Nicholas Thibeault is the Principal and COO at Vulpes Ventures, an early-stage VC investing across South and Southeast Asia and Australia and New Zealand. 

They are currently launching their third fund focused on female founders, co-founders, and gender-balanced management teams. 

Some of their portfolio companies include Flash Coffee, Vuihoc, Funding Societies, and more!

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

Imagine being one of the first investors in Uber or Spotify. Yeah, that. 

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

My best work happens when I am sleeping or running.

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

Probably leaving Investment Banking in London to come to Southeast Asia. 

Moments and risk-taking like that change your trajectory (not always for the best), but it enables you to grow so quickly by being thrown out of your comfort zone. 

The amount you learn and grow outweighs any time or money lost from your 'pivot'.

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

Female founders, co-founders, and gender-balanced teams. 

The industry data and our own track record suggest huge outperformance on value creation, capital efficiency, and exits! 

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

Join every call or meeting that is possible within your limits, even better if it is not your job responsibility. 

Learning early on about fund operations, fundraising, marketing or accounting will add to your understanding of how the whole industry fits together.

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

The financial industry.

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🎥 What's your favorite movie/TV show? 

Arrested Development.

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

Honeycomb.

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FYI. We've edited this interview for clarity.