How This Corporate VC Invests in 30+ Startups: $200K–$2M Checks (Asia)
Most founders assume corporate venture capital works like traditional VC, just slower, more political, and wrapped in “strategic” buzzwords. After sitting down with Andy Cheng, it’s clear that the assumption misses the point. This conversation shows how some corporates use their balance sheet very differently. Not just to chase financial returns, but to intentionally build customers, partnerships, and long-term runway, often before a formal investment even happens. In the vi
Erdinc Ekinci
3 min read
How to Over-Subscribe Your Startup Before the Product Exists
Most founders believe traction begins after something is built. After the MVP. After the launch. After the deck is polished. After everything looks “ready.” After working with hundreds of startups and making the same mistakes myself, I’ve learned that this belief is backwards. In the video “How to Over-Subscribe Your Startup,” I break down a different reality: traction doesn’t start with a product. It starts with people. With conversations. With momentum that’s intentionall
Erdinc Ekinci
3 min read
Why every founder should be a content creator!
Here is the contradiction no founder wants to admit, most founders think traction begins after you have a product. They spend months building silently, then wonder why nobody cares. In 2025, 2026 and beyond, your value as a founder is equal to the content you put online. Not the product. Not the pitch deck. Not even your revenue. If you stay silent, you don’t just lose visibility. You lose opportunity, deal flow, talent, partnerships, and time. And here’s the resolution: Fo
Erdinc Ekinci
13 min read
The Hidden Struggles of Entrepreneurship: Mental Health, Human Challenges, and Building Resilience
Recently, I had the privilege of hosting an event titled “Human Side of Entrepreneurship: Lessons from 8K Startups + Open Mic Session” at Venture Café. It was a moment that reminded me why I love this ecosystem so much—not for the headlines or funding numbers, but for the raw, honest stories of founders navigating the rollercoaster of building something meaningful. Hosting this session allowed me to engage directly with founders, investors, and mentors, hearing firsthand the
Erdinc Ekinci
3 min read
LinkedIn Zero to 1M Sales on Linkedin In 3 Months
Most founders assume LinkedIn is a place for recruiters, job seekers, or B2B sales teams. But in 2025, it has quietly become one of the most powerful engines for building visibility, earning credibility, and attracting inbound opportunities — from partnerships and talent to million-dollar deals. Recently, I sat down with Brian JY Yoo — LinkedIn influencer, founder, mentor, and one of Korea’s most respected voices on personal branding for founders — to uncover what truly work
Erdinc Ekinci
3 min read
The Harsh Truth About Fundraising in Japan — with Lauren Nham
Raising venture capital in Japan isn’t just about convincing investors — it’s about understanding a very different game with its own rules, pace, and expectations. In this session, I had the opportunity to sit down with Lauren Nham — investor, operator, and long-time ecosystem builder connecting San Francisco and Tokyo — to uncover the realities behind Japan’s venture scene. From cultural conservatism to global benchmarks, Lauren’s insights revealed how founders are navigatin
Erdinc Ekinci
4 min read