TED: How cryptocurrency can help startups get investment capital | Ashwini Anburajan

The speaker shares their experience with venture capital and the limitations it poses for diverse startup funding. They explore Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) as an alternative, highlighting a collaborative ICO launch that democratized access to capital. This approach allowed more entrepreneurs to succeed by expanding the investor pool and removing traditional barriers, ultimately fostering innovation and opportunity.

What was the venture capitalist's main reason for not investing in Ashwini's company?

• The company was too risky.

• The market was too competitive.

• The company lacked a strong team.

• The potential sale value was too low.

What is the speaker's view on the current state of venture capital?

• It needs to evolve to support more diverse ideas.

• It is the only viable funding option for startups.

• It is perfectly suited for all types of companies.

• It should focus only on billion-dollar companies.

What is the primary benefit of ICOs compared to traditional venture capital?

• ICOs guarantee higher returns.

• ICOs are less regulated.

• ICOs are easier to set up.

• ICOs provide a larger pool of potential investors.

How did the startups in the accelerator decide to approach their ICO?

• By competing individually for investment.

• By avoiding ICOs altogether.

• By pooling their equity into a communal fund.

• By focusing on a single company.

What was a significant outcome of the collaborative ICO?

• It resulted in legal issues for the startups.

• It removed middleman fees and increased potential returns.

• It led to a decrease in startup diversity.

• It failed to attract any investors.

What does the speaker believe democratizing access to capital will achieve?

• It will limit the number of new companies.

• It will make traditional venture capital obsolete.

• It will only benefit large corporations.

• It will create more opportunities for entrepreneurs.

What was the speaker's initial reaction to the idea of a collaborative ICO?

• They had already planned a similar approach.

• They were completely against it.

• They thought it was a little crazy.

• They were immediately supportive.