The Full Ratchet (TFR): Venture Capital and Startup Investing Demystified Investor Stories 442. The Habits of Exceptional Founders, From Recruiting Great Teams to Understanding Customers (Walsh, Niehenke, Hilaly)
Nov 24, 2025
Shameen Walsh, a venture investor at BAM Ventures, shares insights on effective founder communication and company culture, highlighting the importance of building strong team dynamics. She praises Ryan from Arrow Finance for his deep connection with employees. Alexander Niehenke discusses Shoaib Makani’s visionary approach at Motive, emphasizing customer focus and strategic resilience. Aaref Hilaly showcases Ashwin from Decagon for his rigorous problem-solving skills. Together, they reveal the habits that make exceptional founders thrive.
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Communication Builds Culture And Retention
- Exceptional founders prioritize deep, regular communication with investors and teams.
- Shameen Walsh says this personal touch improves culture and retention.
Prioritize Genuine Personal Relationships
- Invest time in genuine, non-transactional relationships with employees and investors.
- Shameen Walsh recommends getting to know people personally to bring out their best.
Vision Survived Massive Setbacks
- Alex Niehenke describes Shoaib Makani's long-term vision surviving pivots and failures.
- He recounts building and shutting a business while the founder kept the original vision intact.