Trust in the founders is essential; if you feel uncertain about their honesty, it's a red flag that may disqualify them from consideration.

When investing in a founder, I look for three key traits: intelligence, energy, and integrity. Intelligence means having a deep understanding of their field, energy is crucial for perseverance, and integrity ensures they act ethically even when faced with challenges.

Integrity in business is crucial; I chose not to lead the investment in Facebook to maintain my integrity, even though it was a great opportunity.

Commitment as a founder means prioritizing your team's and company's interests over your own comfort, which can involve making tough decisions and sacrifices.

It's important to find people who share your values, as misaligned values can lead to significant issues in a startup.

Be a good person to have on a founder's cap table; your reputation can significantly impact your deal flow.

Great founders can articulate their vision clearly and move quickly; if I struggle to understand their plan, it's a red flag.

In our culture, we emphasize the importance of telling the truth to entrepreneurs, even if it means they might not like you for it. It's crucial to provide honest feedback, such as when a founder needs to make tough decisions about their team or financial plans, rather than just being friendly.

Smart founders recognize that investors have their own goals and incentives, and they should consider these when evaluating investment pitches instead of accepting them blindly.