Having been a founder myself helps me as an investor because I understand the challenges and can identify kindred spirits among entrepreneurs.

I focused on understanding the character and relationships of founders rather than just their technical abilities, which was crucial for our investment decisions.

The essence of venture capital lies not just in picking winners but in building relationships and supporting entrepreneurs throughout their journey.

I learned equally, if not more, from working in a fast-growing startup than I would have in college, especially in understanding how a venture builder or VC thinks.

I help startups with hard projects, often related to funding or M&A transactions, leveraging my network to bootstrap their growth. Founders often make the mistake of not focusing enough on finding investors who can add significant value to their company, prioritizing valuation and dilution instead.

I look for founders who can share their background and story, as it often reveals their grit and determination.

The founders are critical to a startup's success; I evaluate them based on their communication skills and depth of understanding.

The future of venture capital may involve AI, but the human element of relationship-building and psychological understanding remains crucial.

Having deep domain expertise is crucial for founders, as it often leads to fewer pivots and a better understanding of the problems they are solving.