Going Big
The three most important factors in
predicting the next big thing

What makes a great company

What makes a great company
1. The Market

What makes a great company
1. The Market
2. The Team

What makes a great company
1. The Market
2. The Team
3. The Execution

What makes a great market

What makes a great market
1. Under serviced

What makes a great market
1. Under serviced
2. Growing

What makes a great market
1. Under serviced
2. Growing
3. Highly fragmented

What makes a great team

What makes a great team
1. Hungry

What makes a great team
1. Hungry
2. Passionate

What makes a great team
1. Hungry
2. Passionate
3. Domain expertise

What makes execution great

What makes execution great
1. Bold ideas

What makes execution great
1. Bold ideas
2. Culture of innovation

What makes execution great
1. Bold ideas
2. Culture of innovation
3. Quick iteration

What makes execution great
1. Bold ideas
2. Culture of innovation
3. Quick iteration
4. Listening

What makes execution great
1. Bold ideas
2. Culture of innovation
3. Quick iteration
4. Listening
5. Repeat

What makes execution great
1. Bold ideas
2. Culture of innovation
3. Quick iteration
4. Listening
5. Repeat

What makes a great ecosystem

What makes a great ecosystem
1. Capital

What makes a great ecosystem
1. Capital
2. Climate

What makes a great ecosystem
1. Capital
2. Climate
3. Culture

What makes a great ecosystem
1. Capital
2. Climate
3. Culture
4. Universities

What makes a great ecosystem
1. Capital
2. Climate
3. Culture
4. Universities
5. Supportive press

Search
Execution
Team

Search
Execution
Ask
Team

Search
Yahoo
Execution
Ask
Team

Search
Google
Yahoo
Execution
Ask
Team

Social Networks
Execution
Team

Social Networks
Execution
friendster
Team

Social Networks
LinkedIn
Execution
friendster
Team

Social Networks
LinkedIn MySpace
Execution
friendster
Team

Social Networks
LinkedIn MySpace
Facebook
Execution
friendster
Team

Why startups fail

Why startups fail
1. Bad idea

Why startups fail
1. Bad idea
2. Bad execution

Why startups fail
1. Bad idea
2. Bad execution
3. Outside factors

Common bad ideas

Common bad ideas
1. Defining your market

Common bad ideas
1. Defining your market
2. Lack of listening

Common bad ideas
1. Defining your market
2. Lack of listening
3. “Gotcha” culture

Common bad ideas
1. Defining your market
2. Lack of listening
3. “Gotcha” culture
4. Preconceived notions

Common bad execution

Common bad execution
1. Taking on too much

Common bad execution
1. Taking on too much
2. Design by committee

Common bad execution
1. Taking on too much
2. Design by committee
3. Poor craftsmanship

Common bad execution
1. Taking on too much
2. Design by committee
3. Poor craftsmanship
4. Lack of iteration

Common outside factors

Common outside factors
1. Competitors

Common outside factors
1. Competitors
2. Disruptive technologies

Common outside factors
1. Competitors
2. Disruptive technologies
3. Improper Capitalization

Common outside factors
1. Competitors
2. Disruptive technologies
3. Improper Capitalization
4. Timing

Jason’s big secret

Jason’s big secret
1. Find a really nice hill

Jason’s big secret
1. Find a really nice hill
2. Imagine it 10x bigger

Jason’s big secret
1. Find a really nice hill
2. Imagine it 10x bigger
3. Imagine it 10x bigger than that

Jason’s big secret
1. Find a really nice hill
2. Imagine it 10x bigger
3. Imagine it 10x bigger than that
4. Assume it will happen

Jason’s big secret
1. Find a really nice hill
2. Imagine it 10x bigger
3. Imagine it 10x bigger than that
4. Assume it will happen
5. Build a plan on that outcome

Jason’s other big secret

Jason’s other big secret
1. Fail fast

Jason’s other big secret
1. Fail fast
2. Argue all sides

Jason’s other big secret
1. Fail fast
2. Argue all sides
3. Fire good people

Jason’s other big secret
1. Fail fast
2. Argue all sides
3. Fire good people
4. Reward obsessive behavior

Jason’s other big secret
1. Fail fast
2. Argue all sides
3. Fire good people
4. Reward obsessive behavior
5. Hire slow / Fire fast

Jason’s other big secret
1. Fail fast
2. Argue all sides
3. Fire good people
4. Reward obsessive behavior
5. Hire slow / Fire fast
6. Sales solve everything

Jason’s other big secret
1. Fail fast
2. Argue all sides
3. Fire good people
4. Reward obsessive behavior
5. Hire slow / Fire fast
6. Sales solve everything
7. Engage your haters

Silicon alley reporter
1996-2003

Silicon alley reporter
1996-2003
1. Built a 16 page newsletter

Silicon alley reporter
1996-2003
1. Built a 16 page newsletter
2. Became a magazine

Silicon alley reporter
1996-2003
1. Built a 16 page newsletter
2. Became a magazine
3. Became a 300 page magazine

Silicon alley reporter
1996-2003
1. Built a 16 page newsletter
2. Became a magazine
3. Became a 300 page magazine
4. Didn’t assume it would happen

Silicon alley reporter
1996-2003
1. Built a 16 page newsletter
2. Became a magazine
3. Became a 300 page magazine
4. Didn’t assume it would happen
5. Didn’t build a plan

Weblogs, inc.
2004-2006

Weblogs, inc.
2004-2006
1. Built a 100 blog network

Weblogs, inc.
2004-2006
1. Built a 100 blog network
2. Assumed it would happen

Weblogs, inc.
2004-2006
1. Built a 100 blog network
2. Assumed it would happen
3. Sold after 18 months

Weblogs, inc.
2004-2006
1. Built a 100 blog network
2. Assumed it would happen
3. Sold after 18 months
4. Grew 8x post acquisition

Mahalo
2007-Present

Mahalo
2007-Present
1. Building a human powered
search engine

Mahalo
2007-Present
1. Building a human powered
search engine
2. Assuming it will work

Mahalo
2007-Present
1. Building a human powered
search engine
2. Assuming it will work
3. Built five-year plan

Mahalo
2007-Present
1. Building a human powered
search engine
2. Assuming it will work
3. Built five-year plan
4. Raised capitol to match plan

Mahalo
2007-Present
1. Building a human powered
search engine
2. Assuming it will work
3. Built five-year plan
4. Raised capitol to match plan
5. Will let you know in 2012 :)