Life Advice “Take the Red Pill”

Hyoungjin Kim, a partner at Klover Partners, is a venture capitalist who demonstrates a listening attitude towards entrepreneurs. Despite being a veteran who has experienced all aspects of the startup industry, including entrepreneurship, venture capital, and limited partners (LPs), he believes that a positive mindset based on the perception that VCs are ‘yields’ and entrepreneurs are ‘principals’ leads to economic growth.

[Life] Take the Red Pill
When thinking of successful individuals, I recall a nun who went on missionary work to Africa. She is my role model, as she provides medical and educational services and shares with those who have not received benefits. If I become such a person, I would feel truly happy and confidently claim that I have succeeded.

I graduated from the Computer Science Department at Seoul National University, but I used to dislike being in that department since childhood. Personally, I believed that the pinnacle of a profession that helps others is being a doctor, who directly saves lives. However, I could not achieve a high enough score on medical school entrance exams, so I ended up in the Computer Science Department, which led to a lot of self-blame and dissatisfaction.

However, looking back, I realized that while a doctor can help individuals one-on-one, the programs or products developed by engineers can simultaneously improve the lives of many people (1:N). At that time, I did not know about network effects and the power of automation, but I learned about them through various activities and studies later on. In fact, the initial funding for my first startup came from a patent I developed while working at Daum. It was a filter technology that automatically screened harmful images. It was just a program, but through this technology, I was able to reduce the pain of many employees who spent all day manually filtering inappropriate images.

I want to be remembered as someone who leaves a warm impact on the world when I leave. Now, looking back, I am grateful that I had the opportunity to learn about the power of network effects and automation through a path I did not originally want to take. So, I truly appreciate it. No matter how difficult or unpleasant the present may be, nobody knows what kind of help or glory it will bring in the future. Therefore, I believe that even in the face of hardships, we should pursue tasks that may lead to new and greater achievements.

In the movie “The Matrix,” there is a scene where the protagonist has to choose between taking the red pill and facing the painful reality or taking the blue pill and living in blissful ignorance. I always want to advise myself and others to take the red pill.

[Thinking] Thinking Method for Complex and Difficult Situations
I believe that when something is perceived as complex and difficult, it is a signal that something is wrong. If a problem continues to bother oneself, getting too absorbed in that situation can often become detrimental. Therefore, I make efforts not to be entangled in such thoughts when faced with a situation that seems to have no clear answer.

For example, to quickly forget about it, I would engage in unrelated thoughts or watch movies until late at night, get a good night’s sleep, and wake up. Then, in the morning, I may see a solution that was not visible the day before or come up with new ideas. In this way, when faced with complex and difficult situations, I make an effort to divert my mind from the problem at hand to clear my thoughts.

- Box -
· One phrase I would write on my billboard: Take the red pill.
· My secret that others don’t agree with: It only needs to have a 0.1% possibility.
· My principle: Prioritize the vulnerable class.
· My habit: Avoid using profanity.
· Common traits of successful entrepreneurs: Manage and utilize time effectively.
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[Entrepreneurship] Most Common Mistake of Entrepreneurs
While starting my own business and observing other founders, I believe the most common mistake entrepreneurs make is the inability to make choices and focus. Once they set a principle, they should stick to it and continue moving forward. However, founders often get too preoccupied with pursuing immediate results because of their strong desire for success.

From my personal experience, I can share an example of this. When starting my own business, my product development capabilities were not fully prepared, but I focused solely on winning contracts. I secured numerous proof-of-concept (POC) projects and development contracts when the product was not ready. As a result, the product quality suffered, and the development schedule was delayed. Looking back, I realize that my eagerness to succeed caused me to overlook the principles I had set for the product and its development schedule. So, I want to emphasize to startup founders to remember the principles they set and stick to them.

A common trait of successful entrepreneurs is their ability to make time and use it efficiently in their daily lives. One typical example of this is Sendbird’s CEO, Kim Dong-shin. Despite being busy, he even runs a YouTube channel. I asked him how that is possible, and he mentioned that he actively utilizes the 20/80 rule, where he focuses on the most important tasks and tries to leave work by 6 p.m., using the evening for personal time. Successful founders seem to be able to make time even in the busiest situations.

[Investment Philosophy] Attitude Filled with Courtesy and Consideration
I believe that both insight into the market and execution, which are essential for successful startups, are dependent on people. Therefore, making accurate judgments about people is more critical than anything else, but it is also a very challenging task.

Among these judgments, I believe in the potential of individuals. I would like to invest not only in the current top companies but also in second or third place companies that have the potential to become the top. Investing in places that need help is part of my investment philosophy. From a financial perspective as well, I think investing in undervalued companies and later seeing them receive high valuations results in the highest returns.

Judging possibilities is very challenging, so I pay close attention to the small attitudes and actions of entrepreneurs. For example, some founders may treat cafe staff rudely. While this may not directly relate to individual capability, a startup is a long journey, and success cannot be achieved alone. Ultimately, the ability to make others want to help the founder is the most critical. I believe that those who show respect to others and carry an attitude of gratitude end up receiving the help of many and ultimately succeed. At Suinary Partners, we are looking for founders with attitudes that enable them to work together for a long time, as we actively provide C-level support.

[Recommended Books] Narratives & Numbers / Team Leaders of Silicon Valley
Firstly, I highly recommend the book “Narratives & Numbers” from a very practical perspective. For startup founders, it is often challenging to justify the desired company value in business valuation or investment situations. This book explains how to combine stories and numbers to assess the value of various companies.

Another book I recommend is “Team Leaders of Silicon Valley.” I believe that the most important aspect of a business is human resources. This book has a radical candor approach, which means maintaining a culture of open and honest communication within the company while respecting each other. This book is highly helpful in organizational management as it demonstrates how people who embody the value of respect for others tend to receive help from many and ultimately succeed.