Founders, Food, and First Impressions

GRIP: KK Fund
Taipei, Taiwan

When I first landed in Taiwan for my internship at the KK Fund, I had no idea what my day-to-day would look like. Venture capital was something I had only studied from the outside — pitch decks, public profiles, theoretical models. But within the first week, I realized VC is anything but predictable.

And that’s what makes it exciting.

My boss, Kuan, was incredibly welcoming right from the start. On one of our first days, he took me out for a welcome lunch, which I later learned is reportedly Jensen Huang’s (the CEO of Nvidia) favorite lunch spot in Taipei. Over chicken, rice, and a bustling lunch crowd, Kuan shared his journey from finance and consulting to VC. What struck me most was how human his story was — full of pivots, risks, and curiosity. That lunch set the tone for the rest of the internship: informal, flexible, and driven by asking good questions.

Every day since has been different. Some days, I’m knee-deep in due diligence — researching a startup’s founding team, financials, and competitive positioning. Other days, I’m drafting industry deep dives on sectors like generative AI or agricultural drones. But my favorite days are always the ones when we get to meet with founders in person. There’s something incredibly energizing about hearing someone pitch their life’s work and then getting to ask the tough questions that push their thinking.

One of the highlights of the summer so far was a three-day trip to Singapore with the team. Not only did we get to meet startups from across Asia, but we also got a glimpse into the Singaporean VC ecosystem and work culture. The energy downtown was fast-paced but sharp, and it made me appreciate the subtle cultural contrasts between Taiwan and Singapore — both equally dynamic, but with different rhythms.

Outside of work, I’ve been soaking in as much local culture as possible. In Taiwan, my favorite ritual has become jogging through my neighborhood in the early evening. The streets come alive with old ladies exercising in the parks, kids playing tag, and food stalls prepping for the dinner crowd. I’ve even made friends with the woman who runs my local 7-Eleven — she gives me snack recommendations now. Singapore was also a dream: spotless public transportation, futuristic buildings, and the best chicken skewers I’ve ever had.

This summer has been equal parts learning, exploring, and observing. I came in expecting to analyze startups, but I’ve come away with a much deeper understanding of what kind of working culture I value — one that’s flexible, curious, and connected to the people behind the business plans.