
Sean Seton-Rogers, PROfounders Capital
Sean Seton-Rogers is a founding partner at venture capital firm PROfounders Capital, which specializes in early stage startup funding. The company has invested in companies including GetYourGuide, Festicket and OneFineStay.
In a series of interviews with executives participating in the online event in September, PhocusWire finds out what they have learned from the COVID-19 crisis.
With the benefit of hindsight, if you could go back to the start of the crisis, what would you do differently?
Bought a proper office chair sooner. My back was hurting for a month using a dining room chair!
Company
PROfounders Capital
What have you learned from this time about the way you'll manage and communicate with your team(s) moving forward?
It's very easy for the older/established team members to work from home. We have both the space at home and the benefits of experience to do so. Our junior team are squeezed into small flats with roommates and also need more guidance, which is tough.
What do you miss most about travel?
Podcasts and Netflix of my own shows! That time on the plane or at the airport was when I relaxed. Counter-intuitive I know.
What have been the surprise benefits to not traveling?
My children are now 12 and 10. We have done over 130 family dinners in a row now. That will never happen again.
What lasting changes will there be to you personally from this time?
No more day trips on a plane. I will only travel if it is meaningful.
What has been your one guilty pleasure during lockdown?
I have gone back to brewing beer at home. I had not done this in 15 years.
Executive Roundtable: The Investor View
Europe's smartest investors share their views on the state of startups, the climate for raising capital, and how to pick the winners in travel's next era.