Singaporeans need to think bigger: Tech investor

In Silicon Valley, where rags-to-riches stories of tech gurus are told in every cafe, the one about the carpet merchant who became a tech investor may have been overlooked.

Mr Amidi knew start-ups were looking for cheap spaces to rent. With the tech scene growing out of infancy in the late 1990s, he went from landlord to investor. The firm specialises in running programmes for firms, including those in fintech, health and wellness, brand and retail, the Internet of Things and a 10-week Start-up Camp for pre-seed start-ups. It has a presence in 28 locations globally, including Singapore and Jakarta.

Q How did you get involved in helping start-ups grow? A I come from a family of entre-preneurs. We had several businesses in Iran before the revolution. When we came to the US, we bought a building in Palo Alto, California, that we called the"Lucky Building" because it had Google, PayPal and Logitech as tenants. It was great to rent space to these start-ups, but we wanted to play a larger role in their success through investing, introductions and mentorship.

Q What do you think are the strongest qualities of an entrepreneur? A First is the energy or the feeling that they must be successful - so it is the drive and passion. It's even more important than the idea.Take PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel - he still possesses the same energy, passion and hard work ethic that drove him to success back then.

Q Is it true that you are more likely to bet on teams, rather than solo founders? A We have almost 1,000 start-ups that we have invested in and we have less than 20 that have a solo founder. So I don't believe in solo founders. You hear the war stories, the rags-to-riches stories, and you think,"If they can do it, maybe I can do it too".

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

To lure young talent, banks mimic tech workspacesTattooed models in mustard robes replaced the usual gray-suited bankers at Nordea Bank's Copenhagen headquarters recently, as the Danish bank ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Sats' new tech cuts waste from airplane mealsAfter every flight, extra meals end up in the bin.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

US warns use of untrusted tech could limit data-sharing with alliesThe U.S. Embassy in Berlin said on Monday that use of untrusted vendors by allies in their 5G mobile networks could jeopardise future sharing of ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Heavyweight Boeing pressures Dow, while tech lifts S&P & NasdaqThe S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures eked out gains on Monday as investors took a cautious stance after a weak U.S. jobs report raised questions of ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Wall Street lifted by tech shares, heavyweight Boeing pares lossesThe S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures eked out gains on Monday as investors took a cautious stance after a weak U.S. jobs report raised questions of ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

China to boost science and tech research spendingChina will continue boosting state investment in and support for science and technology research this year, even as top officials refrained from mentioning a controversial industrial plan that has drawn criticism from the West.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

Sats’ new tech cuts waste from airplane mealsAfter every flight, extra meals end up in the bin. To reduce waste, Sats, a major player in the food industry and Changi Airport's main airline caterer, has invested in new technology to extend the shelf life of cooked food. This means that those extra meals can be served...
Source: thenewpaper - 🏆 7. / 63 Read more »

Changing the face of tech one girl at a timeVolunteering at a kids' hackathon at a community centre here six years ago, Dr Ayesha Khanna was given a visceral reminder of a deep-seated bias when it comes to women and tech.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

Huawei criticises US pressure on Berlin over 5G techBERLIN: China's Huawei on Tuesday criticised the United States for warning Berlin that it could scale back intelligence cooperation with Germany ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Huawei criticizes US pressure on Berlin over 5G techChina's Huawei on Tuesday criticized the United States for warning Berlin that it could scale back intelligence cooperation with Germany if it ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »