Excel sheet. I used both Numbers and Excel and I found excel is better to compare my notes and ratings.

After a year I go back and compare my ratings to how much each startup raised, IRR..etc.

In the first batch I rated one of the startup 1/5, after a year, when the startup raised a lot $$$$ I went back to my comment on why I rated it 1/5

My note said “too niche”

It hit me and I realized it was as if Jeff Bezos was pitching me Amazon and I said e-commerce for books only! This is a niche market.

It’s very helpful to go back and read your comments about these startups. You learn with every startup you mess..

I've been making investment mistakes and trying to learn from them for 15 years now. Recording a couple sentences about your reasons why or why not helps a lot. People aren't naturally good at learning from decisions with long feedback delays -- you have to keep notes.

I wish I had decision notes from earlier life choices, like why I studied EE instead of CS, why I chose my PhD advisor, why I joined companies, got married, etc.

I keep track of investment decisions, but not life decisions...life is too big for me to have it tracked on excel.

But I hear you...sometimes you lose sight of your big goal. It helps to have your goal/vision engraved in your mind, it helps to write and dream about it.

Fascinating and awesome diligence.

Are you an investor? Startup stats fan? Looking to take your lessons and research and start your own company?

Would you be willing to share your notes or a curated version?

I’m a previous founder, I’ll come back with my second act someday. After I quit my startup I decided to stay around in this startup world.

I attend these demo days on behalf of investors who trust my judgement in specific verticals.

I’m fine sharing my notes.

I’m also interested. Email in profile and keybase username is same as HN username.

Very cool. Thank you. Keybase handle is in my profile if you’d like to connect!

I'd love to read them also, e-mail is in profile!

Really interested in seeing your notes too.

How do I share it with you?

Set up a mailing list? I'd love to see those notes too. My email is in my profile.

Hi maram, I'd love to have copy too. My email is postnihilismhn@gmail.com. Thanks!

Thanks! Email is in my profile.

Yup, me too. Email in profile

Would love to see your notes. Thank you!