Gabriel Shin: From Investor to Co-Founder, Building Technology for the VC industry - Landscape

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Welcome back to The Startup Leap Newsletter—#RealTalk #RealLessons From Founders Who Took The Startup Leap 🚀

💡 This week, Gabriel Shin, co-founder of Landscape and the AI-powered product Compass, transforming how venture capitalists identify and invest in founders.

Since its inception, Landscape has gained traction among leading VCs, providing innovative tools to streamline workflows and foster stronger connections with founders.

Gabriel is spearheading the mission to bridge inefficiencies in the venture ecosystem, demonstrating how data-driven solutions can empower both investors and entrepreneurs to succeed.

In our conversation, we explore:

• Navigating imposter syndrome, prioritisation, and the accountability that comes with being a founder (00:14:13), 
  
  

• Why prioritisation and focusing on core customers and products are crucial for early-stage startups, and how Landscape balances growth with lean operations (00:22:00),
  
  

• Key lessons on building strong co-founder relationships, leveraging complementary skills, and thriving in the zero-to-one stage of a startup (00:35:27)

  
  ….and so much more!

Key takeaways:

TL;DR:

• Leverage your prior experience to tackle inefficiencies in your industry.

• Focus on solving key customer pain points to drive impactful solutions.

• Build trust and complementarity in co-founder relationships for faster growth.

• Leveraging Past Experience to Solve Real Problems (00:00:34):
  
  Gabriel spent nine years in corporate and investment banking, honing his attention to detail and financial acumen.
  
  However, a desire for more impact led him to transition into the startup world.
  
  His experience in partnerships and venture-building became the foundation for co-founding Landscape.
  
  For Gabriel, banking wasn’t an end in itself but a training ground that allowed him to spot inefficiencies in venture capital workflows.
  
  “If our platform can help one investor fund one impactful founder, we all win—the founders, the investors, and the broader economy,” he shared.
  
  💭 What gaps have you noticed in your industry or experience that could spark innovation? Hit REPLY and let us know!
  
  

• Prioritisation is a Founder's Superpower (00:06:38):
  
  “There are so many cool ideas, but ultimately, you have to build brick by brick.”
  
  For Landscape, this meant focusing on understanding customer pain points rather than chasing distractions.
  
  The team engaged directly with venture capitalists to uncover their needs: saving time, improving deal flow, and finding underrepresented founders.

  
  Gabriel describes how Landscape evolved from a simple VC review platform to a data-driven venture product.

  
  “By listening to our users, we realised the real pain point was visibility. VCs wanted data to back their intuition and make their workflows more efficient.”
  
  This demonstrates the power of prioritisation.
  
  Instead of trying to solve everything at once, focus on your customers’ most pressing needs and build from there.
  
  Gabriel’s advice is clear: “Start walking before you start running.”
  
  

• Collaboration Makes the Difference (00:03:35):
  
  Gabriel credits his partnership with co-founder Joe as a cornerstone of Landscape’s success.
  
  While Joe leads on product and technology, Gabriel handles commercial strategy and sales.
  
  “You can’t do it all as a founder. Having someone whose strengths complement yours is critical,” Gabriel explained.
  
  The trust and alignment they share have allowed Landscape to move faster and build a product that resonates.
  
  Gabriel reflected on their synergy: “Joe had already built an incredible foundation, and I joined to help amplify what was working and refine what wasn’t.”
  
  This dynamic is a reminder that successful startups are rarely solo endeavours.
  
  The best co-founder relationships are built on shared vision, complementary skills, and mutual respect.
  
  

Want to hear more? Dive into the full conversation on YouTube, Spotify or Apple!

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Resources to help you take the Leap📚

📄Sam Altman’s Startup Playbook

🚀Google’s AI Business Trends in 2025 Report

📚The Founder GTM Handbook

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