Polaris Law Corp. Director Chin Hooi Yen dove into the complexities of venture capital and funding a startup during her lecture at Casual Connect Asia 2015. Learn more about cap tables (which list a company’s shareholders, their percentage of ownership and what types of shares they own), securities laws and other fundraising complexities and walk through some numbers based on a “typical” startup in the video below.
Chin Hooi Yen loves fighting for the underdog — and as the director and founder of Polaris Law Corp., she is getting the chance to do just that. Hooi Yen started the firm because she wanted the ability to work with exciting startups, noting that “it was a chance to carve a niche and indulge my passion.”
Hooi Yen started her career with a large law firm that allowed her to work closely with technology companies and startups. After several years, she transitioned to an e-commerce startup herself. She notes that those years were “tumultuous” ones where she worked very hard and learned a lot from talented people while making lifelong friendships. “When I decided to return to legal practice, it was a natural decision to advise startups, including games and tech companies.”
Game Start
Hooi Yen first got involved with the game industry with a single client - but once she saw what the industry contained, she couldn’t help but want more. She loves the diversity, energy, and vibe of the industry, saying it can’t be beat. She also loves how the industry intersects and, in some ways, even leads the movie, music and television industries.
Now, Hooi Yen works with several clients in the gaming industry - and their problems become her problems for better or worse. “Life becomes very hectic as closing transactions and deals always consumes my time and energy,” she says. “Passion for what I do helps tremendously, but I have also developed the ability to switch off mentally at the end of the day. There is a saying in Tibet: ‘If a problem can be solved there is no use worrying about it. If it cannot be solved, worrying will do no good.’”
The thing she loves about the gaming industry, its diversity and energy, is also a bit of a double-edged sword. Hooi Yen notes that there are always multiple trends developing and she makes sure to speak with her clients about business trends so that she will have both the legal knowledge and the commercial insights to advise them properly when it’s necessary.
Moments Big and Small
It’s this ongoing dialogue and constant attention to detail that makes Hooi Yen a valuable and trusted source for those she works with. One of the most memorable moments of her career was when a client of hers told their investors that he trusted her completely and would only work with her. “I have worked with him for many years, and we have experienced much together,” she says. “It means a lot.”
She has also had many little moments that she is proud of as well. She notes that many of her clients have become friends and she wants to see them succeed — and, as their legal adviser, she works to ensure they have every opportunity to succeed.
“I see my role as a problem-solver and, despite having been in the legal industry for more than a decade, my clients present new problems for me to chew over every single day,” she says. “The challenges keep me going!”
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