Discussion
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Mahendra R
@mahendra_gr · Author, Optimist, Security Startups
Hi - I'm Mahendra Ramsinghani, founder of Secure Octane, a cybersecurity seed fund and author of 2 books - "The Business of Venture Capital" and "Startup Boards" (with VC Brad Feld). I've helped launch a VC fund-of-funds & have invested in 50+ startups. Delighted to be here - please ask me anything. Except my views on Donald Trump!
Andrew Ettinger
@andrewett · Product Marketing, Twitter (ex-PH)
@mahendra_gr Which product(s) in your portfolio do you wish every casual internet user knew about?
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Mahendra R
@mahendra_gr · Author, Optimist, Security Startups
@andrewmettinger I'm not heavy into consumer play and most of the companies I am working with are deeply technical. However, every casual internet user should be aware of #cybersecurity challenges and do some basic things to protect themselves. (Like two factor authentication)
Andrew Ettinger
@andrewett · Product Marketing, Twitter (ex-PH)
@mahendra_gr What is something you believe about cybersecurity that most people would disagree with you on?
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Mahendra R
@mahendra_gr · Author, Optimist, Security Startups
@andrewmettinger Ah - ha - Let me channel Peter Thiel for a moment ;-) (Thinking....)
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Mahendra R
@mahendra_gr · Author, Optimist, Security Startups
@andrewmettinger Cybersecurity budgets are tied to an archaic formula of 10% of IT budget. This makes no sense whatsoever. But most enterprises operate that way, (Till they get hacked).
Hash_tag_jeff
@jeffumbro · Book Marketing and PR - get in touch
@mahendra_gr Why can't we ask about Trump?
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Mahendra R
@mahendra_gr · Author, Optimist, Security Startups
@jeffumbro Because I dont believe he is the kind of person who can lead our country. We need more talented people in Washington. Its just my opinion though. FWIW ;-)
Hash_tag_jeff
@jeffumbro · Book Marketing and PR - get in touch
@mahendra_gr Most authors, especially business authors, write their books for different reasons. A lot of them don't particularly care about sales, though of course that would be nice. I hear that often CEOs and business men and women will write a book as a kind of business card, or as a ticket to get into the news. What are your thoughts here and why did you write your books?
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Mahendra R
@mahendra_gr · Author, Optimist, Security Startups
@jeffumbro Thats a great question - my goal to write the book on VC was to help someone who wants to be a VC understand the challenges of investing. There is no formulaic approach + lots of challenges. There was no book that said it as it is.
Emily Hodgins
@ems_hodge · Community and Marketing, Product Hunt
@mahendra_gr what do you look for when investing? Can you share something your've changed in your strategy from early-on learnings?
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Mahendra R
@mahendra_gr · Author, Optimist, Security Startups
@ems_hodge Great founders and great markets = simple answer. The harder part is to get beneath the surface + build lasting ties with founders no matter what the outcome. We are all human beings first and founders / Vcs later.
Andrew Ettinger
@andrewett · Product Marketing, Twitter (ex-PH)
What reading would you recommend to the "I have nothing to hide" person? This Reddit comment is the best point on the matter, that I've seen.
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Mahendra R
@mahendra_gr · Author, Optimist, Security Startups
@andrewmettinger Not sure if I understand the question - can you rephrase -thx.
Andrew Ettinger
@andrewett · Product Marketing, Twitter (ex-PH)
@mahendra_gr Sorry! Was in an exam. On the issue of privacy, folks often say they have nothing to hide and they don't care if they're being watched (by government). Is there any one go-to video, article, etc. you have that opens people's eyes on the matter? Gets them thinking. Or is this less your domain?
Ben Tossell
@bentossell · Community Lead, Product Hunt
what is the most exciting market for you right now?
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Mahendra R
@mahendra_gr · Author, Optimist, Security Startups
@bentossell I'm deep into the #cybersecurity trenches. But I can see the promise of #AI, #blockchain as well...
Ben Tossell
@bentossell · Community Lead, Product Hunt
What was your latest investment you can tell us about and why did you say yes?
h/t @harrystebbings
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Mahendra R
@mahendra_gr · Author, Optimist, Security Startups
@bentossell Am excited about a number of them - @kryptnostic is building a new way to keep data encrypted at all times and still be able to use it. And Andy Bechtolsheim (first angel in Google) just invested in the company ;-)
Emily Hodgins
@ems_hodge · Community and Marketing, Product Hunt
@mahendra_gr what do you prefer, writing, founding, or investing?
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Mahendra R
@mahendra_gr · Author, Optimist, Security Startups
@ems_hodge Writing can help the society for much longer than we live (and is very therapeutic) but does not pay the bills ;-) So we do everything else...