David Bonifacio is Managing Partner at TNB Aura. Here, he identifies and nurtures high-impact ventures that have the potential to spearhead market creation and uplift communities. With a focus on value creation and a thesis-driven investment strategy, David and his team at TNB Aura are committed to backing the region's most promising founders.

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👋🏼 How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

My job is to partner with great entrepreneurs to build great companies. A "great" entrepreneur, to me, is someone who is able to lead with clarity and competence, and is able to effectively manage capital. A great company, to me, is a team that is able to execute effectively towards a clear vision and mission, in a way that's sustainable and scalable.

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🧐 What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

I don't know if this is surprising, but I spend a lot of time listening to people, particularly the leaders of our portfolio companies. VCs don't know everything. But it's our job to learn and understand so we can make good investment and management decisions. Listening, seeking clarity, and studying is a very large part of my work.

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🏆 What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

I have so many highlights. I'm very grateful for the career I've had, including the painful, embarrassing, and scary parts. But for me, the most fulfilling part of what I do is seeing an entrepreneur thrive professionally and personally. Being part of helping them realize their vision for their company and family is immensely fulfilling.

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🔍 What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?‍

In general, I don't watch trends. I like to understand trends, but my personal philosophy for business (and life) is this: In a fast changing world, focus on the timeless. My responsibility is to generate returns for investors. I don't think FOMO-driven investing achieves superior returns (or any positive returns).

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Having said that, we do have a list of industries, sectors, and business models we're on the lookout for. This list is a product of our high conviction research process that TNB Aura is known for. For the Philippines, we're looking at very interesting opportunities in the consumer space and financial services among others.

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💼 What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry?

Seek understanding.

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Understanding, having deep knowledge and insight, will help you uncover opportunities, avoid the madness of crowds, and find creative solutions. I find that a lot of people in this industry are looking for validation or wanting to seem smart, when what's important is to develop a discipline for understanding things clearly and executing skillfully.

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‍🗣 What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours?

At this point in my life, Elden Ring? Haha!

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🎥 What's your favorite movie/TV show?

Blade Runner, Legends of the Fall, Dune 2

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🍨 What's your go-to ice cream flavor?‍

In the Philippines, Carmen's Best Butter Pecan.

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FYI. We've edited this interview for clarity.