Venture Capital 101: Why VCs are backing other startups and not yours - E684

About this episode

Jeremy Au discusses the intricacies of venture capital and what it takes for VCs to invest in startups.

What does it actually take for a venture capitalist to invest in your startup? In this masterclass episode of the BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast, Jeremy Au breaks down the hidden mechanics of venture capital, how VCs evaluate founders, and the brutal math behind finding the next billion-dollar unicorn. Whether you are building the future in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, or beyond, understanding the VC playbook is critical. Jeremy explores the history of startup funding, the massive difference between private equity and venture capital, and why the tech industry operates on a "power law" where a few Olympic-level outliers take 80% to 90% of the market. We also dive deep into the Startup Financing Cycle—from surviving the "valley of death" with friends and family, to raising money from angel investors, scaling with institutional LPs, and ultimately reaching an IPO If you are an entrepreneur, an operator, or just looking to understand how smart money moves in Southeast Asia and the globe, this is your blueprint. 00:00 Introduction: How VCs Evaluate Unicorn Potential 01:17 The Father of Venture Capital: Georges Doriot 02:00 From Minicomputers to Microcomputers: The DEC Story…

People in this episode

Host: Jeremy Au

Topics covered

• venture capital
• startup funding
• entrepreneurship
• investment strategies
• financial ecosystem
• power law
• unicorn potential

Keywords

• venture capital
• startup
• funding
• unicorn
• investment
• private equity
• power law
• angel investors
• IPO

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Sequoia Capital, Meta, TikTok

Products: WhatsApp

Places: Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Southeast Asia

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