Sajid Rahman: Founder of My Asia VC, Investor in 1000+ Startups with 40+ Exits
with Sajid Rahman — Investor
Sajid Rahman, Founder of My Asia VC, shares his incredible journey from banking to becoming a prolific operator-investor in over 1000 startups with 40+ exits. Discover his unique frameworks for investing globally, from pre-seed syndicates to late-stage secondary funds.
5 Things You'll Learn from This Episode
- Solve the syndicate cold-start problem by co-syndicating your first deals with established leads to gain exposure to their LP base.
- Utilize the syndicate model for its flexibility, allowing you to invest across various stages and sectors without a rigid fund thesis.
- Evaluate secondary market opportunities by identifying strong late-stage companies where a 4-5x return is still possible with significantly reduced risk.
- Reframe startup investing as less risky by taking a portfolio approach, recognizing the underestimated market size of internet companies, and investing in the future.
- Invest globally by understanding that all countries are on the same growth curve but at different points, creating opportunities to back proven models in emerging markets.
About the Episode
Sajid Rahman of My Asia VC details his accidental entry into angel investing and how he scaled to over 1000 investments. He shares tactical advice for new syndicate leads, explains his thought process for investing across different stages from pre-seed to secondaries, and reveals why he believes startup investing is not as risky as it's made out to be.
Timestamps
- 0:00 — Introduction: The Operator-Investor
- 1:15 — From Global Banking to Digital Healthcare
- 2:40 — The Accidental First Angel Investment
- 4:01 — Scaling to 1000+ Startup Investments
- 7:10 — Solving the Syndicate Cold Start Problem
- 9:30 — Advice for New Syndicate Leads
- 12:15 — Graduating from Syndicates to Funds
- 14:45 — The Unique Advantages of the Syndicate Model
- 16:30 — The Risk and Reward of Rolling Funds
- 20:00 — Thesis for a Late-Stage Secondary Fund
- 24:10 — Why Startup Investing Isn't as Risky as You Think
- 27:30 — The Rise of Liquidity in Venture Capital
- 29:15 — A Framework for Investing Across the Globe
- 32:00 — The Decision-Making Process for New Deals
About Sajid Rahman
Sajid Rahman is the Founder of My Asia VC, a platform through which he has invested in over 1000 startups across the globe, achieving more than 40 exits. A former banker who has worked in nine countries, he is an operator-investor who also runs a digital healthcare business in the emerging markets. Sajid is one of the most prolific angel investors in the world.
Founder at My Asia VC
About the Host
Nataraj Sindam is the creator of The Startup Project, a podcast featuring founders, investors, and operators building the future.
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