Designers are critical to the success of tech startups. The problem is that designers aren't typically aware of this. With the help of FounderDating, ExtremeStartups and OCAD University, we tried to bring the message of tech entrepreneurship to a group of students and alumni of OCAD in Toronto. The event was titled "The Value of Designers to Tech Startups". This slide deck was the opening act that covered the role of designers in startups and how designers can look to start their own companies. A follow-up discussion panel with three talented designers in various roles at companies in Toronto and Silicon Valley spoke about entrepreneurship and the value of design in technology. Speakers / Organizers: Eli Aleyner (Director of Strategic Alliances - Xtreme Labs) Mani Fazeli (Co-founder - Betterez) Panel: Andy Chiang (Lead User Experience - Polar Mobile) Alexander Mimran (Founder - Minbox, Founder - Penzu) Dawson Whitfield (UX/UI Designer - Weebly) Additional Guests: Kalu Kalu (Co-founder - MyShoebox) Matt O'Leary (Ex CEO - Shopcaster) Lorena Scott (Founder - Mommies First) Special Thanks: Sunil Sharma (Managing Director - Extreme Startups) Gabe Sawhney (OCAD University) Asma Khanani Caporaletti (OCAD University) Coverage of the event: http://www.torontostandard.com/technology/the-value-of-designers-in-tech-startups

1. HOW TO START A STARTUP:
DESIGNER EDITION
ELI ALEYNER - @EALEYNER
MANI FAZELI - @MCFAZELI

2. SPONSORS

3. ABOUT US
 DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC  CO-FOUNDER
ALLIANCES @ XTREME @ BETTEREZ
LABS  HELPED START:
 PRIOR LIFE: CONTEXTLOGIC,
AMAZON.COM, MANAWA NETWORKS
MICROSOFT

4. VALUE OF DESIGN

5. BUSINESS + TECH = STARTUP?

6. YESTER YEAR
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/5109451656/

7. THE WORLD HAS CHANGED

8. DESIGN != UI
Common mistake in industry
Product market fit
Design schools teach lean & agile
http://www.jonathoncolman.org/my-content/uploads/stairways.jpg

9. WHY DESIGN?
High consumer expectation
Design as a core competency
Re-imagining technology
http://www.flickr.com/photos/werkunz/4397246022/sizes/l/in/photostream/

10. FOUNDER PATHWAYS
Raw talent
Offspring of successful startups
Consultant converts
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenny-pics/3110911974/

11. STARTING VS. JOINING
Do vs. learn
Equity vs. salary
Risk / reward tolerance
http://www.incrowdnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/bigstock-Entering-Startup-3600494.jpg

12. INCEPTION
Prototype > Plan
Doing > Talking
"Fake it ‘til you make it”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tkiy/4460857417/

13. EARLY STAGE
Bring the vision to market
Have profound impact
Maximize your upside
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tfangel/4494611999/

14. HOCKEY STICK
Bring the vision to the masses
Expand the product offering
Grow your skills rapidly
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nedrai/4333409761/

15. HOW DESIGNERS
SHOULD START COMPANIES

16. SEEK A CO-FOUNDER
Complimentary skills
Emotional & mental partner
Increase odds of success by 40%
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nwardez/3834852526/

17. FOUNDERDATING
PREMIERE ONLINE NETWORK FOR ENTREPRENEURS
TO CONNECT & FIND COFOUNDERS
0001000111
0000100010
0101000100
HIGH QUALITY 50% ENGINEERS
NO IDEA NECESSARY REACH

18. EXPLORE IDEAS
Identify trending problems
Look to past experiences
Go beyond aesthetics
http://www.flickr.com/photos/valentine_mariner/3696433493/

19. BUILD SOMETHING
Start a side project
Attend hackathons
Learn to code (even a bit)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasamarshall/4310973329/

20. LAUNCH
Get in front of users
Measure religiously
Simplify
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6996753124/

21. CHOICES…

22. THANK YOU!
QUESTIONS?
@FounderDating , @ealeyner, @mcfazeli
http://www.facebook.com/FounderDating
APPLY to JOIN
REFERENCES
[1] WWW.DESIGNSTAFF.ORG/ARTICLES/DOES-YOUR-STARTUP-NEED-A-DESIGN-CO-FOUNDER-2012-01-12.HTML
[2] FUNDERSANDFOUNDERS.COM/STARTUP-DIRTY-LAUNDRY-CONFLICTS-THAT-KILL-PARTNERSHIPS/