Ep 74: Raising USD 70M+ in Southeast Asia | Michael Lints (Partner, Golden Gate Ventures)

Michael Lints is currently a Partner at the Singapore-based
venture capital firm Golden Gate Ventures. He joined the firm in
2013 and is currently leading growth venture efforts, which
include LP fundraising and portfolio management for Golden Gate
Venture's investments at Series B and beyond. He has helped to
raise over USD $60M for Golden Gate Ventures and its portfolio
companies, including helping to raise later stage rounds from
external investors as well as leading two early strategic
acquisitions. 


In this episode, we uncover what Michael was like as a child (he
took apart the first computer he received), how he convinced his
dean to let him skip a year at university, before selling his
house and car to start his first IT managed services
startup. 


That startup was acquired by a large data and telecom company six
years later. 


In 2007, Michael founded a venture fund focused on Dutch small-
and medium-sized enterprises to help them with capital financing,
business development, and strategy. During the same period, he
was invited to join the Economic Development Board Rotterdam as
Vice Chairman. In that role, he launched the Young Economic
Development Board where he brought together a highly influential
Dutch network to develop a sustainable framework for
public-private relationships that increased local business
investment while leveraging the public infrastructure.


In this episode, we cover all things startup, investments and
also his recent documentary, Broken Chains - mending the missing
links in the racial wealth gap.





Highlights:


2:53 Taking apart his first computer

3:59 Being on the Dutch National Karate Team

5:00 Skipping a year at university

6:20 Getting into insurance & realising he never wanted
to work for another corporation again

8:14 Selling his car & house to co-founder his first IT
startup

9:40 Pivoting from being a comparison site to a data center

10:51 Being on the same board as the CEO of ING &
Unilever, Prime Minister of New Zealand & Head of the UN

15:53 Obsession with focus

17:00 Studying at Harvard

17:53 Discovering the venture scene in Singapore/Southeast
Asia

19:38 How can I be helpful?

21:29 Raising over USD 60 million

22:54 Getting a foot in the door

24:46 Experience fundraising in the Middle East & Europe

26:20 How the Southeast Asia startup scene has evolved

29:39 What Michael looks for in a founder

31:54 Importance of local knowledge

34:32 Getting deal flow

35:46 Investment mistakes made 

36:59 Investment thesis

37:49 Areas of interest to Michael

40:17 How the pandemic has impacted Michael’s portfolio
companies

41:37 Fundraising in the pandemic/post-pandemic era

43:44 Framework for maintaining focus

45:36 How to find good mentors for yourself

47:06 Broken Chains






Show notes:
www.sothisismywhy.com/74        





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