepped on campus and immediately felt the draw to be a part of that community and that campus. I knew that it was a longshot to be able to walk on the basketball team, but I also felt that I would always ask myself, “What if..” if I had not gone there. So I went. And it was a decision that served as a springboard for the rest of my life.

Going to Duke University was one of the best decisions of my life. It gave me the perfect combination of a school with strong academics and highly motivated people as well as an elite athletic program. For me, the experience was better than I could have ever imagined. I was fortunate enough to play alongside some of the best basketball players in the country every day, be a part of a team that went 37-2 my senior year and meet a wide range of people that are some of my best friends to this day.

It challenged me intellectually and opened my eyes to a wide range of economic classes and a whole set of career possibilities that I never knew existed while growing up in Vermont. While entrepreneurship wasn’t yet a big part of the school’s DNA, I was given the opportunity to work for Morgan Stanley and McKinsey because of my time there, and they served as a great springboard to my career. As an aside, I think the school has really become a springboard for entrepreneurs with founders of Coinbase, Plaid, Box, and Airtable coming from Duke in the last few years.”

Consider Duke!

Duke is an all-around great school; whether you focus heavily on academics or are interested in one of the best sports programs in the country, Duke has you covered. Over the past few years, the founders of some of the most innovative, forward-thinking platforms and services of the decade have graduated from Duke, which says something about the talent it attracts and the opportunities that could be available to Duke Alumni. Very few, if any, leave Duke with negative stories to tell, and the resources the school has, it’s alumni network, and the opportunities it can connect you with are unmatched.

Ultimately, the school you choose is going to come down to your personal preference, but you are going to want to consider going to Duke when making your decision, according to Justin Caldbeck!