A family we know – a husband and wife in their forties, with kids in school – still depend heavily on their parents financially. The worst part is, they’re not even thankful to their parents. Maybe it’s a self-protective mechanism of sorts: the moment they express gratitude, they’d have to admit they’re leeching off them. … Continue reading Builders And Founders
Korean content and products are more popular than ever. But in many ways, this could be just the beginning. Looking back, I think people will say the so-called “K-wave” can be marked “before and after” K-Pop Demon Hunters. That single show is that big. Curious where you can meet all the movers and shakers behind … Continue reading Koom Conference 2025
From last night’s grudge match that was World Series Game 3 (18 innings, a literal doubleheader!), the most memorable moment for me wasn’t Freeman’s game-ending home run, Edman’s flawless fielding, or Ohtani reaching base nine times on a 4-for-4 night (each of those being crazy on its own). What stuck with me the most was … Continue reading Winner’s Mentality
One common mistake I see among new product designers is over-referencing existing successful products. When apps like Uber or Airbnb use minimalist icons, most users understand what they mean, because they’ve spent years using those products. But if you’re building something new, your users are starting from zero without any prior context. You need to … Continue reading Designing For A New Service
The worst startup ask of all time: “Can you see if you know any investors who might be interested in our company?” You didn’t do the basic homework to know which specific investors fit your business and if I have any connection to them (eg I’m an LP in their fund or know them personally). … Continue reading Don’t Be Vague
Sometimes I see founders who are about to start their new business torn between two options: Here’s how I think about it: 1/ The best scenario, of course, is to find an area where you have both the experience and passion. That’s the ultimate sweet spot, so keep searching for it 2/ But if you … Continue reading Dilemma – Which Space To Build In
What is common among these three services? 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗺, 𝗟𝘂𝗺𝗮, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 1/ All three services start with the letter “L” 😆2/ They got into a crowded market as a late player and yet built massively successful companies by removing frictions and building delightful products Remove frictions and build a service that Just Works™️, and you … Continue reading Remove Friction
One of the mistakes I think I made in my previous companies was not being clear enough about the coordination between marketing and product. As a company grows, there’s often a blame game between departments. Product team thinks the product is already great, it just needs to be put in front of more people (low-key … Continue reading Marketing And Product Teams
Does your pitch deck help with fundraising? Yes and no. No, because no investor makes a decision purely based on a deck. Most don’t even read it that carefully. Yes, because a deck says a lot about the founder. A clean, well-structured deck signals someone organized and thoughtful. An incoherent deck that’s also a 47MB … Continue reading Pitch Deck And Raising
One of the questions I get often from founders: “Should I raise money or bootstrap?” I think this is like asking “should I get married?” The right answer is: marriage is wonderful. But only if you marry the right person. Likewise, raising money can be great – if you raise from the right investor. Good … Continue reading Raise Money Or Bootstrap