Personal Lessons From Startups – Part 3 of 5

2 min read

Asking for Help Investing in a startup when there is no product has a lot to do with evaluating the team and the market. When we look at the team, we evaluate not just the founders but the investors and advisors around the table. Often the strongest startups – especially when started by first-time founders – are strategic about who they surround themselves with and choose investors and advisors who bring complementary skills, relationships, and experience to the table. This reflects positively on the founder’s network and the potential of the startup idea especially when investors and advisors have domain…...

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Sonal Panda I am a Principal at Tau Ventures, investing in early stage AI startups in healthcare, enterprise, and automation. I began my career in buy-side M&A, evaluating multi-billion dollar deals at a Fortune 500 MNC in India, led business development at Asian Heart Institute - the #1 heart hospital in India, and served as Chief of Staff to the CEO at Signos - a digital health startup - where I joined as the first hire. I hold a BS in mechanical engineering from VJTI in Mumbai, and an MBA in Healthcare Management and Finance from Wharton. Coming from a family of doctors, I am passionate about healthcare which extended to mental health and wellness while volunteering and leading outreach efforts at Samaritans Mumbai - a suicide prevention helpline. Outside San Francisco, I feel most at home in remote corners of the world photographing wildlife (@sonal.panda).