In his talk headlined The Startup Interview: Get Set for Entrepreneurship, Vikas Joshi described the need for introspection by would-be entrepreneurs with the help of three questions. Why do I want to start this business? How do I feel about serving customers? How do I feel about stretching myself to learn new things? Sooner or later, every founders passes through trying times. That is why knowing these answers ahead of time is critical, he said.

1. THE STARTUP INTERVIEW
Get Set for Entrepreneurship!
Vikas Joshi
Harbinger Group

2. Slide/ 2
JOB INTERVIEWS
▪ How many of you have had at least one job interview?
▪ How many of you have had a successful job interview?
▪ Interviews are a critical event
• How many of you think you need to prepare before an
interview?
• Up until that time everyone is in the same boat
• The interview decides your future path
• Some people may get great placement with big packages
• Some get to specialize in marketing, finance, and so on

3. IF YOU WANT TO START YOUR OWN COMPANY,
DO YOU NEED TO FACE INTERVIEWS?
Yes | No
Slide/ 3

4. WHAT KIND OF INTERVIEWS DO
ENTREPRENEURS FACE?
Slide/ 4
Angel investors
Incubator COOs
Early customers
Accelerator program directors
Venture capitalists
Bankers

5. WE ALMOST FORGOT
THE MOST IMPORTANT INTERVIEW
▪ Why do companies interview people?
▪ What about your own company?
▪ Who will interview you?
▪ You! Why?
▪ Because you are the founder
Slide/ 5

6. SO YOU NEED TO PREPARE!
What is different about preparing
for your own interview?
Slide/ 6

7. Slide/ 7
WHAT’S
DIFFERENT
▪ You have to ask the
questions as well as answer
them
▪ Answering tough questions
is bad enough, but asking
tough questions is even
more painful
▪ No suspense: You know all
the questions beforehand
▪ Full privacy: No one else is
looking
▪ Immediate results: You’ll
know whether you passed
or failed quickly

8. Slide/ 8
THREE
QUESTIONS
TO ASK
Why do I want to start this
business?
How do I feel about serving
customers?
How do I feel about stretching
myself to learn new things?

9. AFTER THE
INTERVIEW
▪ That’s a trick question: You are not evaluating yourself
▪ You are only trying to get a sense of the fit between you and the business you wish to start
• Do I feel this business can fulfill my dream?
• Is this business something I will enjoy?
• Do I look forward to building the skills and capabilities it will demand?
Slide/ 9
how to evaluate
The candidate?

10. WHAT REALLY MATTERS
▪ Far too many businesses fail
▪ There will be tough times ahead
▪ Your passion will help you in those times
▪ Do you feel that passion? That is what really matters.
Slide/ 10

11. GOOD LUCK!
www.VikasJoshi.com
www.HarbingerGroup.com