Thought Leader Interview: Vincent Mao
Why founder humility, AI automation, and mental resilience matter more than ever in today’s startup ecosystem.
In our latest Thought Leader Interview, we highlight Vincent Mao. Vincent isn’t your typical Silicon Valley investor. Born in China, raised across Japan and the US, and trained in engineering, his perspective is global and deeply operational. Today, as a partner at Bouken Capital, he backs founders building at the edge of automation, robotics, and blockchain. But beyond capital, Vincent is building something more ambitious: an ecosystem that helps early-stage founders not only scale but grow into resilient leaders in the process.
From Technologist to Ecosystem Builder
You’ve got an engineering background, and now you’re a VC. How did that shift happen?
To me, it was less of a shift and more of a progression. Ten years ago, the conversation was all about data. Now it’s AI and automation. I’ve always been drawn to the ways technology transforms industries and societies. Over time, that led me to work with startups directly, then help them raise capital, and eventually start investing in them. Now at Bouken Capital, we focus on AI-driven automation across robotics, enterprise SaaS, and blockchain. We’re not just writing checks; we’re building community and venture advisory infrastructure to help early-stage founders succeed.
That sounds like more than a fund. What does that look like in practice?
Exactly. We’ve realized that capital isn’t enough, especially at the ideation stage. So we’re building an AI-powered community platform to help founders iterate faster, everything from tooling to feedback loops. We also have a venture advisory arm led by ex-founders who’ve scaled startups and know what the grind looks like. It's our way of being ecosystem-first, not just deal-first.
The Importance of the Founder
What kinds of founders get you excited?
I look for grit and for insecurity. That might sound strange, but some of the best founders I’ve backed are the ones who never feel like they’ve “made it.” They’re constantly questioning, constantly refining. They’re obsessed with the customer. And they’re not afraid to get their hands dirty. Especially at the early stage, you need to be okay being the CEO and the first sales rep. Confidence is great, but I always ask: where does it come from? If it’s grounded in real insight and customer obsession, I’m in.
What founder behaviors give you pause?
The biggest red flag is rigidity. Some founders get overly attached to their first idea, even when it’s time to pivot. Or they surround themselves with people who won’t challenge them. Startups change. Markets shift. If a founder can’t evolve their product—or themselves—it’s going to be a rough ride.
You’ve worked closely with early-stage teams. What are the common pitfalls you see?
First, reluctance to pivot. Founders sometimes treat it as failure instead of what it really is: adaptation. Second, noise. Many founders spend too much time collecting opinions from people who aren’t their actual customers. And third, team dynamics. Growing from two people to ten is harder than it sounds. You have to evolve from being the doer to being the leader, and that requires real emotional maturity.
What helps founders make that leap?
Peer learning is huge. Talking to founders just a few steps ahead can help you avoid months of mistakes. And coaching helps too, especially when it comes to founder mental health. I’m on the board of NAMI SF, and I’ve seen how deeply burnout affects high performers. Startups demand a lot. But without resilience and without the ability to recharge, you can’t go the distance.
Beyond the Pitch Deck
What’s a common myth founders believe about VCs?
That it’s all about the pitch deck. A good deck helps, but we’re not buying slides. We’re looking for pattern recognition. Founders often think they just need to “nail” the pitch, but really, we’re trying to get beneath the surface. If we interrupt your pitch to ask questions, don’t just steer us back to your flow. That’s a sign we’re engaged. Use that.
What’s something surprising about you that we won’t find on LinkedIn?
I have a pomeranian and a giant tortoise who’s on track to hit 100 pounds. Right now, the tortoise is actually bigger than the dog. We're definitely going to need to find him a new home someday.
To learn more about Vincent’s work at the intersection of AI, automation, and founder resilience, reach out via LinkedIn or explore Bouken Capital’s latest initiatives.