Power to the Self-Starters
My life has been a tale of two worlds.
I was born in Agra, India. When I was very young we moved to Guam, and then when I was six, my family immigrated to the U.S.
I grew up in the Bay Area in California. Where we lived, it truly was a melting pot.
I met immigrants from all over the world.
There were so many tiny communities of people from different places, all coming here for a shot at a better life.
Silicon Valley looks very different to someone who grew up in a third-world country.
I’ve lived in every part of town.
When I was little, we lived near the Taj Mahal, but that palace might as well have been a million miles away.
I’ve lived in rough areas; and, thankfully, as my life has progressed, I’ve been able to live in better and better areas.
It’s a classic immigrant story.
I can really relate to self-starters. It comes down to perseverance.
At CRV I’m the one the founders meet when it’s time to sign the paperwork. I know what’s at stake. This is their identity.
Many of these companies are very early-stage when we start working together, and they’re led by first-time founders who need someone to walk them through the process. Getting into a long-term partnership like this requires trust. I make an effort to be transparent and clear, and make sure they have the tools necessary to make informed decisions.
I think one of the best things I can do to support entrepreneurs is to help them get organized.
They need to be mindful of a thousand things at once. They need to know what trends in finance are coming that can impact their business; what rules and regulations are changing.
It’s also my job to help them benchmark: How are they doing compared with other companies like theirs? The ones who know their business inside-out can be more nimble.
I think we’re in a service business. The whole team pulls together to help founders realize their vision.
