Insight certainty 4/5 debate potential 3/5

Craig: Founder qualities are the only thing early-stage investors can truly evaluate

Paige Craig · 20VC: 'The Best Seed Investors Hunt' with Paige Craig @ Arena VC · Mar 30, 2016 · at 4:23

Paige Craig, founder and general partner at Arena Ventures, explains his founder-centric investment thesis for early-stage venture capital.

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“But to me, the, Qualities of the founders are the most important, the most enduring part of any company, and the only thing you can truly understand as an early stage investor”

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