Welcome to my ridiculous experiment to start with $1000 and try to build a mini Berkshire Hathaway. This might take a thousand years, but ten years from now, I want to look back and say I tried!
What exactly am I trying to achieve?
I am thinking long term. In the year is 2035, can I look back and see whether it was worthwhile? That is the part that fascinates me. As someone who procrastinates, taking this step has taking a lot of convincing in my head. I have decided to name this experiment: Dalmilling. I like the name as it is the name of the street I bought my first property.
By now you probably have figured out I am a Warren Buffet mega fan. That is true and it might annoy you as you read my posts. While this project is in fact a privately held entity, I intent to treat Dalmilling as if it were a publicly traded company.
That means I will be publishing financials, annually letters, reports. Now get ready for some ad nauseam cliche:
Dalmilling isn’t about chasing trends or trying to impress (I simply can’t afford it, when you start with $1k). It’s about thinking long term , just like Warren Buffett did when he took over a struggling textile company and slowly transformed it into Berkshire Hathaway. (Yes, I will cringe about that one day)
My aim is simple:
- Invest in businesses I understand
- Hold for the long term
- Let compounding work quietly in the background
Perhaps I don’t need millions to begin. I hope I remain steadfast and consistent.
$1,000 Is My First Test
Starting with $1,000 allows me to focus. I’ll begin by studying small, businesses listed on the ASX, immerse myself in the reports and aim to understand all I can about the business.
The brokerage platform I have chosen is CMC Markets due to the zero brokerage fees for transactions under $1000.
This capital will be put allocated to a handful of micro-cap stocks that align with the principles I believe in:
- Understandable business model
- Durable earnings
- Conservative financials
- Capable, owner-minded management
I will steer clear of ETF’s (this is an experiment after all, let’s have some fun)
Valuation of the company to allocate shares
To keep things structured, Dalmilling is made up of 10,000 shares currently owned by me. At $0.10 per share, the company’s post-money valuation is $1,000.
To be completely honest, I initially wanted to raise $5000, however no one decided to accept the offer. I do not blame them, I am not an investor, nor do I have the training required.
Patience is a virtue?
I’m not in a rush (It is soothing to think that way). Dalmilling isn’t a startup. It’s not a fund. It’s not a product I’m trying to sell.
Another incoming cliche:
It’s a vehicle for disciplined ownership in listed businesses at first, and later in real-world companies that are profitable, simple, and built to last.
This is about slow, honest compounding. Not noise.
So What’s Next?
I’ll begin by investing this initial capital into a few carefully selected ASX-listed businesses that meet Buffett-style criteria. I’ll track every decision. I’ll write letters each year, just like Buffett did, to hold myself accountable and improve my thinking.
I want to start something that my now four year old son will hopefully one day inherit. I am interested to know what you think, leave a comment.
As my mate Buffett would say:
“It is not necessary to do extraordinary things to get extraordinary results.”
And so, Dalmilling begins.
Founder, Dalmilling
16 June 2025
Built with discipline. Compounding with purpose.
Dalmilling Capital 
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