TOMER DVIR CEO & FOUNDER, SOLUTO BE YOURSELF

WHOIS 14 years experience in HW & SW design InetB (Co-Founder, VP R&D) MDG Medical (CTO) Soluto (Co-Founder, CEO) Many others…

14 years experience in HW & SW design

InetB (Co-Founder, VP R&D)

MDG Medical (CTO)

Soluto (Co-Founder, CEO)

Many others…

BE YOURSELF …

Startup = Daily Dilemmas

Be Yourself Looking for those “Right Answers” for success of your startup?

Looking for those “Right Answers” for success of your startup?

Right answers? There is no such thing.

There is no such thing.

Difference.

No one has the answers (Maybe god, but she’s busy with more important things…)

(Maybe god, but she’s busy with more important things…)

YOUR IDEA 1

Skeptism Have no assumptions

Have no assumptions

Concept Skeptism Keep evaluating your concept from scratch Social Network? Why?

Keep evaluating your concept from scratch

Known Fact As of 2007, The world voted ‘no’ for touch-screen based devices. Touch is dead.

As of 2007, The world voted ‘no’ for touch-screen based devices. Touch is dead.

Technology Skeptism Choose technology while avoiding any myths

Choose technology while avoiding any myths

Technology myths & truths C# is slower than C++ Microsoft SQL – Bad Client application – Web, AJAX, Flash Cloud computing is the future of everything

C# is slower than C++

Microsoft SQL – Bad

Client application – Web, AJAX, Flash

Cloud computing is the future of everything

TRUTHS, “FACTS” 2

Truths, “Facts” Hundreds exist A few are not wrong But, just like everything in life, everything is subjective Examples..

Hundreds exist

A few are not wrong

But, just like everything in life, everything is subjective

Examples..

Startup Fact… “ When funds are available, take it”

“ When funds are available, take it”

Startup Fact… “ Launching a product on the internet requires a professional branding company, and costs $100k”

“ Launching a product on the internet requires a professional branding company, and costs $100k”

Startup Fact… “ You should ask users what they want”

“ You should ask users what they want”

Startup Fact… “ Using Israeli Chief-Scientist funds creates problems with IP on M&A”

“ Using Israeli Chief-Scientist funds creates problems with IP on M&A”

Startup Fact… “ A startup cannot have 2 brands”

“ A startup cannot have 2 brands”

AREA 51 3

Area 51 You might have less/no experience (finance, marketing, legal, business..)

You might have less/no experience

(finance, marketing, legal, business..)

Magic Don’t throw the problems on other people and expect magic

Don’t throw the problems on other people and expect magic

Magic No subject is rocket science*

No subject is rocket science*

Magic No subject is rocket science* * (unless you’re dealing with rocket science..)

No subject is rocket science*

* (unless you’re dealing with rocket science..)

Rocket Science Things to know: Concept Who to consult with Jargon

Things to know:

Concept

Who to consult with

Jargon

Jargon Acronyms & Jargon – It’s cool and makes you feel important If someone knows the jargon, he knows the jargon

Acronyms & Jargon – It’s cool and makes you feel important

If someone knows the jargon, he knows the jargon

DOWNERS 4

VD’s (Venture Downers) VD’s – People that have 2-10 reasons to quit your venture The 1-2-3 method:

VD’s – People that have 2-10 reasons to quit your venture

The 1-2-3 method:

VD’s (Venture Downers) VD’s – People that have 2-10 reasons to quit your venture Step 1 - Listen Step 2 - Take into proportion Step 3 - Think & Learn

VD’s – People that have 2-10 reasons to quit your venture

Step 1 - Listen

Step 2 - Take into proportion

Step 3 - Think & Learn

THE CEO 5

The CEO “ You must have the perfect CEO”

“ You must have

the perfect CEO”

The CEO There is no “Perfect CEO” There is a “Perfect CEO for stage X”

There is no “Perfect CEO”

There is a “Perfect CEO for stage X”

The CEO “ CEO Mindset” - The ability to keep seeing things at a high level, with a wide view of ALL aspects Best scenario – One of the founders has it.

“ CEO Mindset” - The ability to keep seeing things at a high level, with a wide view of ALL aspects

Best scenario – One of the founders has it.

EQUITY LEECHES 6

Equity Leeches The better the idea, the more will come Fund raising Strategic introductions Advisors

The better the idea, the more will come

Fund raising

Strategic introductions

Advisors

Equity Leeches Dodge the leeches Learn to identify the valuable ones Try working with them Triple-Check with references

Dodge the leeches

Learn to identify the valuable ones

Try working with them

Triple-Check with references

ADVISORS 7

Advisors – How to identify? High-tech celebrity name droppers NOT! Yossa’leh Vardi is my #3 QuickDial …

High-tech celebrity name droppers

NOT!

Advisors Choose as if you’re choosing a partner Be generous with the right ones Advisors might be relevant to specific periods

Choose as if you’re choosing a partner

Be generous with the right ones

Advisors might be relevant to specific periods

Advisors Advisors “Pushed” by your investors Only accept if they qualify

Advisors “Pushed” by your investors

Only accept if they qualify

“ BY THE BOOK” ISSUES 8

By the book… “ A startup should work 14 hours / day”

“ A startup should work 14 hours / day”

By the book… “ You need an office manager”

“ You need an office manager”

By the book… “ You need a CFO”

“ You need a CFO”

GENERAL INSIGHTS 9

Funds Being hungry – Helps you stay lean Go over your budget twice a week Change to your working currency

Being hungry – Helps you stay lean

Go over your budget twice a week

Change to your working currency

Discounted Services … for Equity Lawyer Equipment provider

… for Equity

Lawyer

Equipment provider

Share VS ESOP No matter how early, avoid giving out “founder shares” (God invented ESOP for that)

No matter how early, avoid giving out “founder shares”

(God invented ESOP for that)

Tools, Software licenses Licensing Programs – Saves $$$ Microsoft Empower Microsoft BizSpark Google Services

Licensing Programs – Saves $$$

Microsoft Empower

Microsoft BizSpark

Google Services

Used Equipment An entire startup office can be raised using used equipment for half the cost

An entire startup office can be raised using used equipment for half the cost

Inspiration Guy Kawasaki (Garage Ventures) Paul Grahm (Y Combinator) Ishay Green (CTO, Soluto)

Guy Kawasaki (Garage Ventures)

Paul Grahm (Y Combinator)

Ishay Green (CTO, Soluto)

BE YOURSELF 10

"Be yourself" is about the worst advice you can give some people” ~Tom Masson

"Be yourself" is about the worst advice you can give some people”

~Tom Masson

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Thank You Questions, Comments, Flame [email_address]

Questions, Comments, Flame

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