There is a belief in the business world that founders can’t scale. Put another way, a company’s growth curve will eventually outstrip the capabilities of its founder’s ability to remain CEO.
Game Changing Business Models - V2! - with case examples - Competitive Advant...Michael Skok
Developed for the Harvard Innovation Lab workshop series on Startup Secrets.
This is part 3 of the 5 part series by Michael J Skok on how to get competitive advantage as a startup.
Michael's slides are the agenda for the workshop, and are NOT self contained. For fuller coverage of the slides, visit Michael's website http://www.mjskok.com/
Startup Secrets - Game Changing Business ModelsMichael Skok
In our industry, it’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to become so mono-focused on the novelty of their product that they forget to innovate sufficiently around their business model. A disruptive business model can be at least as important as a discontinuous innovation.
Company Formation - Foundations for an Enduring Company - Competitive Advanta...Michael Skok
Developed for the Harvard Innovation Lab workshop series on Startup Secrets.
This is part 2 of the 5 part series by Michael J Skok on how to get competitive advantage as a startup.
It features the case study of Acquia who participated in the workshop.
Michael's slides are the agenda for the workshop, and are NOT self contained. For fuller coverage of the slides, visit Michael's website http://www.mjskok.com/
Game Changing Business Models - V2! - with case examples - Competitive Advant...Michael Skok
Developed for the Harvard Innovation Lab workshop series on Startup Secrets.
This is part 3 of the 5 part series by Michael J Skok on how to get competitive advantage as a startup.
Michael's slides are the agenda for the workshop, and are NOT self contained. For fuller coverage of the slides, visit Michael's website http://www.mjskok.com/
Startup Secrets - Game Changing Business ModelsMichael Skok
In our industry, it’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to become so mono-focused on the novelty of their product that they forget to innovate sufficiently around their business model. A disruptive business model can be at least as important as a discontinuous innovation.
Company Formation - Foundations for an Enduring Company - Competitive Advanta...Michael Skok
Developed for the Harvard Innovation Lab workshop series on Startup Secrets.
This is part 2 of the 5 part series by Michael J Skok on how to get competitive advantage as a startup.
It features the case study of Acquia who participated in the workshop.
Michael's slides are the agenda for the workshop, and are NOT self contained. For fuller coverage of the slides, visit Michael's website http://www.mjskok.com/
Game Changing Business Models - Case - Dries Drupal, Open Source, Co-CreationMichael Skok
This is a case to exemplify how disruptive open source and co-creation can be as part of your business model. Presented by Dries Buytaert, founder of Drupal, the largest open source project on the planet.
This is part of the workshop on Game Changing Business Models - itself part of the series on Startup Secrets, by Michael J Skok on how to get competitive advantage as a startup.
Michael's slides are the framework for the workshop, and are NOT self contained. For fuller coverage of the slides, visit Michael's website http://mjskok.com/
What is needed to build a startup? What are the milestones along the way? And how to do you pull that pitch together to get the venture attention and funding your idea deserves. This Slideshare was given at the Harvard iLab and offered:
-- The holistic checklist to think through your venture in a business like plan
-- What matters to a VC/Investor
-- How to think about your roadmap from startup to public company
This presentation provides an overview of approaches to developing you vision and mission, as well as the critical nuances tied to company culture. It also features an insightful case example from Salsify.
Turning Products into Companies - Case - SolidWorksMichael Skok
John McEleney, former CEO of SolidWorks, discusses how the 3D design company became a market leader. He reviews how it is easy to start a company but hard to build a business, offering an instructive view of the approaches he took that led to his success and the company’s ultimate acquisition by Dassault Systems.
Ideas are worth very little without a culture to guide the selection of talent and a big, bold vision to attract and unify the team. Human capital is what separates great from good companies – which is why establishing a strong culture to attract and retain the right people, while unifying them behind an inspiring vision and mission is essential to any significant venture.
Building a Compelling Value Proposition - Competitive Advantage for StartupsMichael Skok
Developed for the Harvard Innovation Lab workshop series on Startup Secrets.
This is part 1 of the 5 part series by Michael J Skok on how to get competitive advantage as a startup.
Michael's slides are the agenda for the workshop, and are NOT self contained. For fuller coverage of the slides, visit Michael's website http://www.mjskok.com/
Startup Secrets - Getting Behind the Perfect Investor PitchMichael Skok
These days the pitch to a VC displaces the old business plan because most investors simply don’t have time to read a full business plan, and most entrepreneurs don’t have time to write one. That said, the business strategy still serves as the foundation for any presentation you create.
Go To Market – Case – Demandware RebrandingMichael Skok
While we looked at initial branding for startups here, in this case study we discuss a more mature example with Demandware, a company that is now past its IPO and was looking to rebrand to extend its leadership and position the company for continued growth.
Startup Secrets - Funding Strategies to Go the DistanceMichael Skok
Having been a venture capitalist for the last decade, I have found that the topic of funding is one that everyone wants to know about but is openly discussed by few. Ironically, the more it is talked about, the more educated entrepreneurs will be, enabling them to make the right decisions as they seek funding for their startup.
Building a compelling value propositionMichael Skok
This presentation is an overview designed to help startups create their value proposition. It was developed in partnership to Actifio, arguably the fastest growing storage startup ever.
It is part of the Startup Secrets focus on Value Proposition development. For more information on this and other Startup Secrets focus areas, visit http://www.startupsecrets.com
You’ve figured out your value prop and you’ve got a great product under development. Now what? How can you develop a roadmap to build a company? Venture Capitalists often qualify deals as being a “feature”, a “product” or a “company”. Which do you have and how will you get where you want to go? This presentation addresses how to think about designing your product as a foundational element of your business. This includes thinking beyond UX and Architecture to Whole Product, Ecosystems, and Strategic partners. It also focuses on formulating how to design your go-to-market strategy and business model into your product (with a modular architecture, distinctive packaging and a frictionless approach).
Harvard Innovation Lab Workshop on developing the Perfect Pitch, by Michael Skok.
Michael is an entrepreneur turned venture capitalist, who has seen both sides of this. He spent 21 years as a CEO, building companies and raising over 100 million to build a number of software businesses. And then has spent the last decade as a VC seeing thousands of pitches from entrepreneurs raising money, and invested in companies that have generated over a billion dollars in value.
So with that in mind, the idea here is to give you an insider's checklist for your own pitch,
Value Proposition – Case – Diagnostics for AllMichael Skok
This case example provides an overview of DFA’s approach to defining its value proposition, as well as its ability to address qualitative evaluation and gain/pain ratio requirements.
This is part of the Startup Secrets focus on Value Proposition development. For more information on this and other Startup Secrets focus areas, visit http://www.startupsecrets.com
Mentorship is a seemingly simple concept. Get some help from someone more experienced than you. So why do we bother teaching a class on it? Because, like anything else, it’s a skill to mentor and be mentored. And if we can learn that skill it can be a real gift, both to give and receive.
Driving to Market - V2! - How to "Drive" Competitive Advantage in your Go To ...Michael Skok
New version 2 - including case examples from Spotfire, Demandware, Hubspot and David Skok.
Developed for the Harvard Innovation Lab workshop series on Startup Secrets.
This is part 4 of the 5 part series by Michael J Skok on how to get competitive advantage as a startup.
Michael's slides are the agenda for the workshop, and are NOT self contained. For fuller coverage of the slides, visit Michael's website http://mjskok.com/
Game Changing Business Models - Case - Dries Drupal, Open Source, Co-CreationMichael Skok
This is a case to exemplify how disruptive open source and co-creation can be as part of your business model. Presented by Dries Buytaert, founder of Drupal, the largest open source project on the planet.
This is part of the workshop on Game Changing Business Models - itself part of the series on Startup Secrets, by Michael J Skok on how to get competitive advantage as a startup.
Michael's slides are the framework for the workshop, and are NOT self contained. For fuller coverage of the slides, visit Michael's website http://mjskok.com/
What is needed to build a startup? What are the milestones along the way? And how to do you pull that pitch together to get the venture attention and funding your idea deserves. This Slideshare was given at the Harvard iLab and offered:
-- The holistic checklist to think through your venture in a business like plan
-- What matters to a VC/Investor
-- How to think about your roadmap from startup to public company
This presentation provides an overview of approaches to developing you vision and mission, as well as the critical nuances tied to company culture. It also features an insightful case example from Salsify.
Turning Products into Companies - Case - SolidWorksMichael Skok
John McEleney, former CEO of SolidWorks, discusses how the 3D design company became a market leader. He reviews how it is easy to start a company but hard to build a business, offering an instructive view of the approaches he took that led to his success and the company’s ultimate acquisition by Dassault Systems.
Ideas are worth very little without a culture to guide the selection of talent and a big, bold vision to attract and unify the team. Human capital is what separates great from good companies – which is why establishing a strong culture to attract and retain the right people, while unifying them behind an inspiring vision and mission is essential to any significant venture.
Building a Compelling Value Proposition - Competitive Advantage for StartupsMichael Skok
Developed for the Harvard Innovation Lab workshop series on Startup Secrets.
This is part 1 of the 5 part series by Michael J Skok on how to get competitive advantage as a startup.
Michael's slides are the agenda for the workshop, and are NOT self contained. For fuller coverage of the slides, visit Michael's website http://www.mjskok.com/
Startup Secrets - Getting Behind the Perfect Investor PitchMichael Skok
These days the pitch to a VC displaces the old business plan because most investors simply don’t have time to read a full business plan, and most entrepreneurs don’t have time to write one. That said, the business strategy still serves as the foundation for any presentation you create.
Go To Market – Case – Demandware RebrandingMichael Skok
While we looked at initial branding for startups here, in this case study we discuss a more mature example with Demandware, a company that is now past its IPO and was looking to rebrand to extend its leadership and position the company for continued growth.
Startup Secrets - Funding Strategies to Go the DistanceMichael Skok
Having been a venture capitalist for the last decade, I have found that the topic of funding is one that everyone wants to know about but is openly discussed by few. Ironically, the more it is talked about, the more educated entrepreneurs will be, enabling them to make the right decisions as they seek funding for their startup.
Building a compelling value propositionMichael Skok
This presentation is an overview designed to help startups create their value proposition. It was developed in partnership to Actifio, arguably the fastest growing storage startup ever.
It is part of the Startup Secrets focus on Value Proposition development. For more information on this and other Startup Secrets focus areas, visit http://www.startupsecrets.com
You’ve figured out your value prop and you’ve got a great product under development. Now what? How can you develop a roadmap to build a company? Venture Capitalists often qualify deals as being a “feature”, a “product” or a “company”. Which do you have and how will you get where you want to go? This presentation addresses how to think about designing your product as a foundational element of your business. This includes thinking beyond UX and Architecture to Whole Product, Ecosystems, and Strategic partners. It also focuses on formulating how to design your go-to-market strategy and business model into your product (with a modular architecture, distinctive packaging and a frictionless approach).
Harvard Innovation Lab Workshop on developing the Perfect Pitch, by Michael Skok.
Michael is an entrepreneur turned venture capitalist, who has seen both sides of this. He spent 21 years as a CEO, building companies and raising over 100 million to build a number of software businesses. And then has spent the last decade as a VC seeing thousands of pitches from entrepreneurs raising money, and invested in companies that have generated over a billion dollars in value.
So with that in mind, the idea here is to give you an insider's checklist for your own pitch,
Value Proposition – Case – Diagnostics for AllMichael Skok
This case example provides an overview of DFA’s approach to defining its value proposition, as well as its ability to address qualitative evaluation and gain/pain ratio requirements.
This is part of the Startup Secrets focus on Value Proposition development. For more information on this and other Startup Secrets focus areas, visit http://www.startupsecrets.com
Mentorship is a seemingly simple concept. Get some help from someone more experienced than you. So why do we bother teaching a class on it? Because, like anything else, it’s a skill to mentor and be mentored. And if we can learn that skill it can be a real gift, both to give and receive.
Driving to Market - V2! - How to "Drive" Competitive Advantage in your Go To ...Michael Skok
New version 2 - including case examples from Spotfire, Demandware, Hubspot and David Skok.
Developed for the Harvard Innovation Lab workshop series on Startup Secrets.
This is part 4 of the 5 part series by Michael J Skok on how to get competitive advantage as a startup.
Michael's slides are the agenda for the workshop, and are NOT self contained. For fuller coverage of the slides, visit Michael's website http://mjskok.com/
Startup Secrets: Raising Funding - Case – GivologyMichael Skok
This is a guest presentation from Alok Tayi, PhD. He is a postdoctoral fellow, in the Whitesides Lab at Harvard University. Alok has been working to provide sample case studies on for the Startup Secrets series. Special thanks to Coulter King and Joyce Meng of Givology for their contributions to this case study.
Givology is a student-run social enterprise that helps individuals find and fund education-related projects around the globe. Givology was launched in 2008 and founded by three University of Pennsylvania undergraduates: Joyce Meng, Jennifer Chan and Carl Mackey.
More: http://www.mjskok.com/resource/startup-secrets-raising-funding
Funding Strategies to go the Distance – Case – Endeca: By Steve Papa, founder...Michael Skok
Endeca was acquired by Oracle in 2011 for $1.1 billion. In the below presentation, Endeca Founder Steve Papa discusses his path to securing the funding that helped make the company a success. Steve also shares key lessons learned, such as the significance of macroeconomics and how fundraising efforts start long before you are actually pitching to investors.
3 Skills to Master the gift of Mutual MentorshipMichael Skok
Mentorship is a seemingly simple concept. Get some help from someone more experienced than you. So why do we bother teaching a class on it? Because like anything else it's a skill to mentor and be mentored. And if we can learn that skill it can be a real gift, both to give and receive.
But first of all you've got to know what you're looking for in mentorship. Is it a handout or real help? Do you want answers or are you really looking to learn? For those looking to learn and build not just knowledge but skills for self sufficiency, mentoring can be a mutually rewarding gift.
Think of the process of being mentored as a game of chess. You can easily ask for the next move, but wouldn't you rather learn to master the game?
See the presentation to learn 3 skills to get you going on that path:-
Turning Products into Companies – Case – Actuality SystemsMichael Skok
Through this case example, Actuality Systems Founder Gregg Favalora offers helpful insight into the path Actuality took from product design, to its acquisition by Optics for Hire in 2009 - and the ultimate patent sale (and exit) in 2011. Offering an insider’s view of building and commercializing 3D display products, Gregg offers his thoughts on some powerful lessons he learned as he grew his company.
This case example demonstrates how Disqus developed its value proposition, while offering insight into how the company addressed the qualitative evaluation process.
This is part of the Startup Secrets focus on Value Proposition development. For more information on this and other Startup Secrets focus areas, visit http://www.startupsecrets.com
Startup Secrets presents a lecture on whether or not you've got what it takes to found a startup! Learn strategies for growing with and navigating your company through the beginning stages.
Startup Secrets presents a lecture on how to hire A+ talent! Learn which questions to ask, and how to assess great employees and partners for your new startup.
Create Your Elevator Pitch - Pat Drew and Ivy ExecIvy Exec
Unless you can communicate your value quickly and in a compelling way, you are letting opportunities pass you by. Would you knowingly give up an opportunity for the perfect job or fantastic assignment? That is what you are doing if you do not have at your fingertips a well-practiced, very brief statement of who you are, what you are up to and what a UNIQUE contribution you make.
No matter how experienced and polished we are, most of us from time to time pass up opportunities to let others know who we are and what a unique contribution we make. We fail to get the conversation started which can lead to new positions and assignments.
In this webinar, you will actively participate and "log out" with a new statement of who you are and your value. In this session, you will learn:
- How to communicate your value in a compelling way in 20 seconds.
- Four key questions to answer, to engage anyone anywhere, anytime – in YOU!
- To craft, practice and perfect your own Elevator Pitch.
- How do to make yourself interesting, memorable and start the conversation, which will open doors for you.
Pat Drew’s areas of expertise include top-level coaching, senior team alignment and preparing executives and organizations for transitions. For over twenty years, she has coached executives in the media, pharmaceutical companies, consumer product companies, financial and professional services, real estate, communications, not-for-profit organizations and academia.
Pat’s experience in helping executives achieve strong business results was acquired as Director in Human Resources at The New York Times for 20 years, as Manager of Training at the New York Psychiatric Institute of Columbia University and, most recently, with Guttman Development Strategies, a leadership-development firm.
Startup Secrets presents a lecture on how to build a compelling value proposition. Learn about stories, the information necessary, and the questions to ask yourself about how to show people you're worth the money!
Startup Secrets presents a lecture on how to find your roadmap to success! With our introductory lecture, discover your beginning steps to creating your startup.
Startup Secrets presents a lecture on how to get behind the perfect investor pitch! Learn about what investors are looking for, and how to successfully represent your business.
How to put your best self online and land the interview
- Ideas to upgrade your resume and make it stand out
- How to enhance your social profiles and get noticed
- Best practices for a phone or video interview
Repost: Studio D's 100 Questions for the Young CreativeLauren Serota
We spent a year listening to creatives across the design industry, and generated a list of 100 questions we wished we'd known at the beginning of our career. Designed both for self reflection and to cut through hiring-process gloss, they start out innocently enough but quickly cut to the chase.
We spent a year listening to creatives across the design industry, and generated a list of 100 questions we wished we'd known at the beginning of our career. Designed both for self reflection and to cut through hiring-process gloss, they start out innocently enough but quickly cut to the chase.
The father of all demos: how to make a product demo that stands out Moriya Kassis
For a startup, there is almost nothing more powerful than a great product demonstration.
When done correctly, a demo allows the customer to see and feel how things will be better if they buy (and worse if they don't). And so, good demos don't have to be perfect for the product. They have to be perfect for the audience.
Learn the best practices of the Product Demo: What should you know? How should you prepare? What is the Just Right amount of work for you to do? Also, how to deliver both the best product and the best message to go with it?
As it's easy to mess up a Demo, learn how to do it in an interactive session that moves you fast forward to an outcome.
Switch the passion back on. Discover how to engage your employees and hire for compatibility.
Checkout this slide deck or watch the free online MasterClass delivered at Google's Innovation Campus ☛ http://welcome.openelevator.com/optin/
Slides from a presentation I gave at VC CEO portfolio summit on Unlearning as we scale enterprise software startups focusing on how to think about the "next-level people" and "dance with who brung ya" adages along with thoughts on generalizing the former adage, hiring next-level people, and unlearning in general, specifically with infering false causality for success.
2016 Innovation Roundtable Keynote by Michael SkokMichael Skok
Michael Skok, Co-Founder and Partner of Underscore.VC was invited to give the keynote presentation at the 2016 Innovation Roundtable Summit in Copenhagen.
Ask these basic questions: How much capital does your growth require? What will be your cost of capital over the growth of your venture? Can you afford to grow at all costs? When will growth not be the basis for valuation? What if factors beyond your control impact growth?
The 2014 Future of Cloud Computing Survey was conducted in partnership with 72 Collaborators. The survey is the most widely endorsed survey of its kind in the industry. To tweet individual slides, please note the banner on the upper right hand corner of each page. Visit the Blog on http://mjskok.com/resource/2014-future-cloud-computing-4th-annual-survey-results and follow us @futureofcloud #futureofcloud to join the conversation.
2014 Future of Open Source - 8th Annual Survey resultsMichael Skok
The annual Future of Open Source Survey provides a report on the state of the open source industry and analysis of future trends. Now in its eighth year, this annual survey was supported by with over 45 collaborators, open source software industry leaders, and collaborating organizations, and compiles results from hundreds of respondents from the open source community.
Andy Jassy Illuminates Amazon Web ServicesMichael Skok
Andy Jassy, senior vice president of Amazon Web Services, provides an overview of AWS at the May 8, 2013 Startup Secrets session at Harvard innovation lab.
We all know a company is only as good as its team, which is why the hiring process is so critical as you build out your venture. This presentation focuses on the different considerations an entrepreneur should make with regard to hiring, featuring insights from Russ Campanello, iRobot’s senior VP of HR, and Eric Gaffen, Acquia’s global manager of talent acquisition. The presentation also provides recommendations on specific questions to ask when trying to find your ideal candidate.
A company is only as good as its team, which is why the hiring process is so critical as you build out your venture. And anyone who has made a bad hire along the way knows that hiring the wrong person can cost you far more than time and money. This presentation shares a framework comprised of three areas of focus critical to hiring success.
Embracing GenAI - A Strategic ImperativePeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
Biological screening of herbal drugs: Introduction and Need for
Phyto-Pharmacological Screening, New Strategies for evaluating
Natural Products, In vitro evaluation techniques for Antioxidants, Antimicrobial and Anticancer drugs. In vivo evaluation techniques
for Anti-inflammatory, Antiulcer, Anticancer, Wound healing, Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Cardio protective, Diuretics and
Antifertility, Toxicity studies as per OECD guidelines
The French Revolution, which began in 1789, was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France. It marked the decline of absolute monarchies, the rise of secular and democratic republics, and the eventual rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. This revolutionary period is crucial in understanding the transition from feudalism to modernity in Europe.
For more information, visit-www.vavaclasses.com
Safalta Digital marketing institute in Noida, provide complete applications that encompass a huge range of virtual advertising and marketing additives, which includes search engine optimization, virtual communication advertising, pay-per-click on marketing, content material advertising, internet analytics, and greater. These university courses are designed for students who possess a comprehensive understanding of virtual marketing strategies and attributes.Safalta Digital Marketing Institute in Noida is a first choice for young individuals or students who are looking to start their careers in the field of digital advertising. The institute gives specialized courses designed and certification.
for beginners, providing thorough training in areas such as SEO, digital communication marketing, and PPC training in Noida. After finishing the program, students receive the certifications recognised by top different universitie, setting a strong foundation for a successful career in digital marketing.
Unit 8 - Information and Communication Technology (Paper I).pdfThiyagu K
This slides describes the basic concepts of ICT, basics of Email, Emerging Technology and Digital Initiatives in Education. This presentations aligns with the UGC Paper I syllabus.
1. Proprietary and Confidential
START UP
SECRETS
An insider’s guide to unfair competitive advantage
Do you have what it takes?
@underscorevc startupsecrets.com
3. Proprietary and Confidential 3
Where does this all fit?
startupsecrets.com@underscorevc
Vision
(Market)
Startup
Roadmap
Enduring
Company
Value
Proposition
People
Team
Execution
Cultural Consistency
The
Founder
It Starts
With YOU
4. Proprietary and Confidential
Technology platform is here
Lower cost barriers
Faster time to launch
More accelerators and mentors
Better ability to test product market fit
Does it mean you should just jump in and startup?
4
Context…
startupsecrets.com@underscorevc
5. Proprietary and Confidential
A question for you…
5startupsecrets.com@underscorevc
What does success look like to you?
• Lifestyle?
• Fame?
• Power?
• Money?
• Other?
6. Proprietary and Confidential
Founder’s Dilemmas – Rich vs. King
6startupsecrets.com@underscorevc
Most entrepreneurs want to get rich AND run the
show
Tough to have both money AND power…
• To make a lot of money on a venture means getting
financial resources to capitalize on opportunities in front
of you. Tradeoff is loss of control
• To remain in charge you need to retain equity. This
means fewer financial resources to fuel your venture.
If you don’t figure out which matters more to you,
you’ll wind up being neither rich nor king
7. Proprietary and Confidential
Reality of what’s involved
7startupsecrets.com@underscorevc
“I want to change the world.”
• Pressure
• Sacrifice (not if your passion)
• Money “Rent and Ramen”
Uncertainty
• years to outcome: 7 to 10 yrs.
~ ‘000s: 1 funding
~ 1 in 10 breakouts
(Anecdotal: only 45 “Unicorns” in the past decade)
9. Proprietary and Confidential
The roadmap to success…
9startupsecrets.com@underscorevc
Pivots?
Ideation
Repeatability?
Predictability?
Scalability?
Validation?
Profitability?
Funding?
Creation
What will yours be?
• Make it up!
10. Proprietary and Confidential
What will yours be?
• Expect the unexpected…
10
The roadmap to success…
startupsecrets.com@underscorevc
Pivots?
Ideation
Repeatability?
Predictability?
Scalability?
Validation?
Profitability?
Funding?
Creation
Outlier
customers
Business Model
Reworking
Funding
Mirage
Iterations
The unexpected:
“near death”
experience
Team
Upgrades
Growth vs
Leverage?
Re- Creation
(See LinkedIn article here)
Startup
Euphoria
11. Proprietary and Confidential
What will yours be?
• Expect the unexpected…
Longer, harder, maybe even bigger
11
The roadmap to success…
startupsecrets.com@underscorevc
Pivots?
Ideation
Repeatability?
Predictability?
Scalability?
Validation?
Profitability?
Funding?
Creation
Outlier
customers
Business Model
Reworking
Funding
Mirage
Iterations
The unexpected:
“near death”
experience
Team
Upgrades
Growth vs
Leverage?
Re- Creation
Startup
Euphoria
13. Proprietary and Confidential
Playing the UNgame
My 5 watchwords: REALITY, CLARITY, HUMILITY, CREDIBILTY, CERTAINTY
• Reality
Confront it head on, shine a spotlight on it to get…
• Clarity
Do everything you can to get people to fully understand the situation, problem, opportunity
• Humility
Show humility with customers, partners, employees, investors, media, etc. first by listening before jumping to
conclusions / answers
• Credibility
Establish what have you learned and then move on fast to …
Build credibility by delivering improvements before promising anything
• Certainty
Confirm it’s turning things around from the outside in – check with customers etc
Expect it to be fleeting if you’re growing fast!
13
17. Proprietary and Confidential
Why are you doing this?
Inspired?
• Change the world
Meeting a need?
• Personal or market?
Addressing a pain point?
• Scratching an itch?
• Healing a wound?
• Positively motivated?
Or just to prove someone wrong?
Fun or Fundamental?
17
20. Proprietary and Confidential
Timing…
20startupsecrets.com@underscorevc
When do you think is the right time to become an entrepreneur?
Right out of school, college?
After you’ve got some real work experience?
After you’ve been in a startup?
If you’ve worked your way up a corporation?
Whenever ?!
Is it age related?
21. Proprietary and Confidential
The Age Old argument: Youth vs.
Experience
21startupsecrets.com@underscorevc
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
0-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+
Age of U.S. Tech Entrepreneurs - At Time of Funding
22. Proprietary and Confidential
The Age Old argument: Youth vs.
Experience
22startupsecrets.com@underscorevc
• Youth
• Ignorance is bliss
• Unaware = unlimited
• Open mind = open to possibilities
• less to lose
• Experience
• Confidence
• Stronger networks
• Deeper pockets
• also more to lose
23. Proprietary and Confidential
Networks and Relationships
23startupsecrets.com@underscorevc
Cultivate, Curate your network
Attract, Select, Grow people
Find mentors
The number one relationship
• Your potential customer
24. Proprietary and Confidential
Shoe Leather
24startupsecrets.com@underscorevc
Customer intimacy
• Vital in product development, support, etc.
26. Proprietary and Confidential
Career paths for founders?
26startupsecrets.com@underscorevc
PeopleSoft
Outcome Founder(s) Relevant Prior Experience
David Duffield
Aneel Bhusri
$9.5B
Yahoo & Infoseek
Michael Baum,
Rob Das,
Erik Swan
$3B
PayPal & Socialnet.comReid Hoffman$7.8B
Odeo, Audioblog, Pyra
Labs, Blogger
Jack Dorsey,
Evan Williams,
Biz Stone &
Noah Glass
$31.6B
27. Proprietary and Confidential
Big Company vs. Startup Experience?
27startupsecrets.com@underscorevc
I’ve been incredibly successful at Global Enterprises
• Does that set me up for success as an entrepreneur?
IMHO = NO!
If you want startup experience
• Go and work in… A STARTUP!
Find a mentor within the startup
32. Proprietary and Confidential
YOU are your biggest investor
32startupsecrets.com@underscorevc
VCs, investors, advisor
• Invest some of their time
• Some of their money
• Part of their portfolio
You invest
• Your life
• Your reputation
• And there is only ONE of you to invest
It takes
• Dedication
• Focus
33. Proprietary and Confidential
Innovation & Entrepeneurship
33startupsecrets.com@underscorevc
Don’t set out to create a billion-dollar company
Set out to solve a multi “billion-dollar problem”
MINDFUL of what it takes to build an enduring company
In the real world you’d iterate
Today we’re going to do a workshop to allow you to build a value proposition
For (target customers—beachhead segment only)
Who are dissatisfied with (the current market alternative)
Our product is a (new product category)
That provides (key problem-solving capability).
Unlike (the product alternative),
We have assembled (key whole product features for your specific application).
Moore, Geoffrey A. (2009-03-17). Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling Technology Project (p. 154). Harper Collins, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
For (target customers—beachhead segment only)
Who are dissatisfied with (the current market alternative)
Our product is a (new product category)
That provides (key problem-solving capability).
Unlike (the product alternative),
We have assembled (key whole product features for your specific application).
Moore, Geoffrey A. (2009-03-17). Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling Technology Project (p. 154). Harper Collins, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
EG
Silicon Graphics in Hollywood
For post-production film engineers
Who are dissatisfied with the limitations of traditional film editors
Our workstation is a digital film editor That lets you modify film images any way you choose.
Unlike workstations from Sun, HP, or IBM, We have assembled all the interfaces needed for post-production film editing.
Moore, Geoffrey A. (2009-03-17). Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling Technology Project (p. 154). Harper Collins, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
EG
Silicon Graphics in Hollywood
For post-production film engineers
Who are dissatisfied with the limitations of traditional film editors
Our workstation is a digital film editor That lets you modify film images any way you choose.
Unlike workstations from Sun, HP, or IBM, We have assembled all the interfaces needed for post-production film editing.
Moore, Geoffrey A. (2009-03-17). Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling Technology Project (p. 154). Harper Collins, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
EG
Silicon Graphics in Hollywood
For post-production film engineers
Who are dissatisfied with the limitations of traditional film editors
Our workstation is a digital film editor That lets you modify film images any way you choose.
Unlike workstations from Sun, HP, or IBM, We have assembled all the interfaces needed for post-production film editing.
Moore, Geoffrey A. (2009-03-17). Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling Technology Project (p. 154). Harper Collins, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
EG
Silicon Graphics in Hollywood
For post-production film engineers
Who are dissatisfied with the limitations of traditional film editors
Our workstation is a digital film editor That lets you modify film images any way you choose.
Unlike workstations from Sun, HP, or IBM, We have assembled all the interfaces needed for post-production film editing.
Moore, Geoffrey A. (2009-03-17). Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling Technology Project (p. 154). Harper Collins, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
EG
Silicon Graphics in Hollywood
For post-production film engineers
Who are dissatisfied with the limitations of traditional film editors
Our workstation is a digital film editor That lets you modify film images any way you choose.
Unlike workstations from Sun, HP, or IBM, We have assembled all the interfaces needed for post-production film editing.
Moore, Geoffrey A. (2009-03-17). Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling Technology Project (p. 154). Harper Collins, Inc.. Kindle Edition.