In this discussion, Shiyan Koh), Managing Partner of Hustle Fund), and Jeremy Au) talked about three main themes:
Founders Reviewing VCs: Shiyan reflected on founders conducting due diligence on their funding sources. They discuss the value (and further improvements) of public reference lists like TechinAsia’s Glasswall which indexes the fundraising process, and how founders should seek private feedback from (post-fundraise) portfolio companies.
Startup Fraud Triangle: Jeremy and Shiyan examined the darker side of the regional startup culture, including fraudulent accounting trends and their impact on the local funding ecosystem. They agree that while most founders don't set out to defraud, poor decisions under pressure can take the opportunity to conduct unethical actions.
Difficult Wind-Down Decisions: The vast majority of startups fail to meet expectations after substantial fundraising. Shiyan shared the rarity but reputational importance of attempting to return capital to investors when a pivot isn't feasible. She advises founders to treat investors with respect during wind-downs, as the startup industry is a "repeated game" where one's actions can influence future opportunities.
They also talked about the emotional toll of admitting failure, potential for biased VC reviews, and the societal role of media in reporting startup successes and failures.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/founders-reviewing-vcs)
Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com)
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