Investor Stories 462: Study the Masters, Develop Your Own Eye, and Stop Outsourcing Conviction (Wang, Mohapatra, Banks)
Three seasoned investors tackle a fundamental problem in venture capital: junior VCs who rely too heavily on consensus and surface-level research instead of developing independent conviction. The conversation centers on practical strategies for building investment instincts, with Lightspeed's Haymanth Mohapatra offering a particularly compelling framework drawn from Michelangelo's artistic mastery—study the masters first, then develop your own eye.
Key takeaways
- •Study the investment masters extensively before attempting to develop your own unique perspective, following Michelangelo's approach to learning sculpture.
- •Focus research on areas that mainstream media and other VCs aren't discussing, giving younger investors a competitive edge through original thesis development.
- •Talk directly to real buyers and users rather than relying on podcasts, Bloomberg, or shared deal flow for market insights.
- •Back yourself when you identify exceptional founders, even if the consensus disagrees—these rare individuals are too valuable to pass up due to groupthink.
- •Build conviction through deep, independent work rather than outsourcing decision-making to peer networks or popular opinion.
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