Chalinda Abeykoon

Onto day 5 of sharing lessons from our Q2 Pachamama Ventures Investors & Founders Meeting! ⛰ 5️⃣ Meeting people where they are is the way to build strong relationships. This was another theme that emerged during the conversation with our panelists. Understanding that people are at different stages of their journey is key - we cannot arm-wrestle people into action, no matter how urgent and important we deem it to be. When it comes to investing in climate and/or venture, this resonates with me. Time and time again, I find that I am much more effective when I give people the time and the space to assimilate the concepts presented, nurture the relationship, and build trust with them. Once people fully understand an opportunity and are ready to commit, they will move swiftly. My goal is to help more people activate climate action through investments in breakthrough technologies. #climatecommunity #peopleandpurpose #climateVC

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🔥 Attention: Visionaries & Builders in MENAP region 🔥 🚀 This call is for all Aspiring VCs and Angel Investors in the MENAP region! Are you ready to level up your Venture Game? Join us for this value packed, invite only, 2-part Masterclass - Venture Investing for Angels - where we’ll dive deep into the essential principles of venture investing. Gain insights that can save time, money, and risk as you navigate this exciting space! Masterclass Details: 📅 Dates: December 13th & 14th @ 4pm (KSA/Egypt), 5pm (UAE), 6pm (Pak) & 9pm (SG time) 📍 Platform: Zoom 🎙 Host: Angel School 🤝 Partner: YouPitchLive Register Now ➡ https://lnkd.in/gsR38CB7 Jed N. who is the founder of Angel School is a self-taught angel investor with 2x unicorns in his portfolio and millions invested, He’ll share his top strategies: 1️⃣ First Principles of Angel Investing 2️⃣ Venture Math Essentials – Fundraising, Dilution & Valuations 3️⃣ Startup Evaluation Frameworks – Making confident, data-driven decisions Don’t miss out on building your strong foundation in venture investing. See you there! Register Here ✅️ https://lnkd.in/gsR38CB7 #startups #angelinvestors #venturecapital #vc #angels

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Insightful article by Temina Madon on what the social sector can learn from startups, which also mentions the importance of continuous experimentation and rapid learning, something that Jonathan Stöterau and I have also written about a few years ago. Temina's article: https://lnkd.in/dxec5UJP Our blog on rapid learning evaluation: https://lnkd.in/esATTeyY

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Corporate governance - Part 1 I would like to bring attention to a topic that I believe is critical, yet it is often overlooked in discussions: the true role of a board of directors in a startup. From my experience, there are several misconceptions surrounding this function that deserve clarification. ◽️Firstly, it's important to recognise that the primary duty of the #board is to act in the best interest of the company itself — not the founders or investors. It is often the case when the company’s interests conflict with those of individual stakeholders, which highlights the need for board members who are both competent and equipped to navigate these complexities. ◽️Secondly, many #founders are terribly afraid that they won’t have the voting majority on the board, but the result of acting on this fear is a weakened board of #directors that ends up being more of an advisory rather than a decision-making body. The essence of the board should be to balance interests so that neither the founders nor the investors can run things entirely to their own liking — after all, what if they’ve gone mad, act unethically, follow their own agenda, or are simply incompetent? If the board is split 50/50, you end up with deadlocks in case of disagreements. However, a 2/2/1 structure with an independent director could help resolve such situations. I will explain more in the following post, but it is worth noting forming a board of directors should be about more than simply filling seats. It is essential to have the right people in place to provide meaningful guidance and strategic oversight, ensuring the company's long-term success and sustainable growth. I would also add that being on a board is no easy task, nor is it something to take lightly. It comes with a considerable burden of responsibility — both reputational and legal. Moreover, it's rather time-consuming, particularly as the company grows. It's no longer a matter of simply hopping on a Zoom call; instead, you find yourself travelling to another country for three days, spending countless hours in hotel conference rooms for non-stop meetings. After all, being a director is a profession; there’s even an Institute of Independent Directors where people are trained to be directors.

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There is always much to learn from leaders like Vinayak Joglekar a successful serial entrepreneur in software development. He is currently building Rezoomex a blockchain and AI-based platform for gig workers, and a smart contract-driven platform for the ethical software development community. I recall the day he mentioned that, unlike doctors, software engineers often lack due respect in the community. He aims to address this issue using emerging technologies like blockchain and AI. Blockchain can enhance trust and transparency in the software development community, while AI, through tools like GenAI and Copilot, can simplify developers' work. If you want to know more about Rezoomex visit https://www.rezoomex.com/ #softwaredevelopers #blockchain #ai #genai #hyperleger #technology #leadership Nikhil Walvekar Rajesh Sahasrabuddhe Ankit Gade Hrishikesh Bidwe sanika bramhe Justina Samanta Anuja Dhopate Prasanna Lohar Hyperledger India Chapter Hyperledger Foundation

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This makes me so proud of what we have achieved with Epic Angels! We are the number 4 Angel Investment Network in the WHOLE of Asia! 🌏🏆 When Hester Spiegel-vdSteenhoven and I started this journey, I never imagined we'd come so far this quickly. This shows what can happen when you enable women to be Changemakers. And we're only just getting started. Huge thanks to our amazing Collective of #EpicInvestors and the startups who trust us. Together, we're reshaping the future of investing. 🚀 Want to be an #EpicInvestor too? Join us! With Epic Angels, women can invest starting from just $1,000 per startup. You decide which opportunities to join. #WomenInvesting #ChangeTheFuture #EpicAngels

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🌟 Meet the Visionary Founders Powering Mamazen Startup Studio IH1 Startups! 🌟 At Mamazen, we believe in the transformative power of innovative startups driven by passionate and experienced founders. Let's introduce the incredible minds behind our ventures: 🔹 William Selmo - PeloMatto William is an experienced entrepreneur and a digital transformation leader. As a former Sales Manager at Kleecks, he has developed Glimmed, a fashion brand building company. His expertise in sales and digital transformation is driving PeloMatto to new heights in the pet grooming industry. 🔹 Irene Giani - Deeva.it Irene brings a wealth of experience from her 6 years at Facile, where she served as a Business Unit Director focused on personal insurance. Her strategic insight and leadership skills are instrumental in steering Deeva towards success in the beauty and personal care sector. 🔹 Yan Cataldo - Deeva.it Yan is a seasoned entrepreneur in the beauty industry, having owned three salons with a combined turnover of €600K. His global experience and mentorship of over 30 businesses make him a key player in Deeva's growth, bringing innovative beauty solutions to the market. 🔹 Ferdinando Volpe - PeloMatto Ferdinando has a rich background in real estate crowdfunding, having launched one of the first Italian platforms in this space. As a former Country Manager in Spain for Trackting, he leverages his international experience to expand PeloMatto’s reach and impact. 🔹 Carlo Alberto Danna - Morsy Carlo has an impressive career trajectory, from working in the Giorgio Armani sales team in New York to serving as Ad Ops in Beintoo, Milan. His diverse background in high-end fashion and digital operations is now fueling the success of Morsy, our innovative food delivery startup. 🔹 Chiara Bottini - Inpoi Chiara's profile information is not detailed in the provided document, but she is part of the stellar team of founders at Mamazen IH1, bringing her unique skills and vision to the table. 🔹 Gian Luca Ranno - Inpoi Gian Luca transitioned from design and communication into the food and innovation industry. As the founder of Gnammo and MyOrgango, he combines creativity with entrepreneurial spirit, leading Inpoi to revolutionize the real estate market. Highlights: PeloMatto: 📈 Revenue: €13K (+120% vs January) Deeva.it: 📈 Revenue: €20K (+200% vs January) Morsy : 📈 Revenue: €110,000 in May (+18% vs April) Inpoi: 🌐 Real Estate valuations: 227000

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Just had an insightful chat with Thao H. from Integra Partners about the complexities of the founders and investors dynamics and the art of decision-making My take: It's not just about logic, but about fully feeling the emotions. One particular moment: when I asked Thao about the impact she seeks to create, and more importantly, the underlying reason behind that desire for impact. "you try to create impact so that you can feel what?" The silence after is where the magic happens. Takeaways: 🙋 The purpose of a hard question is to let us stay in the not knowing of it. 🌟 Why is a powerful question, but it can be too confrontational and it does close people down. Instead, ask: what benefit do you get from that? As founders, what else are you learning about your own decision making? I'd love to chat!

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🌉 Building bridges saves us from falling into dangerous gaps. From organizing startup events in Asia to connect local and global entrepreneurs, to inspiring students to take up entrepreneurship by learning from experienced founders. My journey has always been about closing gaps to create value together. Now, with DueDash, we're tackling a critical gap in the venture ecosystem — the data gap between startups and investors. The venture world still runs on gut feelings and limited trust networks. "I know you, so I invest." Not a surprise, as without data and trust, investments don’t happen. That’s why I’m passionate about building one data bridge at a time, helping to fill those gaps and drive more impactful investments. 📸 This picture is from the HEUKING Venture Night last week. Thanks for the invite and amazing event, Dr. Patrick Müller LL.M.! #data #startups #investors #gap

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"In Thailand, many people I met weren't just discussing AI—they were actively building. That kind of hands-on approach gives a nation real momentum.” We need more building and less talking. With AI's assistance, business students should be further empowered to create systems typically developed by computer science and engineering students. Business students who can code will be highly sought after in the AI era and we need to train those students with more hands-on AI curriculum. #education #ai #genai

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How to Destroy your Cost-of-Acquisition (CAC) “If you build communities and you do things in public,” he says, “you don’t have to find the right people, they find you.” This quote is from: "Exponential Organizations" by Salim Ismail. One that I often reflect upon. Building a community isn't so costly. At least not in terms of money. It sure takes time, though. But yields really major, Long-term results. → How do you reduce your CAC ? Share some insights below! 👇 Image by: Pierre Herubel

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Mamazen Startup Studio’s latest White Paper on Ideation and Validation is dropping soon! Dive into exclusive insights from top industry players like Pioneer Square Labs, Builders, Platform Venture Studio,Mstudio , Science, and Vault Fund and many others Discover: 💡 How startup studios turn ideas into thriving businesses. 🔍 Proven strategies for ideation and validation. 📈 Real-world success stories and best practices. 📅 Coming by September! Don't miss out! Follow us for the release and be the first to access this game-changing resource. #StartupStudios

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Learning together with the young startups is essential. I was looking forward to attend this learning session about how startups should be preparing pitch decks for VCs. It was a fantastic sharing session, with insights on what VCs are looking for. The turnout was overwhelming, the room was fully filled with founders, and a dinosaur <-- me! Privileged to see 2 LinkedIn Top Voice Jeremy and Eugene on the floor, answering to questions offering their valuable thoughts. I took home with some pointers and going to rework my deck! Thank you Tin Man for this great session. PS : To the startups, there is no one winning formula, what works for others may not work for you. Continue to learn with a humble heart, make mistakes, be better and you will succeed when you find your own winning formula! In the meantime, keep going!

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🥾 vs 💰#Bootstrapping or #VC funding? What’s the best way forward for your #startup? #SoutheastAsia’s startup ecosystem has been well-established, with entrepreneurs working hard to be a part of the region’s immense potential. As a startup grows, there will be a point when a critical decision arises: continue bootstrapping or seek VC funding? The choice is not so straightforward, and there are 3 key considerations in my opinion: 1️⃣ 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 • 🥾Bootstrapping: For startups seeking sustainable, organic growth, bootstrapping works best. Founders would have full control and ownership on the company’s growth, yet would face limits to its pace and scalability. • 💰VC Funding: Meanwhile, VC funding enables rapid growth through capital injection, at the expense of relinquishing equity. Being accountable for investors’ expectations, the growth direction for the company may be beyond the founders’ control. 2️⃣ 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 • 🥾Bootstrapping: In markets with lower operating costs and less competition, there would be opportunities for strong organic growth and profit margins. Startups in these markets would not be as incentivized to seek further funding, relying on a steady pace of growth. • 💰VC Funding: However, for highly competitive or capital-intensive markets, VC funding may be necessary to accelerate the startup’s growth in order to outpace the market. Seizing market opportunities would come at a premium, which VC funding would greatly assist in. 3️⃣ 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗲 • 🥾Bootstrapping: Founders with a lower appetite for financial risk may prefer bootstrapping, maintaining full autonomy on its decisions. Being fully responsible for any inflows, it encourages founders to be mindful and thoughtful on their expenditure • 💰VC Funding: In contrast, while having experienced investors could help exponential scaling, VC funding tends to be high-risk, high-reward. Being a risk capital, there may be pressure brought by investors to make risky decisions to accelerate growth for faster returns. Founders have to be creative and smart to use the funds efficiently, reducing the floor risk of the company while managing investors’ expectations. Ultimately, the decision to bootstrap or seek VC funding is a strategic one. There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but understanding these factors will guide you towards the path that best suits your startup's goals. Photo Source: https://lnkd.in/gdP9rK89 Sources: https://lnkd.in/gtVb44Tn https://lnkd.in/gT5FMWBF

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Had a Insightful discussion with Andrew Yeung Points we had a chat on : - His inspiration for building a community of innovators - The current Deeptech startup landscape & AI Wrappers from Founder's Perspective as well as a Venture Model - VC exit Challenges in terms of liquidity constraints -Red flags during startup pitches -Navigating FOMO in the rapidly evolving tech sector. thank for your time and Insights Andrew , Enjoyed Our Conversation! #startups #venturecapital #deeptech #andrewmixers #ecosystem #AI

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