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Deep Domain Experts. Sometimes it may be a weakness.
I have been contemplating a lot lately whether having too much domain expertise is a weakness in building a successful company. I wonder if you know too much, are you less open to feedback, or harsh criticism? I could say the same thing about myself and deep domain investors. Do I know too much about selling into hedge funds, data, alternative data, and the investing world? Maybe I say no to things too quickly because I am too close to the topic and have biases. I know I hate businesses that target hedge funds as their main clients. It’s hard and not an area I am interested in, but maybe that’s wrong.
I have met a lot of founders, especially ex-banking or hedge fund employees, who are building software or technology for the institutional investment space, and I sometimes think they are too close to the industry. They think their experience is the same across the industry, or they know investing and valuations so well that they price their raise for perfection. The flip side is they probably think the same thing about me from the investor seat.
I think the answer is that deep domain expertise is needed, and having experience is beyond valuable. But at the same time, you have to be open to feedback, good or bad, and you have to realize that things are moving so quickly and that not every company or process is the same. Long story short- experience wins, but only if you take your blinders off and open yourself up to feedback.
From an investor's perspective, it’s the same thing. Reality is that once you are out of the corporate seat or seat within a hedge fund or bank for 5+ years, you really probably lose touch with the day-to-day. You know enough to be dangerous, but it’s also very hard to be in the weeds. Talking to industry participants and hearing about their problems is helpful, but it’s not the same as being in the trenches.
I think you have to question everything and recognize your own biases.
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