BRAVE: Founder Control VS. VC Governance, Exit Risk & Value Protection - E665

Youtube: https://youtu.be/yQWLfgyQLBo

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/4MAT3nz6n9m7R7QxMzJqnb?si=55b1d944023c4e16

"ChatGPT OpenAI may look like a Goliath today as the clear market leader, but there is a non-zero chance of the company failing, especially if there is an AI crash. We already saw this risk during the board control dispute, when questions about AI safety and trust in Sam Altman as CEO led to real value destruction. If Altman had been forced to leave, OpenAI would have followed a very different trajectory, with some arguing the value might have been higher and others believing it would have been much lower, which is something worth thinking carefully about." - Jeremy Au, Host of BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast

"VCs need to be thoughtful not only about selecting the right teams but also about helping them survive the early stage. Many incubators and accelerators, especially those working with very early startups, spend significant time coaching founders, teaching them how to work together, and connecting them with people who can help." - Jeremy Au, Host of BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast

"Even though it is well known that older founders have a higher chance of success because they have more experience, more self-awareness, and are less likely to make bad decisions, VCs still tend to invest in younger founders. One explanation discussed in the research is that older entrepreneurs often have more resources and can self-fund their progress, so they do not need to sell as much equity. As a result, VCs may index toward younger founders who need venture capital and where VCs believe they can add more value." - Jeremy Au, Host of BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast

Jeremy Au discusses how value is created, preserved, and lost in Southeast Asian startups, focusing on governance, control rights, and exit risk. The conversation looks at real founder–investor breakdowns, regulatory shocks, and why weak structure often shows up only when things go wrong. It explains why growth alone is not enough, and how control, trust, and exit planning shape outcomes in emerging markets.