Sajid Rahman - Angel Investor Secrets - Lessons from 1000+ Startup Investments
with Sajid Rahman — Investor
Prolific angel investor Sajid Rahman, with over 1000 startup investments, returns to discuss the seismic shifts in the venture landscape. Learn his secrets for navigating down rounds, Web3, and the AI boom.
5 Things You'll Learn from This Episode
- Analyze the market shift from a funding boom to a cautious environment of down rounds and discounted secondary deals.
- Understand the reality of venture capital 'dry powder' and why committed capital doesn't always get deployed immediately.
- Identify the three key narratives currently driving the Web3 space: the intersection of AI and blockchain, real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, and decentralized infrastructure (DePIN).
- Learn how Web3 companies are shifting from token issuance to pure equity models to build large-scale infrastructure and avoid regulatory issues.
- Adopt a portfolio approach to your career by diversifying across different sectors (startups, infrastructure, regulatory boards) to hedge against risk.
About the Episode
Sajid Rahman, one of the world's most active angel investors, breaks down the current state of the startup ecosystem. He debunks the myth of 'dry powder,' offers a clear-eyed view on investing in Web3 and AI, and shares how he manages multiple venture funds and a diverse career portfolio.
Timestamps
- 0:00 — Introduction: The Evolving Investment Landscape
- 1:48 — From Bull Run to Down Rounds
- 4:05 — The Rise of Late-Stage Secondary Deals
- 7:44 — Debunking the Myth of VC 'Dry Powder'
- 13:11 — Deep Dive into the Crypto and Web3 Space
- 15:45 — Three Narratives Driving Web3: AI, RWA, and DePIN
- 18:45 — Navigating Scams and New Investment Structures
- 22:50 — Sajid's Four-Fund Investment Strategy
- 26:35 — How to Differentiate a YC-Focused Fund
- 30:00 — How Global Startup Ecosystems Have Changed
- 32:18 — Sajid's Personal Operating System
- 36:45 — The Strategy of Career Diversification
- 40:05 — Personal Portfolio Allocation and Hedging Risk
- 42:20 — Portfolio Performance and Big Exits
About Sajid Rahman
Sajid Rahman is a prolific angel investor and General Partner at MyAsiaVC with over 1300 investments in his portfolio. Besides running multiple venture funds focused on Web3, YC, and AI, he is also involved in large-scale infrastructure projects and serves on the board of ICANN.
Angel Investor & General Partner at MyAsiaVC
About the Host
Nataraj Sindam is the creator of The Startup Project, a podcast featuring founders, investors, and operators building the future.
→ Website
Subscribe to Startup Project for more founder conversations!
→ Spotify
#StartupProject #AngelInvesting #VentureCapital #Web3 #AI #DryPowder #Crypto #YC #Founder #Investing #SajidRahman