Three things I learned from AMA with David Cohen, co-founder and CEO of Techstars:
1️⃣ Investors are hunters, not gatherers: No one really knows which companies will succeed (despite claims of “of course we knew”), but one thing is certain: investors never invest in companies they don’t like. Since every investor has their own selection criteria, a rejection isn’t personal, nor does it mean your company won’t succeed. Also, you don’t invest in ideas. Ideas evolve. What matters is the team and the market—those are the real indicators of long-term success.
2️⃣ The best long-term investment? Community and network. Relationships grow and compound over time, often paying off in unexpected ways. That’s how Techstars built an amazing community and network – not just between Techstars and their companies, but among the Techstars companies
3️⃣ Ruthlessly prioritize. A simple index card system can help—write down the few most important things to accomplish this week. Time-box deliberately to stay focused. Otherwise, distractions will take over: “I know there’s going to be a disaster today, I just don’t know what it is yet.”