Founder & VC “Lost In Translation”, Common Misunderstandings (Rejections, Interrogations & NDAs) and Positive Sum Negotiations & Reference Checks - E262

In this engaging conversation between two seasoned venture capitalists, Jeremy Au and Shiyan Koh, they discuss the challenges that can arise due to "lost in translation" moments in the world of start-up investment. From cultural differences to communication breakdowns, the duo explore the importance of building a trusted and respectful relationship between founders and investors, as well as the need for transparency and honesty throughout the process. Ultimately, they conclude that it's crucial to work with people of high integrity who are committed to creating a positive-sum world, where entrepreneurs can succeed and create value that didn't exist before.

"The deck is a demonstration of your thinking, and its goal is to get the meeting. The goal of the meeting is to get another meeting. There's a process, but it's a progressive learning and trust-building exercise, so a conversation is really important. Recently, I was at an interesting pitch where the founder sent over an FAQ page on top of the deck. When we started the meeting, I was already advanced in the conversation, which is a great way to build trust and move the ball forward effectively."- Shiyan Koh

"A lot of founders are very focused on the pitch deck, but it's really about the relationship and evaluation of the founder as a business leader of the new technology. Having a deck that indicates expansion plans is not really a problem per se, but it's about why it exhibits a certain judgment. It’s about the realism of the traction and how hard it is when the rubber hits the road. Any startup that's being decided today is a giant experiment being done in the process." - Jeremy Au

Read the transcript here at: https://www.bravesea.com/blog/lost-in-translation

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