This document outlines the story of a startup company's journey from conception in Greece to launching its product in Silicon Valley. It describes the founders learning to fly, making rockets and prototypes, presenting to investors, renting space at an incubator, meeting with VCs, and finally launching their product after securing funding. The key lessons are to build a complementary founding team, devote yourself fully to the project, create a strong business plan and presentation, get feedback, and believe in your vision even when facing challenges.

1. The gipht.me startup story

2. Space: The Final Frontier

3. 1. Learning to Fly
Back home in Greece

4. Learning to fly

5. The 6 of us –complementing skills

6. Day Job- The trouble with tribbles

7. Not working- Snowed Under

8. The situation in Greece with Money

9. Money was doing 3 things
• 1. Leaving the Country
• 2. Investing in Real Estate
• 3. Buying out dead or duying competitors

10. We needed unusual money for a seed
round. $700K

11. Roulette Advice

12. So, Go West Young man, go West!

13. 2. Making Rockets
Getting ready to boldly go…

14. Making rockets

15. The Business Plan
Yes, we know it’s all in your
head and your product is
perfect.
Yes, it’s obvious that it will
make loads of money
You Really, Really, Really
REALLY
Need to write the Business
Plan.
If you can’t explain your
business to yourself then how
do you expect others to give
you money?

16. The Presentation
Make it beautiful
Really beautiful.
Polish and then polish some
more.
Most startups Don’t do this
So this is immediately your
difference.

17. Make a prototype
Functional is better
Test market validation is
even better
But if all else fails, have
something to show.

18. 3. Sending Laika into space
George goes barking into the wild
unknown. Sort of.

19. 13/2/2011 George goes to the Valley

20. Staying with Gurbrit
-Random Sikh Guy
George went to the Valley, rented a
house staying with Gurbrit.
Went to tons of Valley meetings.

21. Rented an office at Plug n’ Play
Started seeing people and
going at events.
Our presentation helped us

22. The Ukrainian Connection
Once you’re there.
Opportunities start coming.
Even odd ones.
The strangest email
Eric ever had to
write.

23. Trajectories
Normally, Off the Boat your first goal
is to see the Angel community
especially for seed area funding- Up
to $250K
However, we were in an unusual
position.
Se we got to see VC’s from the
outset.
Easter 2011, Eric joins George in the
Valley

24. 4. The Splatter Story
Be afraid, be very afraid

25. First meeting we meet this guy

26. Blood was over the room
• Interrupted the presentation early
• “How did you get this meeting. Some sort of
Greek Mafia connection?”

27. Unprofessional
BUT,
He did have some
points.
So take any
feedback you can.

28. 5. Satellites
Moving around in amazing orbit

29. Getting to see the big boys

30. The smaller the boardroom
The Bigger the Firm.
Simple as that.
Also,
They Know their stuff
You are WHO?

31. 9 months before

32. One big issue
Be in the USA.
It really helps

33. 6. The International Space
Station
Sorry to wake you up. Miscalculated
the time zone.

34. i-Free

35. Cherubic

36. And someone else

37. Smart Money
• All money is not created equal
• Your partners should bring more than money
to the table.

38. 7. Launching
10. 9. 8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1.

39. Launching in a few days

40. But it’s just another step on a long
journey

41. Wish us luck.

42. In conclusion

43. Really boils down to this
• Get friends to complement you skills
• Try and devote yourself to the project
• Make the Business Plan, the presentation, the prototype.
• Get out there and show it
• Believe it when things are down.
And remember…

44. Live long and prosper

45. Thank You!