Shardul Shah — "I wired the money before knowing what they were building"

Google’s $32 billion acquisition of the cybersecurity startup Wiz highlights the critical importance of founding team culture and long-term relationship building in venture capital. Rather than relying on top-down market analysis or traditional risk calculus, successful investment strategies often stem from deep, context-rich connections with founders. Index Ventures partner Shardul Shah emphasizes that identifying high-potential startups requires understanding the human element—the specific strengths and flaws of a team—to develop the conviction necessary to double down across multiple funding rounds. This approach prioritizes the "art" of evaluating people over purely transactional metrics, allowing investors to support founders through key inflection points. Ultimately, the most impactful bets are driven by serendipitous chemistry and a shared vision, proving that deep, persistent engagement with entrepreneurs remains the most reliable path to identifying and scaling industry-defining companies.