Jed N.

For Southeast Asia’s tech ecosystem to be self-sustaining, we need some big changes. There are a few key elements I believe can unlock tremendous opportunity in the region. To name a few: ✅ Deep, varied capital stack - Sufficient capital at various stages from angels to growth capital. ✅ Diverse investors - Knowledgeable investors focusing on various industries and models. ✅ Exits infrastructure - Mechanisms for exits from IPOs to M&A. ✅ Strong founders - Awareness of the nuances of SEA and conviction to depart from “tried and tested” models adapted from matured markets like the US With these in place, it will accelerate interest and success for investors and founders alike. That said, I believe our core approach needs to change. Over the last decade, SEAsia has greatly matured. And with any nascent upstart, it’s applied what’s worked elsewhere... Focusing heavily on growth-at-all-cost and other US-inspired strategies. To the surprise of most, the results have not been the most encouraging as a result of this. On hindsight, the pitfalls were clear: - Unrealistic early-stage valuations. - Chasing very large outcomes in a fragmented market. - Applying US playbooks that don't fit our market. Startups will follow suit to match criteria that VCs set. It’s how the game works. With the current market downturn, it’s a good opportunity to reset and intentionally chart our own course for the region. Investors and founders that know how to meander this market with it’s unique strengths / market dynamics in mind, will succeed. As investors and long-time believers in this region ourselves at Tin Men Capital , We believe in working together to develop the ecosystem. Southeast Asia is still learning to walk before it begins to run. Venture capital is a team sport, and together, we can build a stronger, self-sustaining space for startups to thrive. Let's pull in the same direction and make it happen. 💪

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Want to take your angel investing game to the next level? Here’s how to start your own syndicate: 1. Gather your network that may be interested in angel investing 2. Create and set up your legal entity and SPV infrastructure via a platform like AngelList 3. Prepare for your first deal - discussions with the founder, collection of deal materials, confirmation of your allocation 4.. Write your deal memo, circulate the deal, collect commitments 5. Close the deal, wire the funds, and celebrate your first syndicate deal Importantly, after wiring the funds, ask the founder if you can pass along future investor updates to LPs so they can stay up to date with how the company progresses over time.

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Focal powered by HSBC Innovation Banking, is back! Applications for Focal’s S24 demo day are open to startups raising in the next 6 months. It takes 7 minutes to apply at gofocal.vc, and even those who don’t make it to demo day can get introductions to over 250 leading VC fund partners, including VentureFriends. Last demo day alone, applicants received over 1600 introductions from investors; it's one of the highest leverage activities you can do for your fundraise. #focal #startup #fundraising #vc #demoday

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It's interesting that Tech in Asia released an article today on VC secondaries (which was republished with permission from The Realistic Optimist) talking about the emergence of VC secondaries as a crucial yet underused mechanism for the Tech ecosystem. Given my fond memories of my Private Equity days, let's talk a bit about Secondaries. 🔍 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? In simple terms, it's when shareholders of a company sell their stock to another investor, or a fund investor sells their LP ownership stake to another fund investor. 🔄 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 1. LP Secondaries: Most common type of Secondaries, where an existing LP's ownership in a PE/VC fund is bought by another LP. 2. GP Secondaries: A fund sponsor sells one or more assets from a fund it manages to a new fund, often managed by the same sponsor and capitalized by secondary buyers. 💡 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬? 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥? If they could sell, they would (𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴). In this current market where liquidity is scarce, exiting at a marked-up MOIC/IRR (𝘪.𝘦. 2021-22 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯) is challenging. In a LP Secondary scenario, a LP may decide to reduce their exposure to a certain geography due to a variety of reasons (𝘦.𝘨. 𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭, 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨). In a GP Secondary scenario, more often than not, the fund projects that the portfolio companies require a bit more time (𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦) to realize the potential returns. 💰 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐲 𝐚 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲? Similar to other asset classes investment rationale, a Secondary investor may be able to acquire a good asset (𝘪.𝘦. 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘴) at a deeply discounted price, resulting in a respectable return in a much shorter timespan (𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 1.5-2𝘹 𝘔𝘖𝘐𝘊 𝘢𝘯𝘥 16-25% 𝘐𝘙𝘙 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 2-3 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴), relative to a typical 10-year fund life. In our inherently inefficient market, Secondaries can provide a crucial capital bridge to support the tech ecosystem and capital markets. Unfortunately, these transactions are still rare in Southeast Asia. #VentureCapital #PrivateEquity #Secondaries #Startups #TechEcosystem #SouthEastAsia

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What do you do when you find founders who have deep experience in a traditional domain like construction tech and have spent years honing their insights in the domain. Combine that with Co-founders experience being founding engineers of giants like Rippling and spent time on building banking and fintech infrastructure at companies like Niyo. We at Neon love working with such domain experts who come together to startup. Construction tech is a domain that deserves founders like Merlin to disrupt it. As I say it can’t get better that this founding team. Read more about Neon’s portfolio Merlin and our founders Sneha, Siddhartha and Ayantika here: https://lnkd.in/g4m9su-e

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Our Founder and Managing Partner, @Ivan Nikkhoo, recently published an article in @Startups Magazine on ‘How Startups Can Bridge the Funding Gap.’ Ivan shares strategies for founders to navigate the funding gap, highlighting the importance of extension rounds to extend runway, support growth and maximise value. He also outlines how our portfolio company @ Quincus, a global enterprise SaaS platform for the logistics industry, leveraged an extension round to support its technological advancements, accelerate market growth and extend its runway between funding rounds. 📖 Read the full article: https://bit.ly/3WduG4l #NavigateVentures #Startupsmagazine #startups #Entrepreneurship #VC #venturecapital

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Good Data points for Startup founders and Investors. ================================================= While traditional sectors saw continued deal momentum in 2023, software-as-a-service (SaaS), new-age technology, and IT/ITeS (IT-enabled services) declined about 60% in 2023. According to the report, well-funded SaaS companies and IT/ITeS companies stayed out of the market for fear of having their elevated valuations chopped down to a more reasonable figure.  New-age tech funding, meanwhile, declined due to caution amongst investors as they increased focus on business model viability and proven economics versus growth.  “If you look at the last decade or so, returns given by Indian startups are a mixed bag. While there are a few clear winners, investors cannot confidently claim multiple-X returns in startups in India. In fact, in certain companies, investors have even lost wealth. So even in a 10-year cycle, returns haven’t looked too promising,” said a growth-equity investor, seeking anonymity.  “All this has prompted funds to diversify to sectors that will give them returns, no matter what. With this diversification, funds can have a more balanced portfolio and even be a little more aggressive with startup or new-age bets since they have certain stable investments that will yield returns. I think we will see this trend for some time,” the investor added.  

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Setting up right and strong foundations when creating a company, is a must; more important than ever before. A company needs to have a PURPOSE and VISION. These have to be set as clear as possible by the founder(s) since its inception. Then VALUES. These will trickle down and used as the guidelines for everyone in the company to think and act. These are the backbones that will set the culture of the company. Founder/CEO cant just rely on those written and framed on the office wall. Purpose, Vision, and Values should not be something the team have to memorize. Rather, something they need to do. So, as the Founder/CEO, what you need to do is to LEAD BY EXAMPLE by always WALK THE TALK. As a VC, i would love to back this kind of company and founder. Maven Asia Capital (www.maven.asia) #mavenasiacapital

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 Showcasing the sustainability and economic efficiency of #renewableenergy projects can persuade #investors of their viability and potential for #highreturns.

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To the founders that I didn't invest in: For most of you, it was the right call. You were too early. You were missing something. You were too good and/or past the stage where it makes sense to join our program. For some of you I missed a great opportunity. If that's the case, I'm sure you did just fine. The good ones always find a way. I'm sorry I missed riding alongside you. For those of you that I didn't invest in and it was the right decision, I hope you'll apply again on your next go around. Some of our best investments applied 2 or 3 times before they got it. Often I have to invest at a higher valuation because you deserve it and I wish I'd seen your potential earlier. Early stage startup investing is at least as much art (and luck) as science. Keep on building, keep on learning. Hope to see your application for cohort 10: https://lnkd.in/gv6n_k8E

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DePIN & RWAs dominance isn't as far off as most people think. Across every innovative cycle, three fundamental pillars emerge: foundational technology development, proliferation of infrastructure, and a surge in application development. As we venture into the third cycle, DePIN and RWA protocols are poised to become market leaders paralleling the dominance witnessed by infrastructure projects from 2015 to 2024.

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David Yi (Ethos VC) a.k.a "The VC who hates most VCs" on his Personal Journey and Perspective on Growth:  "As an eight-time founder with two exits, I've seen the landscape from multiple angles. It's not about being a hero but about building a team, learning, and evolving. Whether it's in education or tech, the journey is about adapting and finding your path, not just in Korea but globally." https://lnkd.in/gVduV3MQ #startupswithseoul Chang (CK) Kim

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Had a Insightful discussion with Andrew Yeung Points we had a chat on : - His inspiration for building a community of innovators - The current Deeptech startup landscape & AI Wrappers from Founder's Perspective as well as a Venture Model - VC exit Challenges in terms of liquidity constraints -Red flags during startup pitches -Navigating FOMO in the rapidly evolving tech sector. thank for your time and Insights Andrew , Enjoyed Our Conversation! #startups #venturecapital #deeptech #andrewmixers #ecosystem #AI

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While some VCs may scoff at this strategy, it's actually an interesting one for emerging Southeast Asia where most of VC investing has been likened to "small- to mid-cap PE investing" (s/o to Dmitry Levit). Big opportunity for VCs that bring operator and PE chops. https://lnkd.in/g7N9tYfT

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UNLOCKING THE SECREATS OF THE GLOBAL VC ECOSYSTEM : A SUMMIT FOR LIMITED PARTNERS AND VENTURE CAPITALISTS TO THE GLOBAL VC's ECOSYSTEM SUMMIT -------------- 💰💵 Check 1st post in features section in my profile 💵💰 -------------- #VCEcosystemSummit #VentureCapital #LimitedPartners #Investment #PortfolioManagement #GrowthStrategy #IndustryLeaders #Networking #Collaboration #Innovation #Startup #Entrepreneurship #Funding #Investor #LP #GP #VC #PrivateEquity #HedgeFund #AssetManagement #WealthManagement #FinancialServices #InvestmentBanking #CapitalMarkets #BusinessGrowth #Scaling #Expansion #Disruption #Volatility #RiskManagement #Resilience #Sustainability #ESG #ImpactInvesting #Diversity #Inclusion #Equity #Equality #WomenInVC #WomenInFinance #MenInVC #MenInFinance #VentureCapitalist #InvestmentBanker #FinancialAnalyst #PortfolioManager #InvestmentManager #AssetManager #WealthManager #FinancialPlanner #InvestmentAdvisor #VCFirm #StartupAccelerator #Incubator #CoworkingSpace #EntrepreneurialEcosystem #InnovationHub #BusinessNetworking #ProfessionalDevelopment #Leadership #Mentorship #CareerGrowth #IndustryTrends #MarketInsights #FinancialRegulations #InvestmentStrategy #RiskAssessment #DueDiligence #DealMaking #MandA #IPO #PrivatePlacement #HedgeFundManager #AssetAllocator #FamilyOffice #SovereignWealthFund #PensionFund #EndowmentFund #VentureCapitalInvesting #StartupFunding #GrowthCapital #ExpansionCapital #Buyout #Recapitalization #Restructuring #Turnaround #DistressedInvesting #SpecialSituations #EventDriven #CreditInvesting #DebtFinancing #EquityInvesting #MezzanineFinancing #GrowthEquity #VentureDebt #SeedFunding #SeriesA #SeriesB #SeriesC #IPOPrep #PreIPO #PostIPO #PrivateCompany #PublicCompany #MicroVC #NanoVC #SeedStage #EarlyStage #GrowthStage #LateStage #PrivateEquityFund #HedgeFundManager #InvestmentPortfolio #RiskManagementStrategy #InvestmentResearch #FinancialPlanning #WealthCreation #CapitalGrowth #InvestmentOpportunities #BusinessExpansion #MarketTrends #IndustryInsights #FinancialInnovation #InvestmentInnovation #VCDeals #StartupSuccess #InvestmentStrategy #PortfolioDiversification #InvestmentRisk #InvestmentReturn #InvestmentGrowth #InvestmentIncome #InvestmentManagement #InvestmentConsulting #PrivateEquityInvesting #HedgeFundInvesting #VentureCapitalInvesting #AngelInvesting #ImpactInvesting #SustainableInvesting #ESGInvesting #ResponsibleInvesting #InvestmentFirms #InvestmentCompanies #InvestmentPartners #InvestmentNetwork #InvestmentCommunity #InvestmentEvents #InvestmentConferences #InvestmentSummit #InvestmentForum #InvestmentRoundtable #StartupInvesting #EarlyStageInvesting #GrowthStageInvesting #LateStageInvesting #PrivateEquityFirms #HedgeFundManagers #VentureCapitalFirms #AngelGroups #ImpactInvestors

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Calling all #mentors and wannabe mentors! Join me for a chat that won’t be fireside because I don’t have a fireplace! 🤪 🌟 Ready to dive into the exciting world of mentoring early-stage startups? Join us for a session where we’ll explore the ins and outs of making a real impact as a mentor. Whether you're already a startup mentor or just considering it, you'll gain invaluable insights and practical tips to elevate your mentoring game. 🗣️ We’ll discuss the best ways to connect with startup teams, share success stories, and even tackle some of the challenges mentors face. This is your chance to learn from seasoned SBC mentors, discover new strategies, and contribute your own experiences. 🤝 Online or in person, we've got you covered: ⭐️In-person Session with Trevor Townsend , CEO Startupbootcamp Australia on Thursday 30th of May 4:00 - 6:00 PM AEST ⭐️Online Session with me! Jacqui Bloom Growth & Investment Director Startupbootcamp Australia on Wednesday, 22nd of May 4:00 - 5:00 PM AEST 🎟️Secure your spot here: https://lnkd.in/gKCTeVcM

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Founders: Learn to say "tell me more." When faced with challenging questions or negative feedbacks in a meeting with an investor or a customer, or when in a tough negotiation, your instinct will be to respond and counter immediately because you don't want to look bad. Don't do that. Instead, say "tell me more." In most cases, such challenging questions or negative feedbacks are only a very small expressed part of the entire context. By saying "tell me more" you can extract more context behind them and better understand what that someone on the other side of the table really wants to know or concerns about, and it will help you regain the control over the conversation. Especially with investors, if you're a seed-stage company, most of the seed-stage VCs ask challenging questions just to see how you can clearly and logically think and respond as we understand that you may have to change your strategy, product, etc, going forward. In tough negotiations also, even when some things seem non-negotiable with the other side, there are alonost always second best and third best alternatives which you could find simply by saying "tell me more." Of course sometimes those tough questions, negative feedbacks or tough negotiations are the indicator of flat-out 'No’s.' But in such cases, just by simply asking them to tell you more, you’ve just - at the very least, learned a new perspective. So learn to say "tell me more."

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