A Letter from David Yi
Dear Founders
A weekly letter for founders. The parts nobody says out loud.
Read by 50,000+ founders and builders on LinkedIn.
What founders write back.
Unedited comments from the conversations around David's letters.
Out of all the dalai lamas of the fundraising world 😄, you're the most coherent — and the one who truly teaches and strengthens the foundation of those who genuinely want to learn. Hats off to you.
Don't know bro. Read post. Witty, humble, insightful. Hit follow.
i love reading your posts. Always insightful, amusing. Great combination.
“Capital is an amplifier… not a savior.” Love this one-liner. I'm going to use this and quote you for years to come.
I absolutely love this and it's refreshing to hear a VC say this
Kudos on the integrity and transparency to admit all of this. Not enough people admit to failure — it's always swept under the rug.
The best post of the decade.
What makes this perspective interesting is the honesty behind it. In a world where people are constantly encouraged to "scale fast" or chase trends, it is refreshing to see someone emphasize substance.
I think this is the most honest and clear take on the reality: "Fundraising is just two groups of ambitious, mildly delusional humans, trying to look sane in front of each other." 😆👏
Love this. Don't know you but want to just from this refreshing take.
More ways I show up for founders.
The Book
The Oldest Playbook
Ancient founders. Modern builders. One playbook.
Trends expire. Wisdom compounds. I'm writing The Oldest Playbook in public, one Concert at a time: walking through the founders of the oldest texts and what they teach the builders of today.
Join the weekly Concert on LinkedIn →
A live teaching every week. Come get a taste before the book arrives.
Recent Concerts
MOSES 05: Forged in the WildernessJul 31, 2026
MOSES 04: Cornered on PurposeJul 28, 2026
MOSES 03: The Founders, One CrisisJul 14, 2026
The Essays
Unicorn Parents
Two builds at once. The company, and the kids.
Most business circles ignore family, and most parenting spaces don't understand the demands of a company. Unicorn Parents is a weekly essay for founders building companies while raising the people who'll outlast them.
Recent Essays
- Heaven sent
Jul 18, 2026
- The Three-Body Problem
May 27, 2026
- Seeing Ourselves in Our Children
May 15, 2026
The Chapel
Founder Chapel
Building is heavier than anyone admits. The chapel is a quiet room for founders carrying more than they can say out loud: no pitch, no performance, no audience. Come as you are.
About David

I'm an investor and eight-time founder. Over twenty years, I've helped build more than $10B in value between Asia and America, with two exits of my own along the way. A few years ago I moved with my wife to Saigon and started Quintstone, a permanent capital firm built to hold companies for decades, not quarters. Today, I write letters to founders on conviction, endurance, and building what outlasts you.
One letter, every Sunday evening.
Join 50,000+ founders reading along.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
