Render Capital's New Principal: Triet Nguyen

My name is Triet Nguyen, the new Principal of Render Capital. Gratitude fills me as I reflect on the invaluable guidance and support from our team (especially Patrick Henshaw, our Managing Director) along with fellow investors, founders, LPs, and all my mentors. Their mentorship has been instrumental in my journey.

Allow me to share some reflections and lessons learned along the way:

• Founder-friendly is overrated. It’s better to be founder-respected.
• The luckiest people are the happiest people. I was the luckiest when I was already the happiest. Happy people tend to attract luck, but they’re still happy without it.
• It’s better to miss out on good deals than to be too eager and hop into a bad one. Great opportunities are like bus stops, if you miss one, there’s another coming in a few minutes. But if you hop on the wrong one, your whole trip is messed up.
• Great investors attract great founders. Greatness attracts greatness.
• The same is true personally. It’s okay to let great people walk out of your life if they need space, but it’ll destroy you to hang on to terrible people.
• Be bold. Be outrageous with your conviction. Have a crazy or dumb investment theory? Share it as your truth. It’s okay to be embarrassed, if you’re not embarrassed by it, you’re most likely not dreaming big enough for the future of innovation.
• Be flexible and detached from feedback. Be grateful that someone had the courage to share their truth with you, even if it’s not a truth you want to hear.
• The more senior a position you want as a VC, the more strategic you have to become. You can no longer focus on one fund; you have to think two to four funds into the future.
• Play things close to the chest. Most people are only curious, but not interested in you.
• Choose people who will say your name in a room full of opportunities, whether it’s filled with founders, investors, or LPs. The same goes for your personal life.
• Ask dumb questions, even in the boardroom. Most people aren’t as smart as the version of themselves we create in our heads.
• It’s okay to be obsessed with your craft. Most people won’t understand it. The only difference between passion and obsession is the audience listening to you. That’s why outsiders think we’re crazy to work so much.

I’m ecstatic about what this new chapter in my life will bring, all the lessons, people, opportunities, and so much more. If you’re a founder, investor, or aspiring VC who wants to connect, please email me at triet@render.capital.