While early photos of Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page kiteboarding certainly inspired other entrepreneurs in Silicon valley to take up the extreme sport, there is a more fundamental reason why so many of them have adopted it, venture capitalist Bill Tai said Wednesday.
"I think a lot of people that are interested in start-ups have the personality that lends itself to extreme sports," Tai said in a CNBC "Squawk Alley" interview. "They are just aggressive go-getters that like to try everything."
Tai is also the co-founder of MaiTai Global, a firm that organizes events for entrepreneurs around the world. The gatherings, however, can only be attended via invitation.
Read More MaiTai: The 'golf course' of Silicon Valley
"It's sort of a self-selecting group. A lot of entrepreneurs who are out there hustling and trying to get their business off the ground are out there talking to other entrepreneurs," he added.