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When Jensen Huang, the visionary founder of NVIDIA, talks about what drives investment, he doesn’t mention spreadsheets or pitch decks. Instead, he highlights a truth many overlook: investors bet on people, not plans. The credibility, trust, and reputation you’ve built over time are what truly matter.
Photo: Getty Images
Business Plans Don’t Seal the Deal
“VCs don’t invest in business plans,” Huang bluntly states. Why? Because anyone can draft a fancy document filled with projections and ideas. What investors really evaluate is the person behind the plan—their experience, reliability, and track record.
Huang himself admits he wasn’t the best at writing business plans, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was his history of collaboration with industry legends like Andy Bechtolsheim, the co-founder of Sun Microsystems, and his contributions to other successful ventures like Synopsys and LSI Logic.
Your Reputation Precedes You
Huang emphasizes a golden rule: your reputation is your resume. His early career success working alongside renowned industry figures wasn’t just about technical prowess. It was about building trust, delivering results, and earning respect in a highly competitive field.
Think about a job interview. Even if your resume is flawless, it’s your past actions—what colleagues and bosses say about you—that ultimately determine your credibility. Huang’s history of doing “good work” and succeeding with reputable teams gave him the edge when pitching NVIDIA.
Investors Look for People They Can Trust
Venture capitalists want to mitigate risks. They know ideas can pivot, markets can shift, and business plans might need rewriting. But a trustworthy founder with a proven track record? That’s priceless.
For example, when Jeff Bezos pitched Amazon in the early 1990s, he didn’t just sell the idea of an online bookstore. He sold himself—his analytical rigor, work ethic, and vision. Investors knew they could trust him to adapt and navigate challenges, which he’s proven time and again.
The Takeaway: Build Your Legacy
Jensen Huang’s story is a masterclass in playing the long game. Whether you’re building a startup or climbing the corporate ladder, remember: your actions today are building your reputation for tomorrow. Deliver results, maintain integrity, and foster strong relationships.
At the end of the day, flashy presentations may catch attention, but it’s your character and history that seal the deal. Investors bet on people who’ve earned their trust—and those people become the leaders who shape industries.
Watch Jensen Huang:
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