I’m deeply saddened by Om Malik’s passing. 

Om was a close friend for nearly a decade. He was also an investor in System from day one and a board member for many years, until his health started to decline.

He was incredibly special to me. Over countless long walks and coffees and dinners, I got to know an incredibly kind, thoughtful, curious, and wise man who cherished his friends and cared deeply about the world. Om was one of a kind. A humanist among technologists. A poet, artist, thinker, and gentleman. A man with no ego, unlimited time for those he cared about, and an inner light that radiated warmth and goodness through his big, childlike smile. You could feel it when Om was around.

A few years ago, Om asked me if I’d share a new picture of my newborn son with everyone at the end of a board meeting. It was an unexpected, playful injection of humanity into work. It changed the vibe — and has remained a tradition, even after Om left our board. That's Om.

As an investor and board member, Om cared more about my nervous system than our balance sheet. He believed in founders. He championed founders. He listened. He understood so deeply what it means to be one, the sacrifices and emotional weight. And he centered his counsel first and foremost on keeping me connected — or at times reconnecting me — to what motivated me to start a company in the first place. His empathy and capacity to hear and inspire ran deep.

Om lived intentionally. He surrounded himself with people, ideas, and objects that all carried meaning. He appreciated and loved discovering beautiful craftsmanship. He loved his rare fountain pens. His notebooks. (And would take notes in meetings using both.) Seeking the next best coffee. Discovering a perfectly cut garment in a beautiful fabric. He approached technology with the same lens: meaning and beauty. It’s no wonder his photography and his cameras were so important to him.

Om believed in System's purpose and mission to his core and always inspired me to stay true to it, especially in the hardest moments. He left a profound mark on me and on System. I will miss him dearly.

My condolences to his family, his many close friends, and everyone at True.