E28: Han Shen on Unsexy Startups, Consumer Trends, and Investing Slightly Early

Our guest this week is Han Shen, Founding Partner of iFly.vc. iFly is an early-stage firm with a non-consensus, high-conviction approach to investing. Han himself is a very successful investor but also matches that success with equal levels of modesty and empathy. We talked about investing in non-consensus startups in an industry that is very consensus-driven, the vibe shift, investing with conviction, and how Han was turned down by hundreds of investors for his first fund and still lived to tell the tale. Please enjoy.    Takeaways + Unsexy parts of the market can yield the best opportunities.+ Non-consensus investing allows for unique insights.+ Consumer spending is a massive market with evolving trends.+ Tech enablement is crucial for driving consumer innovation.+ Listening to customers is essential for success.+ Fundraising can be an emotional journey filled with challenges.+ Building relationships is key in venture capital.+ Diversity in investing goes beyond just ethnicity.+ Concentrated investing can lead to better outcomes.+ Continuous learning is vital for founders and investors alike.   Investing in Startups is hosted by Joe Magyer and produced by Seaplane Ventures.