Your Dream Job is a Cold Email Away | Arteen Arabshahi | TEDxCSUN

Venture capitalist and poet Arteen Arabshahi of Fika Ventures details his untraditional path to venture capital and describes what he calls a "confidence distortion field”— believing in yourself more than may feel comfortable— and how to leverage that practice into your first professional step.
Arteen is obsessed with efficiency. He was first drawn to tech after seeing the profound and widespread impact one could make by streamlining antiquated industries and now loves working with founders who are taking innovative approaches to solving large problems. Arteen is currently a venture capitalist at Fika Ventures, a boutique seed fund in LA he helped form. Before Fika, he was #2 at Karlin Ventures, an LA-based early stage venture fund. Prior to becoming a venture capitalist, Arteen launched BuiltInLA.com and worked at Techstars Chicago, one of the places where he now mentors.
Beyond startups, Arteen explores much of what LA has to offer. On a typical weekend, he’ll either be on a hike, at a concert, or at an open mic poetry slam. He is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, a board member for multiple TEDx communities, and an active supporter of TWLOHA, a non-profit raising awareness for those struggling with mental health.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at