Priya Mohan of Venture Highway explains what she has learned about decision frameworks and accountability in early-stage investing.
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Mohan: Vidyartha data revealed a massive gap between student aptitude and academics
“In Vidyartha, I had this massive data state by state to show how there's a huge gap between aptitude and academics, because kids are taught to score, right? But they're not taught to learn.”
Disclosure
Mohan: Venture Highway obtains board rights without always exercising them immediately
“A lot of these companies, we, you know we have board positions, but we choose to take it at an appropriate time. So we don't necessarily exercise the board position.”
Insight
Mohan: Confirmation bias is the biggest psychological trap in venture capital
“I think the biggest,
Bias, to be very frank with you is confirmation bias, right?
Like, ah, you know, the minute you think you like something about a deal, you're searching and seeking for information which is going to just agree upon the decision which you pe…”
Insight
Mohan: Early-stage venture skill lies in applying frameworks to heterogeneous founders
“What is interesting about this is you can at best create frameworks,
But when you apply them, it's applied on such heterogeneous data points, right?
You will never find two founders who are the same.
You will never find similar profiles.
You'll never find simi…”
Insight
Mohan: Great operators do not automatically make great venture capital investors
“If you think you're a good, ah, jockey, great, but don't think being a good jockey is going to automatically make you great at horse picking, right? Those are two different skills, and that's something I learned very quickly.”
Insight
Mohan: Breakout unicorns require conviction-based investment calls, not firm consensus
“Every big Decacon unicorn today is a regret for the VCs who are not in it, right? And if you've seen some of the best journeys, This comes back to the original point which I made in, in answer to your question as to how's the decision-making adventure highway.…”