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In this week's Meet The Team, Dennis from our investment team shares more about himself as well as his experience at Openspace, from his passion for mathematics to his prior work experience.
What do you do here at Openspace?
As a member of the Openspace Investment team, I have the privilege of covering exciting and dynamic markets in Vietnam and Singapore. Additionally, I also help cover some specific sectors, including Enterprise SaaS, AI/ML, Crypto, and Gaming, where I help identify innovative startups and teams that are driving the next wave of disruption.
In my role, I am responsible for scouting for potential investment opportunities, conducting due diligence, and supporting our portfolio companies as they navigate the challenges of scaling their businesses.
Why did you join Openspace?
Back in the day, I was grinding away in the consulting industry, where the career path was about as straight and narrow as it comes. But that sort of predictable, steady climb up the corporate ladder just didn't do it for me after a while. I yearned for something more, a career path where I could take risks, be surrounded by ambitious and optimistic folks, and be at the forefront of emerging and innovative trends. That's what led me to the tech VC industry. And by some stroke of fate, I stumbled upon Openspace. It's been a wild and rewarding ride ever since.
What is one unexpected thing about you?
I often contemplate a future where I am able to indulge in my passions for both mathematics and risk-taking. Perhaps I can envision myself retiring as a math teacher by day, inspiring the next generation of analytical thinkers, and as a trader by night, analyzing markets and making bets
Who's someone you’ve always wanted to meet?
The venerable Zhuge Liang and ask him how he was able to grasp the true nature of heaven and earth, the workings of the human mind, and to foretell the course of events
What's one thing you really like about working here?
Ownership and responsibility are at the core of Openspace's culture, much like they are in a successful sports team. It's a culture where every member knows their role and understands the importance of teamwork to achieve our collective goals. At Openspace, we are given the freedom to showcase our unique talents and abilities to their fullest, and we are held accountable for our individual contributions to the team's success. It's a culture that fosters growth, both individually and as a team, and inspires us to push beyond our limits to achieve our desired outcomes.
Do you have a particularly interesting or memorable highlight of working here?
Our offsites at Openspace are a chance for team members to let loose and reveal their true selves to the rest of the crew. Often, we engage in some healthy competition through sports or computer games, where we can showcase our individual talents and abilities. The offsite we had in 2019 was one for the books, where we hit the Boracay beach and got into some spirited cricket and volleyball matches. Under the blazing sun, we had the chance to demonstrate our existing skills and learn new ones on the fly, all while showing off our competitive fire and ability to trash talk with the best of them. It was a day full of laughter, camaraderie, and unforgettable memories that will stay with us for a lifetime.
What's a really good piece of advice that you've received from someone in the office?
Be patient. Life's not a checklist.
If you were to make an Openspace pizza, what's your chosen topping?
Cha Ca, an iconic dish of Hanoi, served on a thin crust pizza. Also it tastes better with cheese made with fresh milk from cows that grew up in the rich nature of Da Lat, Vietnam.
In this week's Meet The Team, Dennis from our investment team shares more about himself as well as his experience at Openspace, from his passion for mathematics to his prior work experience.
What do you do here at Openspace?
As a member of the Openspace Investment team, I have the privilege of covering exciting and dynamic markets in Vietnam and Singapore. Additionally, I also help cover some specific sectors, including Enterprise SaaS, AI/ML, Crypto, and Gaming, where I help identify innovative startups and teams that are driving the next wave of disruption.
In my role, I am responsible for scouting for potential investment opportunities, conducting due diligence, and supporting our portfolio companies as they navigate the challenges of scaling their businesses.
Why did you join Openspace?
Back in the day, I was grinding away in the consulting industry, where the career path was about as straight and narrow as it comes. But that sort of predictable, steady climb up the corporate ladder just didn't do it for me after a while. I yearned for something more, a career path where I could take risks, be surrounded by ambitious and optimistic folks, and be at the forefront of emerging and innovative trends. That's what led me to the tech VC industry. And by some stroke of fate, I stumbled upon Openspace. It's been a wild and rewarding ride ever since.
What is one unexpected thing about you?
I often contemplate a future where I am able to indulge in my passions for both mathematics and risk-taking. Perhaps I can envision myself retiring as a math teacher by day, inspiring the next generation of analytical thinkers, and as a trader by night, analyzing markets and making bets
Who's someone you’ve always wanted to meet?
The venerable Zhuge Liang and ask him how he was able to grasp the true nature of heaven and earth, the workings of the human mind, and to foretell the course of events
What's one thing you really like about working here?
Ownership and responsibility are at the core of Openspace's culture, much like they are in a successful sports team. It's a culture where every member knows their role and understands the importance of teamwork to achieve our collective goals. At Openspace, we are given the freedom to showcase our unique talents and abilities to their fullest, and we are held accountable for our individual contributions to the team's success. It's a culture that fosters growth, both individually and as a team, and inspires us to push beyond our limits to achieve our desired outcomes.
Do you have a particularly interesting or memorable highlight of working here?
Our offsites at Openspace are a chance for team members to let loose and reveal their true selves to the rest of the crew. Often, we engage in some healthy competition through sports or computer games, where we can showcase our individual talents and abilities. The offsite we had in 2019 was one for the books, where we hit the Boracay beach and got into some spirited cricket and volleyball matches. Under the blazing sun, we had the chance to demonstrate our existing skills and learn new ones on the fly, all while showing off our competitive fire and ability to trash talk with the best of them. It was a day full of laughter, camaraderie, and unforgettable memories that will stay with us for a lifetime.
What's a really good piece of advice that you've received from someone in the office?
Be patient. Life's not a checklist.
If you were to make an Openspace pizza, what's your chosen topping?
Cha Ca, an iconic dish of Hanoi, served on a thin crust pizza. Also it tastes better with cheese made with fresh milk from cows that grew up in the rich nature of Da Lat, Vietnam.
