Why You Should Never BCC Important Introductions
3 min read
We’ve all been there. Someone makes a valuable introduction for you, and your first instinct is to be polite by…
Personal Blog
I’m Zain Jaffer. After selling Vungle for $780M, I shifted from founder life to investing with Zain Ventures—focusing on PropTech, real estate, crypto, and ventures that align with values. This blog is where I share leadership lessons, investment thinking, and the small “aha” moments that spark change.
The AI Unicorn Playbook: 3 Common Strategies
2 min read
As I study many new AI unicorns, I’ve noticed 3 things they have in common that are driving their massive…
When Founders Turn Against Their Investors
2 min read
I recently had one of the most troubling experiences as an investor. We invested in a founder who threatened us…
Rise & Recognise: People of Impact
1 min read
I was recently featured by Rise & Recognise as a “People of Impact” for sharing critical insights about today’s startup…
Two Paths to Startup Success in Today’s Market
2 min read
The startup funding landscape has shifted dramatically. If your startup isn’t on track to go from $0 to $3M+ ARR,…
How We Hit $100K ARR in 6 Weeks While Staying Stealth
3 min read
Building a startup doesn’t always require the spotlight. Sometimes the best growth happens when no one’s watching. This is the…
5 Things I’m Doing Differently in My New AI Startup
2 min read
After getting my last company acquired, I’m launching a new stealth AI startup. But this time, I’m doing everything completely…
$50K ARR in 30 Days: Building Services as Software
3 min read
The intersection of artificial intelligence and human talent is creating new opportunities in ways we’ve never seen before. This is…
3 Common Mistakes Killing AI Startups
3 min read
Every time OpenAI launches something new, another 100 AI startups quietly die. The reason is simple: too many founders are…
How Jack and I Turned a Bad Startup Into a $780M Exit
2 min read
Right out of college, I joined a startup. Within a month, they stopped paying my salary due to “cash flow…
Why Most GenAI Startups Won’t Last
3 min read
As I think about my next startup, I’ve been speaking with dozens of AI founders and VCs. What I’m seeing…
How to Become a Better CEO
2 min read
One of the most underrated ways to grow as a founder is by serving on someone else’s board. Every startup…
How One Question Transformed My $1K Service Into a $10M Business
2 min read
Service businesses often get constrained by deliverable-focused pricing. They price based on what they create, not what it’s worth to…
The GenAI Arbitrage Trap
3 min read
Why are we hyping GenAI startups that boast $10M+ ARR with only three people? What looks like the future of…
How I Raised $2M With Just a Deck
3 min read
14 years ago, I pitched a dream. I had no product. No team. Just a slide deck and a few…