Lessons from Building Seek and Square Peg with Paul Bassat
Jun 28, 2022
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Paul Bassat shares insights on his journey building Seek, transitioning from law to tech startups, and his investments in major companies. He discusses balancing planning and serendipity, navigating uncertainty in crypto markets, and SquarePeg's high-conviction investment approach.
Founders should prioritize sustainable growth for long-term success.
VC firms should differentiate through strategies like valuation sensitivity and platform development.
Deep dives
Focus on Growth for Startups
Startups often prioritize growth over profitability, but sustainability should be a key focus. Achieving profitable growth is essential for long-term success. Founders should balance rapid revenue growth with sustainable business models to build enduring businesses.
Venture Capital Shifts
The venture capital industry has transformed over the years, becoming more geographically diverse and introducing varied business models. VC funds should differentiate themselves through strategies such as valuation sensitivity and platform development. Adapting to market conditions and remaining authentic are crucial for sustained success.
Influence of Authenticity and Passion
Authenticity and passion are vital for success in any career. Finding something you love and excelling at it is the ultimate definition of career success. Maintaining authenticity, being genuine, and pursuing endeavors aligned with personal passion lead to fulfilling and impactful career journeys.
Challenges in Healthcare Data Management
A significant opportunity lies in streamlining healthcare data management. Creating a user-controlled app that centralizes and shares medical information could revolutionize the healthcare system. By reducing data friction and ensuring accurate data availability, such a solution could enhance efficiency and save lives.
Paul is one of our favourite guests we’ve ever interviewed. Apart from saying we were his favourite podcast he was humble and shared so much knowledge. We discussed his drivers, building Seek, Square Pegs story and how he finds balance.
Favourite Book: Sapiens- Yuval Noah Harari
Podcast: Masters of Scale- Reid Hoffman
Influential figure you’ve never met: Nelson Mandela
Investment that got away: Linktree
Favourite hobby outside of work: Golf and tennis
What’s a great business that no-one is building: App where users control their data and choose where it gets shared
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