Category: VC Investors

What happens when you jump into entrepreneurship without a co-founder and without a safety net? Vijay Rajendran has done just that, and more. In this episode, he shares his journey from launching Hungry Globetrotter to leading digital innovation at global banks and advising hundreds of startups. We dig into the emotional weight of solo founding, the value of structured support, and why your “path to moat” matters more than having one on day one. Vijay also talks about his approach to hiring, staying in your zone of genius, and increasing your surface area for opportunity. Packed with practical wisdom and honest reflections, this one is for anyone building from zero to one. --- Episode Resources “The Hard Thing About Hard Things” by Ben Horowitz (https://a.co/d/5sivXFO)  “Zero to One” by Peter Thiel (https://a.co/d/8q4Dut7)  “Venture Deals” by Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson (https://a.co/d/brj0OO0)  “How Will You Measure Your Life?” by Clayton Christensen (https://a.co/d/8l6kqb7)  “Never Split the Difference” by Chris Voss (https://a.co/d/ir3M1YX)  “The Funding Framework” by Vijay Rajendran (https://a.co/d/7szE3tu)  “The Illusion of Invincibility or Why Cannons > Moats” article by Vijay Rajendran (https://open.substack.com/pub/startupsystem/p/the-illusion-of-invincibility-or?r=1z3bi1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false) 

How do you spot, then evaluate, the breakthrough technologies of tomorrow? In today’s episode, I sit down with James Wang — a deep tech investor who helps unpack the truths behind venture capital, startup success, and the gritty realities of building frontier technology companies. From founding a startup with his wife to investing in AI, robotics, and synthetic biology, James shares hard-earned insights on what separates funded founders from the rest, why the best product doesn’t always win, and how momentum — not just money — makes or breaks a startup. Whether you’re pitching, investing, or just curious about how it all really works, this conversation offers valuable perspective from a thought-leader in the niche but fascinating world of deep tech investing. --- Episode Resources Subscribe to James’ Blog (https://weightythoughts.com) Get more info on Creative Ventures (https://creativeventures.vc)