Don't Wait For Permission, Go After Your Dreams: Dave Lu, Hyphen Capital

The Blind Ambition with Jack Kelly

Dave Lu is a seasoned Silicon Valley technology professional who transitioned from being a successful entrepreneur, Emmy Award-winning producer to a venture capitalist. He established Hyphen Capital, an investment firm dedicated to supporting and empowering Asian American founders by providing early-stage funding and access to a robust professional network.

In this episode, Dave shares his personal journey of overcoming the scarcity mindset that was deeply ingrained in him. He describes how he diverged from the conventional career trajectory, which he found unfulfilling, and highlights the challenges faced by individuals from cultures that stigmatize failure. Dave emphasizes that this cultural aversion to failure can significantly hinder one's ability to take risks and believe in oneself.

Instead of seeking validation from peers or waiting for permission, Dave stresses the importance of proactively creating opportunities. He suggests that this can be achieved by identifying one's unique strengths or "superpower" and developing a personal brand centered around these distinctive abilities.

Lastly, Dave advocates for the power of building relationships and trust as a means to open new doors and advance one's career.