Chang Kim’s Post

I made an 8-figure exit at just 21 years old. And I didn't blow it all at parties. With that kinda money, I could have easily lived off of the returns. But that does not have the kick to it. Nope, that itch to do more, to create, to innovate - that's what drove me. The itch flew me all the way to London Now, here's the thing: It's easy to get complacent when you hit it big. But that's the fastest way to lose your edge. What I learnt from the 8-figure exit: -> Take risks.  -> Don't settle for mediocrity. Keep pushing. -> Be around people who inspire you to be better. -> Embrace the itch - there's more out there for you. -> Never stop learning. The moment you think you know it all is the moment you stop growing. Right when you make a big win Go in harder and get in another one. I know I am just getting started.

I've found that one of the top jobs of a founder is to spot as early as possible when the gap between the expectations you've set and the reality that is unfolding is becoming too big to manage. And then to course correct in a way that preserves your relationships and integrity while ensuring your startup has enough cash in the bank to carry on. A crisp way to stay on top of these gaps before they get too big is to use “killer experiments” in your R&D, and across the rest of your business. These checkpoints are designed to stop efforts before insidious effects steal all your cash: they keep you from falling for the sunk cost fallacy, they prevent you from feeling satisfied with incremental progress when you need exponential, and they force you to examine new approaches even when you thought you’d exhausted them all. They are set in advance when you’ve still got your wits about you. And they make grey areas of progress into black and white decisions by removing the emotional aspect. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gjdVJuTw

The cost of inaction significatnt. If you've been consistently putting off the start of your real estate ventures, repeatedly saying 'I'll start later,' why the delay? What's holding you back? Putting off action in real estate is detrimental to your financial health, and it means losing valuable time that could be invested. Once it's gone, it's gone. And there's no going back to rectify missed opportunities. You don't get the chance to go back and fix the things that you did. So seize the moment and make your moves wisely. If you need help starting, just hit the message button, and we'll help you through it.

Don’t let his love of finance fool you; Kieran O'Neill isn’t some finance bro. His true superpower is … 🥁 Founder empathy ❤️🔥 ✌️ Former co-founder of Hometime, Kieran gets how hard it can get as a founder, having experienced an 80% revenue loss in a month—suffice to say he knows a thing or two about how to deal with the complexities of growth. 🌱 Passionate about building technology companies, Kieran likes to be there to share in the highs and lows alongside founders 🛠 A generalist at heart, Kieran is experienced in leading go-to-market teams, managing acquisitions, and navigating team scaling. Read on to hear Kieran’s bold predictions on the future of technology and what makes a top founder.

Today, I faced 15 founders on stage. I mentioned my investor outreach tips. And I faced a lot of pushback. "Surely this would never work late stage." "This would disadvantage women and minorities." "Most analysts we talk to just want a checklist." "I am a VC and I care about data." "I am a former investment banker and I raised $200m the other way." "How do you even find the right emotional triggers for your email copy?" "How much time did you spend researching this?' The mood of the room was quite aligned against me. I would say 70% did not think my tips could work for them. But as I stood my ground, told people I understood their objections, and worked fron their perspective why I believe what I believe... The mood of the room had a 180 degree shift. "I really like the approach." It was 70% in my favour in the end. Two big takeaways: 1. I seriously underestimated how the average founder is quite suspicious of my approach; people suspicious of me never engage with me on LinkedIn. 2. Putting me on a firing line and seeing how I respond when challenged is what showed people the real me. By the way, the ex investment banker told me he loved my energy. We really need to meet people in person and get the raw feeling. You get to see what they don't like. They see how you respond. This is exactly the same with investors. Objections are not objections. Objections are natural innate human way of checking, "Do I trust this person?" Show the right vibe, the right mindset, and the right energy. Then people lean in and keep listening. Hope this helps.

I always leave time at the end of a 1st call with a founder to walk through any questions they may have and share our timeline for investment. Here are a few of my favorite questions founders have asked me on calls the past few weeks 💭 ⤵️ 1. How would you describe us to your partners?  → This question is a quick pulse check on whether I understand the business correctly and am using the best language to describe what is being built. 2. What do your founders like about working with you? → This question goes deeper than "What value can you provide?" It forced me to share examples of what founders like about myself and Redbud VC. 3. What info would be the most helpful for you as you move forward in diligence? → This question allowed me to ask for the info I needed right on the call instead of following up async. The founders get a picture of the aspects of thier company that I'd be digging into as well.

Stuck? That feeling will evaporate if you imagine it’s your last day on Earth and you meet the person you could have been.   Ronnie told me on Sunday how that thought had been like a rocket . . . .   Three years on and his life is fabulous. He is now stretching for even bigger goals in his businesses, but he is energised and has a fantastic relationship with his wife and children. Some might say that it is stupid or overly simplistic to think that a quote could make a difference. If it hits a nerve and changes thinking, which drives action, which improves financial numbers, who cares if it is stupid or simplistic.   When you are ready, don’t let stuff slow you down. We help ambitious founders like you crush your goals faster by untangling finances, uncovering hidden tax breaks, and making smart acquisitions. Focus on what matters. We will handle the rest. Let's chat. 😎

Founders. Biggest advice is below:

Stop letting the status quo dictate your raise. Motivated investors are out there getting deals done regardless of market conditions. Be proactive, create your own buzz.

𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Recognition of your value may not always be immediate or universal, but that doesn't diminish your worth. It's essential to gravitate towards environments where your contributions are celebrated rather than seeking validation from those who fail to acknowledge your worth. 🥇 Engage in the conversation by sharing your thoughts on this post by Tobi Oluwole in the comments below. https://ayr.app/l/Tv9D #businessloans #business #lending #businesscapital #venturecapital #capitalmarkets