The document discusses building billion dollar startups and provides information about Maven, an early stage venture capital firm that focuses on consumer software and hyper-growth companies. Maven was founded in 2013, typically invests in 15 companies per year, and its portfolio includes several successful consumer software startups. The document also covers topics like validating problems, founding team composition, company culture and values, achieving product-market fit, the importance of focus, dealing with investors and mentors, and the role of luck in startup success.

1.
Consumer Unicorns:
the art of building billion dollar startups
Jim Scheinman
Founder and Managing Director
@jimscheinman & @mavenVC

3. About Maven
• Founded in 2013 in Palo Alto
• Consumer software hyper-growth
• Early stage
• Fund I: $7.5M Micro VC and Incubator
• 15 investments per year
Our portfolio: a few examples

4. A vision worth fighting for

5. Does the problem really need fixing?

6. Hacker
Designer
Hustler
Founding team

7. Hacker
Designer
Hustler
Founding team

8. Founding team
Hacker
Designer
Hustler
+

9. Culture

10. Culture
Mission
Maven is the premier incubator and early stage investor for hyper-growth
consumer founders
Values
1. Collaborative: We are not political, willing to share praise, and honest and
transparent with each other. We put the team and company first.
2. No jerks: We are happy, positive, and fun to work with.
3. Accountable: We are high-performing, get stuff done, and value attention to
detail.
4. Curious: We are always willing to learn. We are knowledgeable and strive to
be experts in our field.
5. Self-starters: We take initiative, work autonomously, and are resourceful.

11. Product/market fit & consumer growth hacking

12. No silver bullet

13. Language/market fit
I
Agree
Cool
+1

14. Focus
(and there’s a time to focus on revenue)
vs.

15. Mentor whiplash

16. Investors

17. Luck and timing: a Bebo story

18. We’d love to meet you!
• Tell us your “vision worth fighting for” in 30 seconds
• Remember the filters: consumer software, hyper-growth, early-
stage, technical team
• Follow up with Sara Thomas at sara@mavenventures.com
@mavenvc
@jimscheinman