Starting a venture capital firm in 2009, we aimed to create a platform that provides entrepreneurs with the confidence and support of a seasoned CEO, enabling them to connect with influential figures.

We believe that having a supportive community of peers and mentors is crucial for navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship.

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

Investors prefer to back entrepreneurs who are determined to succeed with or without their funding, as it reduces their risk.

A CEO's focus should shift from building the product to ensuring the team is aligned and effective as the company grows, while also addressing the three main reasons early-stage startups fail: finding product-market fit, ensuring sufficient funding, and avoiding conflicts with co-founders.

The process of building startups has evolved to include bringing on a CEO early in the project, which improves efficiency and knowledge transfer.

We aim to create a new version of Startup School that better fits the diverse backgrounds of participants, focusing on helping them evaluate ideas like an investor would.

Hiring a CEO involves finding someone with not only the right skills and network but also the character and commitment to the company's mission, making them a later-stage co-founder.

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