6 DEGREES OF SEPARATION | A CHAIN OF "FRIEND OF A FRIEND" IN STARTUPs & VCs

The Power of Connections: Why I’m Open to New Opportunities

As an investor and entrepreneur, I’ve had countless conversations with founders and investors across various markets and industries. One common question that comes up when initiating conversations with a new contact is:

“[Q] Do you have a reference or mutual connection?”

It's a reasonable question, and one that highlights the importance of building networks. So, let me explain why I remain genuinely open to new connections.

[Q] WHY am I open to new connections?

There are two fundamental reasons:

• [1] It's A Small World after all.
• [2] The power of "6 Degrees of Separation".

[1] The venture capital and startup ecosystem is interconnected. Whether it's through co-investments, portfolio synergies, or collaborative initiatives, the world feels remarkably small when you are actively engaging with the global ecosystem.

[2] In my years of experience, I have witnessed firsthand the power of connectivity through mutual contacts, proving time and again how a seemingly distant connection can become a crucial partner or ally.

[Q] WHAT is the "6 Degrees of Separation"?

[A] Six degrees of separation is the idea of "Friend of A Friend".

The concept of Six Degrees of Separation refers to the idea that any two people in the world are connected by a chain of acquaintances with no more than five intermediaries. Essentially, everyone is just six social connections away from anyone else on the planet.

The theory was first proposed by Frigyes Karinthy in 1929 and popularized by John Guare in 1990. It is the foundation of what we now often refer to as the “friend of a friend” phenomenon.

To put this into perspective, imagine you are "Arnold" and your connections unfold as follows:

1st degree of your connection: Richard (direct contact from Arnold)
2nd	Emily (Connected through Richard)
3rd	Francis (Connected through Emily)
4th	Larry (Connected through Francis)
5th	Debbie (Connected through Larry)
6th	Rajat (Connected through Debbie)        

WHY This Matters in Venture Capital

In the investment world, the “Six Degrees of Separation” is more than just a theory—it’s a powerful framework that demonstrates how opportunities and partnerships can emerge from unexpected connections. As a venture capitalist, maintaining an open and expansive network has been critical to identifying untapped opportunities, accessing new markets, and forming strategic collaborations.

This openness to new connections has helped us identify promising founders, co-investment partners, and innovative technologies across different regions. In a world where information and collaboration are paramount, the ability to bridge gaps through connections is essential.

Looking Forward

By embracing the power of connections, we continually enhance our ability to discover and support groundbreaking innovations. If you’re interested in collaborating or simply exploring potential synergies, feel free to reach out.

Thank you for reading my 1st note on LinkedIn, and I look forward to connecting with more remarkable people along this journey.

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Please note: as this is my 1st article try, you might want to comment a lot & any comments are much appreciated but I like them in a constructive way! :)