🎉 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.

  • Confirmed panelists include Pear VC’s Vivien Ho, Patron’s Amber Atherton, and Kapor’s Ulili Onovakpuri.

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

⭐ Highlights from Bodin’s AMA
(edited for clarity)

What excites you the most about Saudi Arabia?

To understand Saudi and the Middle East, you need to be on the ground. Vision 2030 is driving Saudi’s shift from fossil fuels, with significant investment in tech, especially AI. Opportunities abound, not just for funding, but for business with projects like the new city. Saudis have a deep-rooted business culture, built on trust and relationships, making it essential to immerse yourself here.

What are some of the traits you see in successful founders?

Founders shouldn't be put in a box; different personalities can reach the same result through varied approaches. A common trait is those who consistently show up and strive to improve. Instead of repeatedly hitting the same wall, why not use better tools? It's about balancing action with reflection, finding smarter ways to overcome challenges, and constantly improving along the way.

What’s the best part about working with founders?

Founders are a bit crazy—you need to be to create something meaningful. They come from all over the world, with different ways of seeing and solving the same problems. It's fascinating to hear their stories, from how they closed clients to hiring talent and fundraising. Every founder has a unique approach, and it’s incredible when they all come together to share their experiences.

What do you think about solo founders?

From a risk management perspective, investing in teams of co-founders is safer. If something happens to one founder, there's someone to carry on. SparkLabs has backed over 600 companies, now worth $44 billion, and co-founder teams consistently perform better. With one focusing on business and the other on tech, it's hard to find that balance in a solo founder, though exceptions do exist.

When should companies fundraise?

Bootstrap as much as possible—get users, generate revenue, and show investors you know how to sell, even if it's unrelated to your business model. The Airbnb founders sold cereal to prove this. When you come to the table with users, revenue, or even friends and family investment, you're in a stronger negotiating position. Delay fundraising to secure better terms for your startup.

How should one get started in building their network?

Focus on building genuine relationships, not just networking. It's better to have meaningful connections with 10 people than shallow ones with 100. Build bonds with founders and VCs. Cold outreach works if personalized—send fewer, high-quality messages. Also, create content like videos, even if they don’t go viral. What happens in the DMs can be more impactful than public visibility.

For the full AMA, click here.

📺 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)

• Fay Wells, Angel Investor and VC in Residence at Techstars

• Christian Dorffer, General Partner at Defiance Capital (early stage VC fund in AI)

• Brent Murri, Partner at M13 (leading consumer VC fund)

• Jorge Garcia, Founder and CEO at Linker Finance (financial platform for community banks)

👋 Want to be an AMA guest?

Startup founders, investors, and leaders—join our AMA series as a guest! Reply with your details, and let’s chat!

📬 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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