The Opening Act

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of activity—engaging in exploratory calls with ambitious founders, diving into investment memos while navigating new industries and terminology, and sitting in on investment committee meetings to dissect the success indicators for pre-seed to seed-stage B2B SaaS companies.

I’m thrilled to be experiencing all of this at Haatch, where a team of seasoned ex-founders and operators has crafted a decisive and robust investment thesis. This approach underpins their impressive portfolio of 100+ investments and positions Haatch to expertly support early-stage companies in scaling from £0 to £1 million ARR, with a sharp focus on go-to-market strategy.

The learning curve has been steep—and I know there’s plenty more ahead—but it’s been made infinitely more manageable and enjoyable thanks to Charlie and Jeremy’s guidance and mentorship. Their insights and support have been invaluable in helping me distil the essence of what it means to be a venture capital analyst, and I’m eager to continue learning and growing under their mentorship in the months to come. 

That said, this article will explore my background and journey into venture capital, the application process at Haatch, and how the role’s expectations align with the realities of my day-to-day responsibilities.

Moving to Qatar 

My journey began in Malaysia, where most of my childhood memories revolve around weekends spent at my grandparents’ house in a neighbourhood affectionately known as Camelot. At the age of seven, my family—my parents, younger brother, and I—moved to Qatar for a fresh start. This transition marked the beginning of my life as a third-culture kid, a journey that was, at first, far from smooth.

In Malaysia, I struggled to connect with peers outside my family. My grasp of Malay lagged behind that of other children my age, often earning me sharp, discouraging comments. In Qatar, friendships were equally transient, as most of my classmates would eventually scatter across the globe for university. Over time, I felt increasingly detached from both countries—Malaysia, a place I once cherished, and Qatar, where it felt impossible to lay down roots. Being out of my comfort zone was a constant reality, and for a long time, it was a profoundly unsettling one.

The turning point came in Year 5 when a teacher noticed me. He told me I had potential but observed that my timidity and reluctance to participate in class discussions were holding me back. While shyness is by no means a barrier to success, in my case, it was preventing me from articulating my thoughts effectively. Determined to change, I decided to reframe discomfort as a scope for growth.

I started taking drama lessons—a leap far outside my comfort zone—which culminated in landing the lead role in a school-wide production. From there, I participated in and won several public speaking competitions, experiences that slowly but surely built my confidence and sharpened my ability to express myself. These foundations proved pivotal, enabling me to become Deputy Head Girl and pursue numerous extracurricular and professional opportunities during my medical studies at university.

The Spark

My interest in venture capital began to take shape while running an incubator program within a university student entrepreneurship society. I was drawn to the challenge of identifying promising early-stage ideas and supporting founders as they turned those ideas into viable ventures. One of the most rewarding moments came when a team from a previous cycle grew into a Series A agri-tech company that won the Hult Grand Prize; they even began offering participants in future cycles internships. Witnessing their journey sparked my curiosity about the broader ecosystem that empowers startups to succeed, particularly the intersection of strategy, innovation, and capital.

This curiosity deepened as I gained hands-on experience in the startup world. I immersed myself in business development and operations while interning at a Series A biotech company. Whether it was conducting market research or researching funding avenues, I developed a nuanced understanding of the hurdles founders face in scaling their businesses. This experience gave me a unique perspective on what it takes to navigate the complexities of growth—a perspective that now helps me evaluate startups as a VC analyst.

In parallel, participating in a global synthetic biology competition brought another dimension to my understanding of innovation. Collaborating with 20 peers, we developed a medtech solution for acute spinal cord injuries. This project sharpened my analytical skills, strengthened my ability to work within a multidisciplinary team, and reinforced the importance of clear communication in solving complex problems. It also solidified my fascination with translating groundbreaking ideas into real-world impact.

These experiences laid the foundation for my venture capital journey, equipping me with the skills and mindset to assess early-stage companies critically and strategically. They also clarified my passion for supporting founders at the earliest stages of their journey—helping them navigate the challenges of scaling and bringing transformative ideas to life.

Navigating the World of VC

Breaking into venture capital can be a daunting and often demoralising process, but persistence and strategy can make all the difference. Here are some tips that worked for me:

1. Engage with the Startup and VC Ecosystem: Follow startup and VC-focused pages on LinkedIn, Twitter, and other platforms. Connect with founders, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists to expand your network. Opportunities often come from unexpected places—I found my internship at Haatch through a LinkedIn post. Pages like baby vc and WVC:E are also excellent resources, curating VC roles across various regions.
2. Find a Fund That Resonates with You: It’s essential to articulate why you’re drawn to a particular fund. Whether it’s their investment thesis, portfolio, or team, having a genuine connection to the firm will help you stand out.
3. Do Your Homework: Dive into the fund’s website, portfolio, social media presence, articles, and podcasts. The more you understand their ethos and focus, the better you can tailor your application and prepare for culture-fit interviews.
4. Stay Organised: Keep all your applications in one place. Responses to short-answer questions can often be reused and adapted for future applications, saving you time while ensuring consistency.
5. Tell Your Story: If your background is non-linear, take the time to craft a cohesive narrative explaining your path to venture capital and how your transferable skills align with the role. A well-told story can set you apart.
6. Be Thoughtful with Your Questions: Ask intentional questions during interviews to show genuine interest and preparation.
7. Follow-up: After interviews, send a thoughtful thank-you note. Highlight key insights you gained during the conversation to leave a lasting impression.

My Experience with Haatch

The application process for Haatch was refreshingly transparent. It consisted of three stages: an initial interview, a case study, and a culture-fit discussion, with about a week between each stage. I appreciated the clarity at every step and the constructive feedback I received after each round.

Preparation was key to navigating the process successfully. I started by defining my end goal and breaking it into smaller, actionable steps with clear timeframes. Mapping out the needed resources and adjusting my schedule to realistic timelines helped me stay on track. During interviews, I ensured my answers went beyond the STAR framework, emphasising the “how” and “why” behind my actions and decisions to add depth to my responses.

From Expectations to Reality

Thanks to the clarity of the job description, my responsibilities at Haatch have closely aligned with my expectations. The learning curve has been steep yet immensely rewarding, especially as I’ve adapted to the level of autonomy and accountability granted from the outset—something I hadn’t fully anticipated.

The onboarding process has been thoughtfully structured. In just 14 days, we’ve progressed from shadowing first-stage calls to leading our own. Along the way, we’ve had a phased introduction to the tools that streamline deal flow. Here are some of my key takeaways so far:

• Ensure to Qualify and Quantify Metrics: First-stage calls demand a solid grasp of Haatch’s investment thesis and a strategic questioning approach. I was surprised to learn how much emphasis is placed on understanding the pain/problem being solved—focusing on the “who, what, where, when, why, and how” before delving into the solution. This has underscored the value of assessing the founders’ depth of understanding, storytelling ability, and rationale for their solution’s necessity.
• Adapt to Diverse Pitches: Evaluating pitches varies depending on the product and target industry. Challenges include differences in sales cycles, revenue stages, and go-to-market complexities. As Haatch prefers simplicity and clarity, navigating these subtleties has been an exciting learning experience.
• Let Go of Over-Preparation: As a sector-agnostic fund, Haatch receives pitches spanning everything from fintech and healthtech to applied AI and product tools. This diversity was one of the reasons I applied. However, I’ve had to let go of the urge to research each sector deeply beyond the information in the pitch deck or Calendly form. This shift has been time-efficient and helped me re-learn the art of asking insightful questions and synthesising new information on the spot. Summarising key points back to founders—a technique I’ve also encountered in medical training—has been invaluable for gauging my understanding and aligning with the founder’s intent.
• Find Your Workflow: From organising tools to preparing questions or setting up the workspace, there’s no universal formula for efficacious call preparation. It’s been a process of trial and error to determine what works best for me.
• Be Proactive: On my second day, I attended a social event with some of the portfolio companies. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet the team and connect with founders about their experiences with Haatch!

Additionally, having access to the broader team has expanded my perspective from “What is my role as an investment analyst?” to “How does my work support Haatch’s broader goals?” This mindset has encouraged me to think critically about my growth and contributions toward team success.

I’m excited to keep honing these skills, dive into new projects, and, ultimately, bring my first company to the Investment Committee (IC). The journey so far has been both challenging and fulfilling, and I’m eager to see what’s next!

Written by Qurratu Aini Binti Hashim.