Hey, I'm Eric!

Builder. Investor. Perpetual student.

Living in Lisbon, Portugal πŸ‡΅πŸ‡Ή

Pixel art Eric
Eric Preston in Lisbon

A deep dive into my career

The 2 YouTube Videos That Made $5,000,000

The story of how two YouTube videos changed the trajectory of my career and built a multi-million dollar business.

Read on Substack

The Journey

From behind the bar to building businesses around the world

Now Β· 2025+

What's Next

On sabbatical in Lisbon, currently taking a few years off. Enjoying spending time with friends and taking life at a slower pace. Spending my time investing across venture capital, public markets, and high-growth AI companies. Most of my days are spent researching companies, experimenting with AI, and building tools with Claude that are genuinely useful. Writing about what I've learned along the way. Figuring out what the next chapter looks like.

Concert with friends
Game night with friends
Night out with friends
Lisbon, 2025
Interview with Cliff Stahl, VP at Meritage Homes
Agent Launch client review video
Eric Preston YouTube channel
Agent Launch
2020–Present

Agent Launch

Initially built and sold courses on online advertising with a business partner, but after so much demand for a done-for-you product, I founded my own company helping real estate agents generate leads online. Grew it to $2.2M/yr with a 15–23 person remote team and 50%+ margins β€” all while living out of a suitcase across 8 countries. Built a 35,000+ subscriber YouTube channel with 4 worldwide #1 videos. Served 700+ clients directly. Now sit on the board β€” the team runs the day-to-day.

2017–2019

Avenue

Joined Avenue HQ, a digital marketing company of up to 80 people, and built their in-person workshop division from the ground up. Delivered 100+ workshops across multiple markets, hired and trained team members into new regions, and was responsible for 30% of the company's top-line revenue. 100% recommendation rate across 39 reviews. This is where it all started β€” and where I transferred those skills into building a YouTube channel.

Speaking at conference
The Avenue team
Speaking at venue
Avenue, 2017–2019
Pouring drinks
The bar
Making cocktails
The early days
2012–2017

Behind the Bar

Before tech, before business β€” I was behind the bar. Initially picked it up because I wanted a job that would let me travel and work, but I ended up falling in love with it, moving up quickly, and growing a lot from it. Managed everything from a country bar and gastropub to a nightclub and fine dining. Created cocktail menus, worked the late night shift, and learned more about people, hustle, and thinking on my feet.

2007–2012

Simon Fraser University & Lund

Went in thinking business, came out studying both Business and Psychology. After falling in love with psychology and human behaviour in first year, I unexpectedly ended up combining the two β€” and it turned out to be the perfect foundation for everything that followed. Lived on campus on Burnaby Mountain.

Spent a semester abroad at Lund University in southern Sweden β€” one of Europe's oldest and most prestigious universities. Living in Scandinavia opened my eyes to a completely different way of thinking, working, and living. It's where I learned to love living abroad β€” and part of why I came back to Europe.

Simon Fraser University logo
Lund University logo
SFU & Lund, 2007–2012
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