🕰️ Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

00:42 - Purpose of a Pitch

02:15 - Defining the Outcome of Your Pitch

05:32 - Elements of Persuasion in a Pitch

12:08 - Different Types of Pitches

17:57 - Core of a Great Pitch

21:29 - Crafting an Effective Pitch

24:27 - Structuring the Pitch for Funding

28:22 - Right People to Practice Pitch to

30:06 - What Investors Look for in Startups

33:30 - Structuring Your Pitch for Maximum Impact

38:39 - Handling Q&A Sessions Effectively

41:14 - How should you End the Pitch?

45:18 - How often should Startups change the Pitch as it Progresses

47:43 - Should you seek feedback after a pitch?

50:55 - Importance of Visuals and Demos in a Pitch

55:36 - You are the Pitch

01:00:01 - Conclusion

📍 About:

Kris Childress is the Managing Partner at Kris Consulting, a Singapore-based consultancy helping early-stage tech startups. With a rich background in business development, technology commercialization, and strategic storytelling, Kris has played a pivotal role in the success of noted Singapore ventures such as Zimplistic, Equatorial Space, and NEU Battery Materials, providing expert guidance in pitching, business ideation, and strategy.

As the Mentor-in-Residence at the National University of Singapore’s Enterprise Incubator, Kris works closely with university spin-offs, providing hands-on mentoring to help them navigate the early stages of development. He likes to describe his focus as Ideation, Validation, and Narration for early-stage ventures. Kris was also part of the teaching and consulting team for the NUS Graduate Research Innovation Program (GRIP) for over 5 years, where he guided a number of startups towards market success.

Prior to moving to Singapore, Kris was deeply involved in business development for several U.S.-based technology companies in hardware, software, and consulting services. He holds a degree in Biology from a leading American university and has lived in Singapore for more than 17 years with his Singaporean wife and their two dogs, Zac and Zofie.

In addition to his professional endeavours, Kris is an avid reader with wide-ranging interests, which he says has been essential to his work as a mentor. Kris and his wife are also passionate travellers, having recently visited and kayaked in Antarctica for the first time.

🔗 Follow us:

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🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895

💌 Connect with Rahul:

🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

📩 Email : understandingvc@gmail.com

🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720

📍 About:

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.

🕰️ Timestamps:

00:42 Success Metrics for Series A Fundraising

01:29 Industry Averages and Market Trends

02:11 Factors Influencing Graduation Rates

04:07 The Importance of Support and Playbooks

05:43 Developing Benchmarks and KPIs

10:54 Case Study: Tecto's Roadmap to Series A

12:46 Challenges and Common Gaps in Planning

17:56 Defining and Achieving Product-Market Fit

28:43 Go-to-Market Strategy Principles

30:05 Exploring Growth Channels

31:04 Key Metrics for Success

32:21 Pricing Strategies

35:53 Building a Strong Team

40:19 Financial Metrics and Burn Rates

42:39 Planning for Series A

45:37 Adapting to Challenges

50:25 Crafting a Compelling Equity Story

54:39 Ideal Metrics for Series A

57:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

📍About:

Christian Meermann is a Founding Partner at Cherry Ventures. After some years at The Boston Consulting Group, Christian joined Zalando as their first CMO. Christian was responsible for building up and managing the group’s marketing efforts (i.e. performance marketing, CRM, PR, TV and brand marketing). He then joined the Management Board of Peek&Cloppenburg and was responsible for the company’s online business. He holds a diploma in business administration from WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management. He has lived and worked in the U.S., Spain, Brazil and South Africa. Christian gets excited about founders that are as passionate about execution as they are about building a strong and sustainable brand. He has a particular focus on logistics and mobility as well food technology companies.

🔗 Follow us:

🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/

🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895

💌 Connect with Rahul:

🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

📩 Email : understandingvc@gmail.com

🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720

📍 About:

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.

🕰️ Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

00:50 - Opportunity in AI

02:39 - OverInvestment in LLMs

05:37 - Impact of AI on Jobs

07:19 - Value Creation in the Application layer

10:32 - SaaS evolving into AI Agents

12:48 - Exaggeration of Capabilities in Gartner Hype Cycle

19:22 - Human Brain v/s LLMs

21:53 - Cost of doing Search is High

27:42 - What is Accelerated Computing

31:42 - Limitations of LLMs

36:57 - LLM progress curve is Plateauing?

38:49 - Opportunity for VC in AI Space

43:15 - Will future Startups be High Margin?

44:25 - Conclusion

📍 About:

Itamar is a solo capitalist and the founder of Recursive Ventures, a pre-seed fund focused on fintech, AI and emerging tech startups. Itamar has been on all sides of the startup table: as a founder and executive, an institutional VC, and an angel investor. He has supported over 50 successful startups, including Deel, Honeybook, Placer, Credible (IPO), MileIQ (acquired by Microsoft), Automatic Labs (acquired by SiriusXM), Tile (acquired by Life360), SafeGraph, and Armory. He’s been recognized by Business Insider as a Top 100 global seed investor. As an operator, he helped take Life360 from Seed to IPO, scaling the business to over $250m in revenue. Before that, Itamar was a founding team member and head of Product at Gigya (acquired by SAP). He holds an MBA from Berkeley Haas and an undergraduate degree in computer science from the Tel-Aviv Jaffa College.

🔗 Follow us:

🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/

🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895

💌 Connect with Rahul:

🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

📩 Email : understandingvc@gmail.com

🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720

📍 About:

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.

🕰️ Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

03:54 - Importance of Branding in Startups

07:42 - Hugh on starting JFDI

17:33 - Importance of Mentorship

20:44 - How to attract great people

26:06 - Measuring relevant Progress Metrics in Accelerators

29:41 - Selection in Accelerators

32:17 - What’s a ‘Great’ Outcome for an Accelerator?

35:50 - Lessons from running JFDI

38:53 - Startup Ecosystem in Singapore

49:25 - Do top entrepreneurs still value accelerator programs?

📍 About Hugh:

Hugh Mason is a UK-born entrepreneur and investor based in Singapore, best known as the co-founder and CEO of JFDI Asia (Joyful Frog Digital Incubator), Southeast Asia's first startup accelerator, established in 2010. With a background in electronic engineering and media production, he has produced over 150 documentaries for major networks before transitioning to the startup ecosystem. Under his leadership, JFDI has invested around USD 3 million in over 70 startups, emphasising the importance of storytelling and community in entrepreneurship. Hugh continues to mentor emerging entrepreneurs and has co-authored books on startup journeys.

🔗 Follow us:

🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/

🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895

💌 Connect with Rahul:

🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

📩 Email : understandingvc@gmail.com

🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720

📍 About:

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.

In this episode you will learn:

00:00 - Introduction

01:32 - Easy to build good relationships with Investors?

03:55 - Importance of a Good Relationship with Investors

05:59 - Size and Strategy of a fund affects Founder-VC Relationship

07:37 - Components of a Successful Relationship

09:04 - Hummingbird’s POV on Investor interference

12:16 - VCs' Role in Crucible Moments

14:39 - Power Dynamics in Founder-VC Relationships

16:35 - Can Investors and Founders be good friends?

21:03 - Scenarios Leading to Founder-Investor Friction

26:36 - Handling Co-Founder Breakups

28:29 - Evolution of Founder-Investor Relationships

34:49 - Measuring the Founder-Investor Relationship

35:57 - Conclusion

About

Akshay leads investments in both emerging markets and global fintech at Hummingbird.

Previously, Akshay worked at Citigroup, where he raised equity capital for large corporations, and at Artivest (acquired), where he helped build and grow a platform that enables retail capital to access alternative investments. During graduate school, Akshay had the opportunity to work with MIT's $25 billion endowment fund.

In his spare time, Akshay records music and writes about founders in his newsletter, 'Amplify'.

He holds an MBA from the Sloan School of Management at MIT and a BA in Economics with a minor in Ethnomusicology from Franklin & Marshall College.

🔗 Follow us:

🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/

🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895

💌 Connect with Rahul:

🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

📩 Email : understandingvc@gmail.com

🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720

📍 About:

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.

In this episode you will learn:

00:00 Introduction

01:28 The Prestige and Challenges of VC

03:28 Arun Pai's Journey into Venture Capital

04:08 Breaking into Investment Banking

06:17 Transitioning from Banking to Startups

07:57 Joining Monk's Hill Ventures

09:04 Advice for Aspiring VCs

11:59 The Fluidity of the VC Industry

12:29 Who Should Become a VC?

15:19 Skills and Specialization in VC

22:58 Building Relationships and Reputation

27:19 Transitioning to Quantitative Roles

27:34 Understanding VC Roles and Value

28:27 Challenges in Breaking into Investment Teams

29:39 Building a 360-Degree Skill Set

30:13 Personal Journey into VC

33:23 VC Interview Process

35:13 Importance of Partner Buy-In

36:47 Why Do You Want to Become a VC?

39:10 Monk's Hill Philosophy

41:48 Due Diligence in VC Hiring

42:22 The Excitement of Being a VC

43:42 Challenges in High Conviction Investing

47:20 The Importance of Networking and Luck

48:37 Burnout and Specialization in VC

51:16 Balancing Experience and Staying Updated

52:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

About:

Arun is a Principal at Monk’s Hill Ventures, based in Singapore and responsible for deal sourcing, due diligence and investment analysis and research. Arun brings over 15 years of experience in Finance and Tech start-ups.

Prior to joining MHV, Arun spent the last 6 years in the startup ecosystem as a C-level executive. He was the Chief Sales & Strategy Officer at Flow, where he managed growth and capital raising initiatives for the company leading to its acquisition. Prior to that, he was the Chief Kristals Officer, one of the first employees at Kristal.AI. He started his career and spent just under a decade in investment banking at Lehman Brothers and, subsequently, at Nomura across New York, Hong Kong & Singapore.

Arun graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.

🔗 Follow us:

🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/

🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895

💌 Connect with Rahul:

🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

📩 Email : understandingvc@gmail.com

🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720

📍 About:

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.

You can access the CVPE whitepaper [here] and join the CVPE LinkedIn group [here]

In this episode you will learn:

00:00 Introduction to Corporate Entrepreneurship

00:34 Introducing Sebastien Picard and xcube

01:08 Understanding Venture Studios

02:10 xcube's Unique Approach

02:42 The Corporate Venture Portfolio Equity Model

05:40 Real-World Applications and Examples

06:50 Challenges and Solutions in Financial Inclusion

10:27 The Role of Ecosystems in Innovation

13:24 Benefits for Startups, Investors, and Corporations

18:15 The CVPE Model: A New Investment Class

29:13 Psychological Support for Entrepreneurs

32:40 Measuring Success and Future Evolution

39:33 Conclusion and Next Steps for xcube

About

Sebastien Picard is a seasoned entrepreneur known for his expertise in early-stage innovative ventures.

Sebastien has a proven track record of launching and growing multiple successful businesses across Asia, North America and Europe. His relentless determination, visionary and strategic mindset, and humility set him apart as a business leader.

Sebastien founded xcube in 2023, xcube is a Singapore based corporate venture studio specialises in building ventures through a unique ecosystem approach.

Established from Sebastien's entrepreneurial insights and brought to life by a talented core team, xcube embodies his vision and entrepreneurial experiences, paving the way for innovative ventures to thrive.

🔗 Follow us:

🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/

🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895

💌 Connect with Rahul:

🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

📩 Email : understandingvc@gmail.com

🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720

📍 About:

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.

In this episode you will learn:

00:00 Introduction to Big Business and Market Size

01:28 Importance of Identifying Big Markets

03:18 Challenges and Considerations for Founders

05:07 Defining and Evaluating Big Markets

05:58 Insights from Famous Market Examples

09:51 Understanding Customer Experience and Market Dynamics

12:20 Evaluating Unit Economics and Team Dynamics

15:21 Prioritization and Roadmap for Startups

24:09 Challenges of Digital Targeting

25:15 Importance of Customer Experience

26:53 Product and Market Dynamics

27:25 Creating New Markets

31:39 Understanding Customer Problems

37:02 Iterative Product Development

40:17 Surprising Success Stories

44:42 Final Thoughts and Reflections

About

Shiyan Koh is an experienced operator and investor. She is currently a Co-Founder and General Partner at Hustle Fund, a global pre-seed venture fund. Prior to Hustle Fund, she was VP of Business Operations & Corp Dev at NerdWallet (employee #10), growing annual revenue from $1 million to more than $150 million. Before NerdWallet, she was an investor at Institutional Venture Partners and Bridgewater Associates.

🔗 Follow us:

🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/

🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895

💌 Connect with Rahul:

🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

📩 Email : understandingvc@gmail.com

🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720

📍 About:

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.