Category: IPO Hopeful

The startup I mentioned before that completed its Series A funding came in town after their shareholder meeting so I ended up joining them for dinner with a few other folks and the conversation got lively. Honestly, I made a small investment in this company at first mainly because of a few friends who hit the jackpot with startups and retired in one go. They always said it was pure luck, that it was only because of their connections and access to deal flow which made them so lucky back then. But to be honest, I think luck is part... Continue reading

Continuing from the last post, after stepping into enough pitfalls over the years, I’ve developed one principle: demand is king. When people start off by bragging about how amazing the team is, how well-funded they are, and so on, it goes in one ear and out the other for me. Demand is the “1,” and everything else is just the zeros that come after it. Without proven demand, all the rest is meaningless. So, before the appetizers were served, I went straight into skepticism: What’s your traction now?Since their product involves placing tablets in hotels, my questions naturally covered two... Continue reading

Continuing from the last post, Kevin said, “The golden goose is the tablet. Why can we provide and install it for hotels entirely free? Because we have sponsors—our ‘golden daddies.’”“And who are these golden daddies?” I asked.“Advertisers!”I was skeptical. “What kind of advertisers are willing to spend that much? Is there really a demand for this?”Kevin chuckled. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. You clearly don’t know this space lol! There are three types of advertisers: Local advertisers, like tours, museums, restaurants, they will pay high prices to be on those billboards in the guestrooms!  Also, big brands like luxury goods, travel related... Continue reading

Continuing from the last post, Kevin explained that monopolization of screen advertising by major sponsors is simply not going to happen. “We’ve implemented limits to ensure that even the biggest domestic and international advertisers will only get less than 20% of the screen space. The remaining 80% is reserved exclusively for the hotels themselves, local suppliers, consumer brands, and the local government.”He elaborated, “Think about it: if you’re a tourist staying at a hotel, wouldn’t you be more interested in local events, attractions, restaurants, and shopping options? That’s where we deliver the greatest value—offering hotel guests the information they actually... Continue reading