Negotiate Anything

The Power of Empathy: Jonathan Keidan's Tips for Authentic Negotiations

Jan 14, 2025

In this discussion, Jonathan Keidan, founder of Torch Capital and former music industry manager, shares his remarkable career transition to venture capital. He emphasizes the pivotal role of empathy and trust in negotiations, revealing how they create win-win scenarios. Keidan explores the intersection of technology and consumer behavior, offering insights on adapting to business pivots and maintaining founder motivation. Listeners gain valuable tactics grounded in reality and data for informed decision-making, fostering supportive relationships in the negotiation process.

38:06

Episode guests

Jonathan Keidan

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Empathy and trust-building are crucial in negotiations, allowing investors and founders to maintain open dialogue through challenges and changes.

Grounding negotiations in data-driven realities can create win-win scenarios, enabling both parties to innovate while navigating industry pivots effectively.

Deep dives

The Early Stage Investment Landscape

Early stage investing focuses on the dynamics of seed-stage companies, where technology plays a crucial role in shaping consumer behavior. Investors assess a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, fintech, and media, to identify promising opportunities. The podcast emphasizes the importance of understanding consumer ecosystems and adapting to changes driven by technological advancements, similar to the transformations seen in the early 2010s with the rise of apps like Uber and Airbnb. With AI rapidly evolving, investors must remain vigilant about the potential recalibrations in various industries and their implications for future investments.

Intro

2min

Navigating the Intersection of Technology and Consumer Behavior

2min

From Melodies to Mergers

8min

Negotiation Through Collaboration: A Journey from Music Management to Startup Ventures

4min

Building Trust in Negotiations

18min

Engaging Further and Unlocking Premium Negotiation Insights

2min

Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company

In this episode, Kwame Christian sits down with Jonathan Keidan, founder of Torch Capital, to explore the nuances of negotiation in early-stage venture investing. Keidan shares his extraordinary journey from the music industry to venture capital, revealing the importance of empathy, data-driven decisions, and trust-building in effective negotiations. The conversation highlights how investors and founders can navigate business pivots and disruptive industry changes while maintaining transparent, supportive relationships. Together, they delve into the balance of motivation and reality, offering listeners rich insights into creating win-win scenarios in the negotiation process.

What Will Be Covered:

The impact of grounding negotiations in objective reality and using data for informed decision-making.
Jonathan Keidan's unique career journey from music manager to venture capitalist, including key career transitions.
Tactical advice on how to handle business pivots, high valuations, and maintaining founder motivation.

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Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn

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