Download to read offline
Uploaded byFilip Maertens
VOKA BRYO Keynote Speech
The document provides advice for starting entrepreneurs in 3 sentences or less: 1) It warns that money, power, boredom, and flex time are bad reasons to start a company and advises finding a real problem to solve with passion. 2) It emphasizes that execution is more important than ideas, finding real problems, product distribution, being lean, focusing, and getting revenue instead of relying on venture capital. 3) It concludes by advising entrepreneurs to convey their company's message clearly in under a minute by defining their offering, audience, problem solved, and unique value proposition.
More Related Content
Similar to VOKA BRYO Keynote Speech
VOKA BRYO Keynote Speech
- 1. So. You wantto start up ? some final words for starting entrepreneurs Filip Maertens www.filipmaertens.com STARTING UP SERIES Entrepreneurship in Europe me@filipmaertens.com
- 2. • 1994: Selling “late night video bootlegs” at school • Parents cancelled Filmnet subscription • 1994: Selling “software CD’s” at school • Apparently, that was illegal. Parents shut me down • 1995: Had to set up Kreative VOF to sell hosting • Selling hardware and hosting. Friendly MBO in 2005. • 1998: Set up Securax bvba • Acquired by Ernst & Young / eSO in 2000 • 2005: Bought shares in Uniskill nv • Resold profitable in MBO Born 28/12/1978 University drop-out (sort of) • 2007: Bought shares in Attractel (+ VC funds) Two modest exits, one failure • Shut down due to trouble at the top Lived in U.S., & Middle East • 2009: VOIP Depot (angel investor) Passionate about technology! • 2006: Avydian Cyber Defense • Tradesell to Videre Technologies (Singapore) in 2011 • 2011: Argus Labs (ongoing…) Filip Maertens www.filipmaertens.com BRYO Brussels me@filipmaertens.com
- 3. Warning: Badreasons to do a start-up. Money ? Get a real job. Power ? Join the army. Boredom ? Figure it out first. Flex time ? LOL. Filip Maertens www.filipmaertens.com BRYO Brussels me@filipmaertens.com
- 4. Some words ofadvice ? 10 years in 10 topics Filip Maertens www.filipmaertens.com BRYO Brussels me@filipmaertens.com
- 5. 1 Yourcompany must be your passion Passion is the only force that will keep you going when the going gets though. Filip Maertens www.filipmaertens.com BRYO Brussels me@filipmaertens.com
- 6. 2 Nobodycares about your idea. Execution is the only key to success. Disciplined, brutal and never stopping execution. Filip Maertens www.filipmaertens.com BRYO Brussels me@filipmaertens.com
- 7. 3 Finda real problem! And solve it! Many people are simply in love with their idea and are a solution waiting for a problem Filip Maertens www.filipmaertens.com BRYO Brussels me@filipmaertens.com
- 8. 4 Productdistribution and scalability ! Great products fail because founders have no idea how to distribute or scale. Filip Maertens www.filipmaertens.com BRYO Brussels me@filipmaertens.com
- 9. 5 Belean. Iterate fast ! Don’t wait for perfection. Break things and keep moving! Filip Maertens www.filipmaertens.com BRYO Brussels me@filipmaertens.com
- 10. 6 Takeon big problem, big market. Pick a big and growing industry! Filip Maertens www.filipmaertens.com BRYO Brussels me@filipmaertens.com
- 11. 7 Failurecan happen. Afraid ? Running a start-up requires total commitment. Be prepared to dine in hell. Filip Maertens www.filipmaertens.com BRYO Brussels me@filipmaertens.com
- 12. 8 VC’s?Get revenue! Revenue is the cheapest money a company can buy Filip Maertens www.filipmaertens.com BRYO Brussels me@filipmaertens.com
- 13. 9 Focus.Focus. Focus. Build one product really well and make money on one revenue stream only Filip Maertens www.filipmaertens.com BRYO Brussels me@filipmaertens.com
- 14. 10 Bespecific about what you do. No buzzword lingo. Please. Convey a clear message under one minute! Filip Maertens www.filipmaertens.com BRYO Brussels me@filipmaertens.com
- 15. A guideline adlib My company, __(insert name of company)__, is developing __(a defined offering)__ to help __(a defined audience)__ __(solve a problem)__ with __(secret sauce)__. Filip Maertens www.filipmaertens.com BRYO Brussels me@filipmaertens.com
- 16. My latest startup:Argus Labs ? Changing your smart-phone into a smart-agent Filip Maertens www.filipmaertens.com BRYO Brussels me@filipmaertens.com
Editor's Notes
- #3 Don’t drop-out. There is a wrong image about successful enterpreneurs and how they almost need to be dropouts to be good. That’s a lie. Dropouts rarely succeed and the few exceptions only prove this.
- #4 The wrong things why to become a founder.
- #5 Don’t drop-out. There is a wrong image about successful enterpreneurs and how they almost need to be dropouts to be good. That’s a lie. Dropouts rarely succeed and the few exceptions only prove this.
- #6 ANECDOTE ABOUT ULF PRALLE. GERMAN FRIEND THAT IS OBSESSED ABOUT SEX BUT WANTED TO START A LOCAL SOCIAL NETWORK. JOYCLUB.DE FOUNDED & NOW WORKING ON MOBILE VERSION.
- #7 HOLY SHIT MY IDEA SUCKS. AN IDEA IS A RANDOM BRAINFART. DEVELOP THE IDEA. STUDY IT. CHECK IT WITH FRIENDS, PEER GROUPS, POTENTIAL CLIENTS, (NOT PARENTS ! :p). VALIDATE THE ASSUMPTIONS OF YOUR IDEA.A VERY IMPORTANT PHASE !!
- #8 Is it a problem you had to deal with yourself ? COOL (Twitspark example)Be cheaper = PLEASE DUDE. SERIOUSLY?Improve on existing technology, RED OCEAN = GOOD (BUT TOUGH)Innovate and be one of the first, BLUE OCEAN = BETTER (BUT RISKY)
- #9 DON’T ASSUME JUST BECAUSE YOU BUILD A GREAT PRODUCT, USERS WILL FLOCK. USE SIMPLE DISTRIBUTION TECHNIQUES (MAIL SIGNUP, FACEBOOK PROPAGATION, …)USE “VIRALITY” ONLY IF YOU ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THE WORD MEANS (VIRAL PRODUCT FEATURES, LOCK-IN FEATURES).KEEP COST OF ACQUISITION LOW (OR PREDICTABLE) => FAB.COM EXAMPLE
- #10 I MADE THE MISTAKE OF WAITING A BIT TOO LONG JUST TO GET IT PERFECT. I WAS CONVINCED THE WORLD WAS UNFORGIVING FOR IMPERFECTION; WRONG !YOU NEED TO CONSTANTLY VALIDATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING ! VERY QUICKLY !
- #11 Petit Pays, Petit Esprit, Petit ZiziProblem with Belgians is we are equally afraid of failure as we are for success!
- #12 Chances of Failure are higher than TOTAL COMMITMENT: Sports
- #13 Chances of Failure are higher than
- #14 Chances of Failure are higher than
- #15 Chances of Failure are higher than