Starting a new business is HARD. In this deck I share the process from initial idea through making the leap to then tackling the three key stages of growth. This is startup advice for entrepreneurs, learned from the coal face!

1. How to go from Desk
Job to Successful
Founder
What I’ve learned from 10 years in the hot seat

2. Simon Penson.
Founder of Zazzle Media
2 x Exit Entrepreneur
Partner Haatch Ventures
Follow me:
@simonpenson
me@simonpenson.co.uk
Who’s this guy?!

3. The journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step – Lao Tzu

4. It starts with
an epiphany…
DIGITAL
REACH
PRINT
DECLINE
SITE
GROWTH

5. One that took a while to
surface

6. And the creation of a compelling
story about the future…
@simonpenson

7. Establish a need / find market fit
Ours…

8. Stage One: The Start Up Whirlwind!
@simonpenson

9. Start small...with a laser focus to be the best…

10. Day one is
scary…

11. *Consistency + Velocity = Early Success
*AKA MOMENTUM

12. 411 days
later…

13. We found a small target market and became the best in
the world at serving it…

14. Expansion
took hold

15. And Zazzler
number two
arrived…

16. Office
number
three

17. 17
Four…
@simonpenson

18. 18
5…and so on…

19. Stage Two: Scaling

20. HIRING PAYING STAFF
DEVELOPING
PROCESS
GETTING PAID IT/SYSTEMS
It comes with challenges…

21. But with scale comes challenges…The answer…
@simonpenson

22. 1. WHY – A Belief
What is your reason for being?
Why should anyone care?
CLARITY
4. PRINCIPLES
What does a great employee
look like?
2. HOW – actions
The Values and Principles
The Differentiators
DISCIPLINE
3. WHAT – The Results
The result of Why and How
Everything you say and do
CONSISTENCY
Vision
Statement

23. AIRBNB
WHY - Travelling could and should be so much
more intimate than staying at hotels.”
HOW – Connecting millions of people in real life
all over the world, through a community
marketplace– so that you can Belong Anywhere
WHAT – The world’s easiest to use marketplace
for both holiday home-owners and those looking
for a quirky place to stay.
APPLE
WHY: Everything we do we believe in challenging
the status quo, we believe in thinking differently.
HOW – We make products that are beautifully
designed and user friendly.
WHAT – We just happen to make great
computers. wanna buy one?
The best nail it…

24. Which famous person are you?

25. *Define motivations…
“WE WANT TO PROVE OUR
VALUE BY WORKING WITH
THE BIGGEST BRANDS ON
EARTH…”
*old slide design alert!

26. OPS HR/OFFICE FINANCE NO2 MD
Key hires to think about…
To allow you to stay in ‘sales’ & lead

27. Scaling learnings…
• Hire a finance specialist earlier.
• Don’t let financial targets own the agenda.
• Make empowerment real – and measure it!
• Upsell and cross sell sooner.
• Acquire to grow. It’s not that scary!
• Tell your story – regularly.
• Keep hold of sales for as long as possible.

28. Stage Three: keeping momentum.

29. p = mv
mass
momentum
velocity
*HAATCH.COM/MOMENTUM

30. By now you’ve found market fit. You’re
well on your way to becoming the best
in the world at your original specialism.
Now you must decide - Do you grow by
lateral expansion or acquisition?
Continuing to add mass, at speed.

31. Eventually, all great companies
sell.

32. “WE WANT TO PROVE
OUR VALUE BY
WORKING WITH THE
BIGGEST BRANDS ON
EARTH…”
Because of a commitment to our
belief system…

33. I chose to merge – and sell…And for career
opportunity…

34. And the bit you don’t
prepare for...

35. Looking in from the outside.

36. So, it’s onto the next one…

37. 37
Oh, and as for the
bit I enjoyed most…
@simonpenson

38. • Find our compelling story – tell it often.
• Start small and focused & become the best!
• Expand laterally. This allows you to sell more
to existing customers.
• Invest in building culture (& brand) early.
• Know your WHY
• Know when it’s time to go. Keep Momentum!
• Go again!
In summary…

39. Thanks.
Keep in touch:
@simonpenson
me@simonpenson.co.uk

40. Questions…