Do VCs add value?

Capital is a commodity in today’s venture investing. Many VCs claim to be founder-friendly and add value. We endeavor to go further by actively collaborating with founders and being there for them at every step of the entrepreneurial journey. Over the years, we have deployed and sharpened our active playbook with portfolio companies. Here are a few ways we work with our portfolio companies to enable them to unlock growth:

1. Active partnership: Startups usually evolve much faster than scale companies. Their context, business strategies, offerings, and org can evolve at blitz speeds and as frequently as monthly. Hence, we believe in active collaboration vs the standard quarterly engagement at board meetings. This allows us to be present alongside founders as they make seemingly routine but high-impact irreversible design choices.
2. Structured cadence: Frequency is a key factor in our playbook. Regular engagements allow us to delve into real challenges rather than superficial discussions. A structured cadence ensures meaningful conversations with a clear objective, fostering a sense of accountability and ownership.
3. Context, context and context: Context is paramount in our approach. We acknowledge the uniqueness of each company's journey, understanding that what works for one may not work for another. Not only that, even when two companies may seemingly have the same areas that?need work, their sequencing is often different based on their starting point. Our advice is deeply contextual, recognising the evolving landscape and the changing dynamics within a quarter.
4. Balancing growth and risks: We prioritise identifying potential failure points in the future. Balancing a growth mindset with an anticipation of risk is crucial for sustainable success. We work closely with founders to identify constraints and debottleneck, striving to align the entire organization for outcomes, not just discussions.
5. Talent support: We actively assists founders in building the right team early in their journey, streamlining organizations, and defining key roles with clear expectations. Through various interventions such as coaching, events, connecting with other portfolio founders, and mentoring, we provide a comprehensive support system.
6. Network access: One of the key enablers is our strength in global networks and connections. We have often facilitated connections between founders across different geographies and sectors, leveraging our extensive network to enable cross-learning.

In conclusion, we try to?create a true partnership beyond capital. We believe that each startup requires a holistic, active, and tailored approach. Together with founders, we navigate challenges, celebrate successes, and cultivate a journey of achievement, resilience, and mutual growth.