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Patrick James McGinnis

b. 1976

American venture capitalist and author

Writer Venture capital
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About Patrick James McGinnis

Born 1976. Patrick James McGinnis is a writer and venture capital, known for Fear of missing out.

Patrick James McGinnis is an American venture capitalist and author. He is best known for coining the term "fear of missing out" (FOMO), which he first used in an op-ed for The Harbus in 2004 while studying at the Harvard Business School. In 2016, he published a book entitled The 10% Entrepreneur: Live Your Startup Dream Without Quitting Your Day Job.

Prior to enrolling at Harvard, McGinnis studied at Georgetown University. In 2010, he founded an independent advisory firm known as Dirigo Advisors, which works with investors and businesses operating primarily in Latin America. He previously worked as the Vice President of PineBridge Investments (formerly AIG Capital Partners). In 2014, he co-authored a policy research working paper from the World Bank entitled Private Equity and Venture Capital in SMEs in Developing Countries : The Role for Technical Assistance.

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Important facts

Birth century
Known for
Fear of missing out
Education
Harvard Business School, Georgetown University

People in Patrick James McGinnis's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Patrick James McGinnis's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Patrick James McGinnis?

American venture capitalist and author

When was Patrick James McGinnis born?

Patrick James McGinnis was born on 3 January 1976.

What is Patrick James McGinnis's occupation?

Patrick James McGinnis is a writer and venture capital.

What is Patrick James McGinnis known for?

Patrick James McGinnis is known for Fear of missing out.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Patrick James McGinnis

· Wikidata: Q50082695

· DBpedia: Patrick James McGinnis

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Patrick James McGinnis. https://biography.guide/patrick-james-mcginnis/

MLA: "Patrick James McGinnis." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/patrick-james-mcginnis/.

Chicago: "Patrick James McGinnis." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/patrick-james-mcginnis/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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