I’ve realised that investing early in a founder's vision requires a type of trust that is inherently high-risk, because you are essentially writing a blank check on their integrity before it has ever been tested by real pressure.
It is incredibly dangerous to mistake a compelling pitch and initial alignment for a shared code of ethics, because when the wind shifts, you quickly see who treats your capital as a sacred responsibility and who views it as a license for self-indulgence.
The moment a founder stops prioritising transparency and begins treating their investors like a nuisance to be managed rather than partners to be respected, the entire foundation cracks.
I don't regret providing the runway, but I have learned the hard way that blind faith in another person's execution is a luxury an investor cannot afford.
When a leader's internal map loses its moral compass, it is your capital that pays for their detour.
Best of probabilities to you.
Dane.