🎉 RSVP NOW FOR SF AND LA TECH WEEK EVENTS!

• On Oct 11, we're hosting an AMA panel + mixer with early stage VCs along with our friends at Brex and Notion for SF Tech Week.

• On Oct 15, we're hosting an AMA panel + mixer with post-exit founders along with Techstars for LA Tech Week.

• As a Saywise member, you get guaranteed access! Come meet us in person!

• We'll be announcing the rest of the panel soon, but you won't want to miss it!

⭐ Highlights from Christian's AMA
(edited for clarity)

What do you mean by non-obvious founders?

Over 80% of my portfolio's success comes from non-obvious founders—immigrants, women, and those without elite educations. 62% of US unicorns have immigrant founders, and 17% of new unicorns last year had female founders. These driven individuals often succeed because they have a chip on their shoulder and no plan B. It's proof that true potential isn't limited to the typical Silicon Valley mold.

What traits do you look for in founders?

We look for founders with a proven track record of overcoming challenges. Nearly all unicorns have faced near collapse. I seek out smart, money-savvy hustlers—whether they’ve run a lemonade stand or immigrated while working two jobs and earning a degree—who’ve already tackled bigger challenges than their startup will.

Why is consumer so hard?

Consumer growth has thrived on new platforms like Facebook and mobile, but these windows often prove temporary and unsustainable for long-term, profitable user acquisition. Many companies have had to pivot or change models. It’s tough to get the necessary distribution without viral hits and smart monetization.

What usually kills startups?

Most of my companies are consumer-focused, built differently from enterprise SaaS. Success often hinges on going viral and strong word of mouth. However, many consumer companies fail to monetize, burn cash too quickly, and lack product-market fit, leading to self-implosion rather than external failure.

What should founders look for when hiring the first few employees?

Hiring people with an entrepreneurial mindset is crucial. You want those who take initiative, solve problems, and work efficiently. Many top founders started as early employees in startups. In my companies, we test problem-solving skills. Also, top engineering talent in places like Eastern Europe often rivals Silicon Valley at a third of the cost. Be scrappy and hire the best, wherever they are.

What advice do you give to an aspiring founder?

For young aspiring founders without a clear idea yet, work in a startup, ideally one of the first 50 employees. This experience will teach you decision-making, agility, and industry insights. Avoid jumping straight into entrepreneurship without understanding the market. Study the industry, identify a problem, and build a solution only when you're ready. Learning first increases your chances of success and may lead to opportunities or ideas.

For the full AMA, click here.

📅 Upcoming AMAs

• Sep 9 at 2pm PST: Jorge Garcia, Founder and CEO at Linker Finance

  • Linker Finance provides community banks with a secure and holistic digital banking platform to enhance their online and mobile banking services.

  • They just raised a $3.7M seed with participation from Ten One Ten Ventures, Chingona Ventures, among others.

• Sep 18 at 9am PST: Bodin Scepanovic, Partner at SparkLabs Saudi Arabia.

  • SparkLabs operates the AIM-X accelerator, a program focused on supporting AI startups in Saudi Arabia as part of the country's broader Artificial Intelligence Mission (AI.M) to enhance its global leadership in AI.

📺 Past AMAs

Missed any of our previous AMAs? No worries! You can catch up on all the guests here.

• Will Drewery, Founder and CEO at Diagon (AI-powered procurement platform)

• Gaurav Seth, Founder and CEO at PierSight Space (maritime surveillance using satellites)

• Tejes Srivalsan, Founder and CEO at Poppin (event-based social media)

• Christie Marchese, Founder and CEO at Kinema (film distribution platform)

• Michael Kapps, Founder and CEO at Sanii (longevity and lifestyle for the elderly)

• Ahmed Mirza, Investor at Techstars Los Angeles (leading startup accelerator)

• Clara Hong, Founder and CEO at Smore (B2B form building platform)

• Luiza Justus, Founder and CCO at Supersocial (gaming for the metaverse)

• Mark Linao, General Partner at Progression Fund (early stage consumer VC)

• David Yi, General Partner at Ethos Fund (early stage VC in Vietnam and the US)

📬 Contact Us

Have suggestions for future guests, feedback on the sessions, or just want to say hi? We’d love to hear from you! Reply directly to this email or send us a note here.

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