Startup Interview with Tiang, Founder of Forge Ventures

We recently had the privilege of interviewing with Tiang , the founder of Forge Ventures , a venture capital firm deeply invested in nurturing early-stage startups.

In the ever-evolving realm of venture capital, only a select few firms distinguish themselves through their steadfast commitment to supporting fledgling businesses and fostering the growth of the entrepreneurial landscape. Forge Ventures shines as one such beacon, established with a clear mission to bridge the gap in seed funding and provide comprehensive assistance to founders at every stage of their development.

Let us delve into our exclusive interview with Tiang to unveil Forge Ventures' vision and gain deeper insights into its journey and plans for the near future.?

About Forge Ventures

Forge Ventures did not start without its challenges. In an industry with high barriers to entry, demonstrating track record and performance is imperative in attracting investor interest, which poses a significant challenge for new ventures like Forge Ventures without the initial funds to demonstrate their potential. With Tiang’s extensive background in VC investment, including roles at Jungle Ventures and various seed and angel investing initiatives, he brought invaluable expertise to the table. This foundation was crucial for overcoming the initial hurdles and setting the stage for what Forge Ventures would become.

Being a startup investing veteran, Tiang found himself deeply inspired by the dynamic potential of the venture system in Southeast Asia. He was motivated by the opportunity to actively contribute to the region's economic landscape, aiming to nurture and enhance the ecosystem, which led to the creation of Forge Ventures.

Additionally, Forge Ventures was established to address a significant void in the venture capital landscape, specifically targeting the scarcity of seed funds and dedicated seed-stage venture capital firms. This gap, evident in the limited availability of early-stage financial support for founders, has hindered the development of nascent ventures. Initially focusing on these early stages, Forge Ventures aims to provide crucial financial backing and strategic guidance to entrepreneurs in the preliminary phases of building their businesses, fostering innovation and growth from the ground up. As the ecosystem has matured and the needs of entrepreneurs have evolved, Forge Ventures has shifted its focus towards Series A and B investing, aiming to support businesses as they scale and refine their operations.

This is not a conventional approach in the VC industry, as most VCs would invest in a select few industries which they have knowledge and expertise on. Forge Ventures, on the other hand, realises the value in pattern recognition and underwriting pre-Product Market Fit (PMF), regardless of the market and sectors they are in. Regardless of industry, any seed stage PMF would need the same set of factors to succeed, such as a winning brand, good demand generation, and fundraising, and Forge Venture’s speciality is identifying a winning seed stage company based on all these factors.

During the interview, Tiang repeatedly mentioned that the VC world is a people-oriented business, and treating Startup Founders with kindness and respect goes a long way for both parties. Forge Ventures’s philosophy of consistent relationship building with founders is what differentiates themselves from numerous other VCs in the industry.

Evolution of Forge Ventures

Founded in 2021, Forge Ventures has stayed true to its core mission over the past four years. While the company has not evolved much in terms of its approach, it remains deeply committed to investing in founders as much as in their startups. This qualitative strategy ensures long-term success and establishes Forge Ventures as a renowned player in the venture capital space.

This is why Forge Ventures does not intentionally adopt strategies to stay ahead in the financial market. Regardless of the financial climate, Forge Ventures believe that there is an intrinsic need for new startups and ideas, and continue to engage in the startup ecosystem to the fullest. With this strategy, success in the financial market comes along naturally.

This is also why Forge Ventures doesn’t measure success with solely financial metrics. Beyond these metrics, Forge Ventures prioritises on qualitative measures. The firm evaluates success based on the quality of relationships forged with founders. This human-centric approach acknowledges that behind every investment lies a team of passionate individuals striving to realise their vision. Forge Ventures cultivates an ecosystem where founders feel supported and empowered to innovate by prioritising trust, transparency, and mutual respect. Quoting a hypothetical example, Tiang believes true success is when a startup founder takes the initiative to call Forge Ventures, even at ungodly hours, to share good or bad news.

Embracing Long-Term Thinking

Forge Ventures’ unconventional approach will not change, and they will continue to prioritise long-term thinking amidst an industry focused on immediate gains. Advocating patience and perseverance, Forge Ventures acknowledges the unpredictable nature of startup development and stresses the idea of consistency for enduring success. This approach cultivates lasting relationships which translates to a sustainable growth of startups, as well as sustained innovation.

Concluding Remarks

In closing, Forge Ventures’ journey aptly highlighted the tendency to underestimate long-term achievements while overestimating short-term gains. Often undervalued, patience is a critical quality in personal and professional pursuits.?

To all the students reading this, may you consistently pursue your long-term goals with dedication and perseverance! :)

Written by: Ashley, Zinuo, Janice, Yee Chong?

#Venture Capital #VC #Innovation #Funding #venture #southeastasia #forgeventures