Embarking on a Startup Journey: A Short Story
Context
I want to take a moment to rewind the clock to a pivotal day. On that day, I made a decision that drastically changed the trajectory of my life. It was a hard decision that, at first, seemed like a no-brainer, yet also made all the sense in the world.
The moment
The sky was clear, and the midday sun’s heat was palpable. I had never experienced such heat in November. My eyes settled comfortably on the breathtaking angles of Kuala Lumpur’s skyscrapers, a view beyond anything I had seen before. I nervously waited for my phone to ring, but the only sound was the chaotic traffic jams.
Moments like these are challenging to enjoy when my thoughts spin wildly, trying to paint the ‘ideal’ picture of the future. But while I held onto this thought, I suddenly felt a vibration and grabbed my phone like a maniac, recognizing that this was what I had been waiting for. I stumbled over an insecure-sounding ‘Hello?’ while my heart pumped to new heights.
“We want to offer you a role” — those were the first and last words I heard before my thoughts began spinning wildly again. I didn’t remember much about that conversation, except for the feeling that something wasn’t entirely right. How was it even possible that I felt nothing at all? I had spent months dreaming about this role, investing endless hours in case studies, and networking like crazy to connect with as many people as possible. Despite all of that effort, I didn’t feel anything. Not a single drop.
Breaking the path
After meticulously planning for years, my efforts had finally borne fruit. Turning my obsessive vision of breaking into VC full-time was a dream come true. However, in the depths of my mind, a nagging voice asked one of the most uncomfortable questions — “Am I truly excited about this opportunity?”.
After contemplating for a couple of days, I politely declined the offer. At first, I felt like a mad man, but suddenly, that feeling transformed into a sense of lightness as if the weight of a hundred pounds had been lifted off my shoulders. Finally, I could focus all my energy on answering the question that had been nagging at me — whether this was what I wanted to do, instead of solely fixating on joining the best firm or the most prestigious industry.
Evaluation
Fast forwarding to the present day, after screening hundreds of companies, talking to dozens of founders, and engaging in numerous coffee chats with operators and investors, I can proudly say that I can answer that question without any doubt.
What excites me is being part of a small team during the earliest stages of a startup’s lifecycle. I believe that there are few things more thrilling than joining a startup right before a point of inflection. What’s even better is that my VC experiences played a pivotal role in evaluating which startup to join.
Opportunity
Out of all the startups that I had the fortune to talk to, one stood out the most: Strise, a startup specializing in developing technology for financial institutions to fight money laundering (AML).
During the interview stages, the conversations felt more like brainstorming sessions. Our discussions all lasted for more than an hour, where we enthusiastically talked about future opportunities, filling the room with an unparalleled level of energy. Their ability to think outside the box, risk-taking attitude, and friendly and ambitious people really left a mark.I left each conversation already looking forward to the next.
I couldn’t be happier and more excited to share that I will be joining Strise in their Oslo office. Strise not only provided me with that almost euphoric excitement of being part of something special, but also offered me an unparalleled chance to make an impact from day one. At Strise, I will work alongside co-founder Marit Rødevand (CEO) and on all aspects of growth and strategic projects, with a priority on our upcoming Series A and expansion into the UK.
Final words
Sudden changes are by definition daunting, and this unforgettable feeling only grows exponentially with how much we tie our identity with a certain idea of ourselves. Maintaining mental plasticity to make these changes has been one of the most fruitful challenges of my life, and has helped me answer what I believe is one of the key questions to ask before embarking on anything in life: “How excited are you about the opportunity?”. If you can honestly answer this question, magical things tend to follow.
Did I need an essay to make this announcement? Probably not. Was it fun to write, and am I excited about joining Strise? Heck yes. :)
Dreaming big,
Michelangelo Pagliara
Last words
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About the author
This piece is written by Michelangelo Pagliara, ex-FA at Strise, co-founder of Venture Insider, and previous VC Analyst at Antler, Samsung NEXT and KPN Ventures, and Founder Associate at Back (now part of Personio).
