Investor Ateet Ahluwalia is the Sherlock Holmes of due diligence.
If you're hiding something, he'll find it.
So, what red flags does he look for?
1. Question-dodging: "If I asked you a question and you answer an adjacent question, you think either I'm stupid, or you don't know the answer, or you're hiding something."
2. Bunk comparisons: "When someone says, 'Hey, we're the Uber of X or the Airbnb of Y,' no, you're not. Uber is the Uber of Ubering and taking cars from here to there. You are not that. Stop telling me that, because you're trying to anchor my perception on the most survivorship-biased focused firm."
3. Snail-paced emails: "If I email you and I'm going to give you money that you need for your firm to work, how long does it take you to get back to me with the answer? That's a big deal..."
4. Ignorance: "If you don't know your competition, I don't know what you're doing, frankly."
5. Bullshit experience: "Do you just have the polo shirt with the logo? Or were you the girl or guy driving the deal?"
There's much more.
This one was too good not to share in full. Whether you're investing or seeking investment, strap yourself in for a masterclass...
Full episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5mcDlFNUJI&t=1s
Transcript: https://newsletter.osv.llc/p/the-many-bosses-of-a-venture-capitalist
