Hi, I’m David So.
If you happen to wander to this corner of the internet, welcome to my personal site. Here, I document my learnings and life experiences.
I grew up in Hong Kong, left home at 13 to study alone in New Zealand, and now call Sydney, Australia my second home.
I’ve been a competitive swimmer since the age of 9. I’ve competed internationally, and grateful to hold 2 national records along the way.
Currently, I invest at NextGen Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund backing young ambitions. We’re on a mission to make Australia the best place in the world to be a young founder to build unicorns.
Previously, I interned at Bain & Company. Before that, I was a mental health coach, personally coached over 1,000 youths to help them discover their inner strengths in life.
INTERESTS
BELIEFS
ABOUT
ABOUT
THIS SITE
LEARNINGS
THIS SITE
Why am I writing here?
I started this site for 2 simple reasons that mirror how I try to live:
To understand the world, and
To shape our experience of it
The former reason serves mainly because writing helps me clarify my own thinking and learn. While the latter is simply to share my reflections, with you, and with my future self. Maybe along the way, influencing my own (and hopefully someone else’s) experience for the better.
This is a digital garden for the lessons I want to revisit, thoughts I find most helpful, and the small snapshots of how I see the world at different moments in my life.
INTERESTS
Learning, Collecting Mental Models
Most of my learnings, worldview have been gained non-professionally, shaped by countless books, podcasts and self-directed learnings.
I enjoy collecting mental models, noticing patterns and understand why humans do what they do. Here are some of my favourites.
Startups, Ideas, High-Agency Environments
I’m drawn to early-stage startups and the people crazy enough to build them, I love seeing the world change in front of my eyes.
People
I get a lot of energy from curious, ambitious, authentic people and I love long conversations that make you rethink the world.
Health, Performance, Longevity
I’m a competitive swimmer, so I’m obsessed with performance systems. Training, recovery, hypertrophy, consistency, and longevity.
BELIEFS
Curiosity is a compass
Learning is a lifelong advantage.
Inner game first, outer results second
Self-awareness, mindset and alignment trump everything else.
If inner world is clear, the outer world follows.
People are the multiplier
Great people change your trajectory. Choose with intention and value depth over volume. Play long term game with long term people.
If it’s not a clear yes, it’s a no
Time and energy is finite.
Choose projects, people, and paths that feel like a genuine “hell yeah”.
Opportunity follows prepared minds
Luck isn’t random. It shows up for those who are ready, learning constantly, and staying open.
LEARNINGS
