Reflecting on my recent journey into the vibrant world of venture capital in the Bay Area of California feels akin to watching a captivating Kurosawa movie unfold before my eyes—a narrative rich with multiple perspectives and stories intertwining seamlessly.
For a week, my address was the Bay Area Entrepreneurship and Investing class, led by the esteemed David Charron and Vivek Rao at the University of California, Berkeley. Our cohort was a dynamic mix of Oxford Said Business School and UC Berkeley Haas School of Business alumni and students, each bringing a unique blend of experience and insights to the table. I must extend my heartfelt gratitude to the program coordinators, @Avni Kansara and Isabelle Kenney-Herbert, for orchestrating such a transformative experience.
The class was structured around two major themes, allowing us to explore the landscape from entrepreneurial and investor perspectives.
On the entrepreneurial front, we immersed ourselves in the world of startups, meticulously analyzing their products and business models through creating a canvas. A special acknowledgment goes to my dedicated team— Iakovos Dimitriou , Xueming Zhao, Rhonda Bucklin. Also Vassilis Karavas, Ph.D. —whose invaluable insights and patience made our collaborative efforts truly rewarding.
From Anna Roumiantseva's Skip, empowering the elderly, to David Carter's Deep Planet AI for Sustainable Agriculture, and Ashima Sharma's Dreami, breaking the barriers in careers; each venture presented unique challenges and opportunities that fueled our learning journey.
The second theme centered around the intricacies of venture capital investment. Alongside my investing team—comprising Diwakar Kasibhotla, Igor Liski, and Anchit Jain—we delved into the soul of VC, grappling with the complexities of late-stage investment decisions. Drawing upon real-world expertise spanning investors, bankers, and product managers, our discussions were as illuminating as they were challenging.
Field trips enriched our experience, with highlights including a visit to the Skydeck Capital led by the amazing Ekin Günaysu, offering a panoramic view of the Bay Area's innovation landscape. Additionally, our candid Q&A session with AJ Shankar CEO of Everlaw, challenged so many entrepreneurial dogma's.
Key takeaways from the entrepreneurship segment underscored the importance of curiosity, resilience, diverse skill sets, and effective leadership in navigating the startup ecosystem.
Meanwhile, discussions on identifying investment-worthy startups emphasized the critical role of product-market fit, accompanied by a scalable business model and an experienced founding team.
Grateful for the wealth of learnings, networking opportunities, and the privilege of immersing myself in the vibrant ecosystem of Berkeley, I recognize the continuity of knowledge-building from Tim Jenkinson's Entrepreneurial Finance class in Palo Alto last year and the undeniable effect of AI in the valley.
Veterinary Medicine at Turkish Air Force
1wCongratulations! Good luck abi :))