Khaled Talhouni, Managing Partner at Nuwa Capital, shares invaluable insights into how VCs assess founders and startups, particularly in the early stages. In part 1 of this 3-part series, Khaled breaks down the key traits he looks for in founders and teams, the importance of clarity of vision, and how to adapt to feedback and pivot when necessary. Related Episodes: Part 2, How to successfully raise your first / early stage round from a VC: https://youtu.be/h8OJ69nYpLA Part 3, Lessons and insights in the VC space: Coming Soon! Key takeaways: - Early-stage investments focus heavily on the founding team’s vision and adaptability. - First-time founders must demonstrate strong problem-solving and leadership abilities, even without prior data. - Second-time founders or those with startup experience tend to attract more favorable investment attention. - Networking and founder recommendations are crucial for sourcing high-quality deals. - Due diligence involves filtering out unsuitable deals quickly, then diving deeper with potential opportunities. - Nuwa’s focus is on early-stage companies in MENA, with a preference for GCC, Egypt, and Turkey. - A strong team, a clear problem to solve, and market potential are key indicators of fit. - In MENA, proven business models dominate, but there’s still room for emerging opportunities with huge potential. - Red flags include founder conflicts, unrealistic expectations, and an inability to attract talent. - Founders must be fully committed to their vision. Chapters: 00:00 Khaled Talhouni, Managing Partner at Nuwa Capital (Part 1) 00:31 How do you assess founders and startups? 03:10 How much data do you have to make decisions about first time founders? 04:30 Do you prefer funding second time founders? 05:47 How do you source deals? 07:23 Do you have a big scout network? 09:08 Due diligence and pipeline management 12:33 What's Nuwa's investment mandate 13:46 What are early signs that indicate a great fit? 14:30 Preventing misses on under the radar companies with massive potential 16:42 What are the red flags during the vetting process? 18:11 What do expect from founders in terms of focus? Links: What makes for a great founder? – https://www.nuwacapital.io/insights/what-makes-for-a-great-founder Nuwa Capital Portfolio – https://www.nuwacapital.io/portfolio