Sequoia

Hsien Liang Yap

  • Operators
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  • Strategic Development
“Strive to be a learning machine. Go to bed every night a little wiser than when you got up.”

My fascination with finance and the stock markets ignited during my military service in Singapore. I had stumbled upon the book The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder. It was an eye-opening exploration into the life of someone profoundly successful in their craft, living life on their terms, and exemplifying unwavering integrity. This encounter led me down a path of intensive study into publicly traded companies and stock market investments as I aspired to emulate Buffett’s achievements.

It was this interest in finance that guided my decision to pursue a college degree in accounting at Singapore Management University, where I learned the language of business. After graduating, I started my career at Goldman Sachs and then moved on to Bank of America Merrill Lynch as an equity research analyst. These roles allowed me to refine my business acumen and deepen my appreciation for public markets.

In 2018, an opportunity arose to join Peak XV’s (then Sequoia India & Southeast Asia) Strategic Development team. While I knew very little of venture capital at the time, I had studied companies like Apple, Google, and Nvidia, which were a part of Sequoia Capital’s portfolio, and was curious to understand how the firm was able to identify all these great companies at such an early stage of the company’s lifecycle. I seized the opportunity to join the firm and it has proven to be one of the best decisions of my life.

My time at Peak XV has been invaluable. Collaborating closely with founders and executives of early and growth-stage companies has granted me an insider’s view of business dynamics and an entirely different vantage point from observing companies externally in my role as a research analyst. I have expanded my professional toolkit from public company analysis to encompass private company fundraising, mergers and acquisitions, and IPOs. My colleagues in the investment team have been instrumental in broadening my understanding of startup evaluation, thus enhancing my framework for assessing public companies.

Today, I am thrilled to occupy a front-row seat in witnessing the unprecedented technological disruption unfolding across India and Southeast Asia. I look forward to supporting our founders as they strive to achieve their dreams amidst this once-in-a-lifetime transformation.

I actively seek out ambitious founders dedicated to building businesses that positively impact society. Entrepreneurship is an incredibly tough endeavor, and I want to increase their chances of building an enduring company.

I also welcome interactions with investors on the lookout for exceptional entrepreneurs and companies in India and Southeast Asia. The digital economy in these markets is large and growing rapidly, offering investors significant opportunities for exposure to these secular trends.

Get in touch with Hsien

Reading / Poker / Electronic Dance Music