View from Seed

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

This is a guest post from Stephano Kim , former co-founder of Web 1.0 Many startup CEOs hire COOs or launch companies with a co-founder carrying the title. When should founders hire one? The needs of each founder are so different from the next, and the challenges his/her business faces are even more diverse.

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Hiring Cofounder Startup Technical Cofounder 336

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 13, 2013

I started as a programmer, and then a database designer, and then a project manager, and I led conversion teams. You’ve got entrepreneurs and founders who are really – a lot of them are in the very early stage of their startup. Technical founder. So it was from ’91 to ’94 that I programmed. You’re 42.

Cofounder 337

Cofounder Technical Cofounder Startup San Diego 337

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2014

I first met Andrew Stalbow , the founder & CEO of Seriously in August of 2013. and Petri was co-founder and head of creative at Remedy Entertainment that launched the hit PC games Max Payne and Alan Wake. and had several phone conversations after that. But I’m guessing the narrative is similar elsewhere.

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Technical Review North America Los Angeles Cofounder 373

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 4, 2014

Nowhere is the politics more difficult than with co-founders, which is why for years I’ve spoken publicly about “ the co-founder mythology.” ” Of course we all go into businesses expecting to be aligned with our co-founders but over time life changes. Equity for the future?

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Founder Cofounder Sacramento Technical Review 340

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 15, 2010

Next Wednesday we’ll have Dana Settle of Greycroft Partners, a New York / LA early-stage venture capital fund. StackOverflow – We both have a love fest for Joel Spolsky who also co-founded Fog Creek Software. Swipely – Blippy competitor founded by TellMe founder, Angus Davis, in Fall 2009. DEAL OF THE WEEK.

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Stealth SEC Advertising Accredited Investor 285

Hunter Walker

OCTOBER 14, 2024

The order is important because I fell in love with the product before I even knew about the company, and the hustle of its founder/CEO Sandro Roco. I would go into specialty and natural food stores in New York City and look at the other independently owned and smaller brands and just cold-Instagram DM or cold-LinkedIn message the founders.

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New York City Hockey Stick Distribution Angel Investor 114

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

I have this conversation with every startup that comes to see me and has a CEO & a COO. You have two founders and it was agreed that one would get the CEO role so the other needs to call themselves president or COO. I was the CEO of my startup and my co-founder was the president. We had a VP of Biz Dev.

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Technical Review Startup Cofounder Due Diligence 325

Agile VC

JULY 11, 2012

Some disgruntled younger partners left to go start a new firm in 1965 called Greylock. Some disgruntled younger partners left in the 90s to form what is now Redpoint Ventures (IT team) and Versant Ventures (healthcare team). Big success was Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), in which ARD invested about $2.1M

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Silicon Valley Carried Interest Cofounder Boston 240

View from Seed

JANUARY 27, 2021

We are looking to bring on board a versatile new team member to support the varied internal operations of the firm as well as collaborate with the partners on our external programs and communications with the broader entrepreneurial community. You enjoy meeting new people and have a healthy appetite for conversation. . A Final Note.

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Operations Hiring Seed Stage Boston 227

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 14, 2016

Today is amongst the proudest days I’ve had at Upfront Ventures — getting the chance to announce that Kevin Zhang has been promoted to Partner. We also look for a cultural fit with Upfront, which includes the gravitas to deal with executives and founders at the startups we back as well as the other board members.

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Partner South Korea Venture Capital Europe 150

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

If you track the venture capital industry it would be hard to miss the conversation going on this week over AngelList “Syndicates.” founder fighting. Call any CEO that has me as a lead and they’ll tell you that I’ve been on midnight phone calls the night before big meetings acting as a sparring partner.

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Syndicate Syndication Cofounder Early Stage 356

Up and Running

OCTOBER 21, 2014

because no single other factor will impact your conversions more than having a good design. “Begin with the end in mind or risk being side tracked” Advice from James Griffith, Co-founder of Mous. Advice from Samantha Strom, Co-founder of Hazel Lane. Get a technical co-founder.

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Cofounder Entrepreneur Technical Cofounder Technical Review 145

Eric Friedman

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

To help teams answer this question I have collaborated with Steve Schlafman to create a product – an exercise, to be completed by those founders building a company. Today we are launching a way for co-founders and founding teams to understand themselves and each other better. Tapestry.so Tapestry is one of those answers.

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Cofounder Founder Software Review Early Stage 78

Agile VC

DECEMBER 13, 2011

I recently was having one of these conversations with an entrepreneur I’ve known for a couple years. I looked at this founder’s prior startup, which ultimately had a successful exit, and then was happy to connect with him again as he launches a new project. My partner @ LeeHower looks back: [link] 5 days ago Search.

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Seed Stage Silicon Valley Cofounder Technical Review 185

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 28, 2010

This week’s guest was David Travers from Rustic Canyon Partners. It’s true that the carrier then gets their huge slice for being the billing and payment engine but the idea is that you as a website more than make up for this in terms of customer conversion. The investment will be used for product development initiatives.

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Venture Capital Cofounder Spain San Diego 270

YoungUpstarts

DECEMBER 29, 2020

by Hema Crockett and Jamie Jacobs, co-founders of Gig Talent . While the unknown continues affecting businesses and people in different ways, there have been many conversations around keeping this remote work environment a more permanent (or optional for some) change. It’s a win-win.

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Technical Review Cofounder Leadership Employee 275

View from Seed

APRIL 27, 2020

Founders do not have this luxury. Most founders are going through hell right now, and that is not going away any time soon. For investors and founders, the next several years are going to be very different. Pre-seeds will be tougher as investors gravitate more towards proven founders or folks within their existing networks.

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Cofounder Software Review Portfolio Technical Review 194

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 5, 2011

I gave him the same advice I give nearly all over-worked, control-freak, do-everything-yourself startup founders: “Your number one priority isn’t any of these things. There’s you and your killer CTO co-founder. It’s a very cool vibe at Founder’s Coop. Community Leaders + Organizers.

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Seattle Silicon Valley Technical Review Los Angeles 317

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 24, 2019

One of few ways to learn is by doing (or observing your own partners, or other senior investors). If a conversation happens between the CEO and each director then each side knows what we’re trying to achieve with the in-person meeting. I always try to establish my sense of “founder psychology” between board meetings.

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Cofounder Conversion Management Founder 251

The Startup Magazine

FEBRUARY 11, 2022

However, sound investors would do well to remember that although their prevalence has certainly made these industries a popular topic of conversation, they are by no means the only viable option for significant returns. Their investment supported Stat Health’s recapitalization, alongside Spanos Barber Jesse & Co.

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Private Equity Equity Technical Review Software Review 164

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 21, 2012

I often get asked about finding cofounders and I usually give the standard list of characteristics of what I look for in a founder. And I emphasize the value of a founding team with complementary skills sets – i.e. the hacker/hustler/designer cofounder archetype for web/mobile apps. So I asked her to write a guest post.

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Cofounder IPO Early Stage Green 332

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 11, 2016

How to recognize when it’s time to pull the plug on your startup idea, and why founders can’t operate afford to operate in a vacuum were the focus on today’s Entrepreneurs are Everywhere radio show. Dan Miller , co-founder of Level Therapy , provider of mobile therapy sessions. Dan Miller. Brian Zuercher.

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Columbus Entrepreneur Cofounder Ohio 249

VC Cafe

AUGUST 11, 2022

A couple of weeks ago I was did a fireside chat with Alon Grinshpoon, founder and CEO of Echo3D , a CDN and CMS for 3D content in the cloud and a Remagine Ventures portfolio company, as part of an entrepreneurial finance MBA class in Tel Aviv University. We were discussing both sides of the table and the relationship between founders and VCs.

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Founder Term Sheet Cofounder Venture Capital 187

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

Such was my recent meeting with Seth Sternberg, founder & CEO of Meebo. We then captured this conversation again on camera. And I’d recommend them to any talented startup founders out there.&#. With three co-founders, what was decision making and roles and responsibilities like? And there you have it.

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Connecticut Cofounder Silicon Valley Web 286

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2017

I read commentary or Twitter or blogs and realize that there are also strongly held convictions that there are these evil VCs who do terrible things to mostly altruistic founders. Executives run the day-to-day so often the board is more involved as a sparring partner at key intervals. That’s true.

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Cofounder Stock Options Equity Technical Review 217

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 25, 2010

We were trying to optimize around a few criteria: price, size of round, number of syndicate partners and, of course, terms. My co-founder and other management team members wanted us to hold off and see whether we could get the deal done at a higher price. You need your key negotiating partner and both sets of lawyers.

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Technical Review Term Sheet Due Diligence Venture Capital 301

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 10, 2016

by Nick Candito, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Progressly. Your prospects, customers and partners (and employees for that matter) do not see you as a series of disparate organizations. Leaders who don’t have the most relevant insights at their fingertips are less likely to make smart choices.

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Cofounder Technical Review Operations Employee 174

This is going to be BIG.

FEBRUARY 18, 2019

Twenty-five of them have at least one female co-founder. Fifteen had co-founders over 40. Five have LGBTQ+ founders. Three teams have African-American founders. All were backed based on the sole criteria that they had the potential to make my limited partners a lot of money.

Venture Capital 165

Venture Capital Portfolio Cofounder Seed Stage 165

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 6, 2010

I waited politely for a break in the conversation (about 20 minutes in) and the politely inserted, “I know I’m the least experienced in the room so I hope my question doesn’t come across as naive, but I really don’t know how you arrive at investment decisions. I tried to do a real-time intervention.

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Churn Rate Due Diligence Dividend Conversion 311

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 6, 2010

It’s a conversation that creeps up from time-to-time. Everyone has their own definition of momentum (user numbers, revenue, channel partners, biz dev deals, whatever). Almost every deal I’ve ever funded I’ve gotten to know the founders over time. I was interested in learning more.

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Early Stage Startup Venture Capital Seed Stage 360

View from Seed

MAY 24, 2021

You have 4-6 years of professional experience as a technology operator, founder, or investor in New York. You have a deep desire to learn the venture capital business and are ready to hustle to meet the next great founder. However, you will serve as a co-pilot on deals with all four partners, across the geographies we cover.

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Technical Review Software Review Seed Stage Cofounder 120

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

MARCH 11, 2014

Listen to this episode if you want to hear about a founder who has a product and users and paying customers … and is trying to figure out how to take his company to the next level and grow faster. Jason: Yeah, one percent conversion rate is pretty normal. I’ve had some very good conversations with a large insurance company.

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Technical Cofounder Cofounder Software Review Management 220

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 11, 2016

We then help surround founders with other talent who want to join important causes but don’t have the startup idea themselves. We help founders through difficult moments, we help coach, we act as sparring partners, we help them resolve conflicts when they’re fighting with co-founders and we help them deal with adversity as well as successes.

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Venture Capital Fractional CTO Cofounder Early Stage 150

Duct Tape Marketing

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

Howard is the co-founder and CEO of Senior Living SMART, a full-service marketing agency serving the senior housing industry. During our conversation, we explored the essential strategies that senior living communities need to thrive in an increasingly competitive market. That's where the conversion happens.

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Marketing Technical Review Differentiation Sales 89

View from Seed

FEBRUARY 9, 2022

You have 5-10 years of professional experience as a technology operator, founder, and/or investor. You have a deep desire to hone your skills as a venture capitalist and are ready to hustle to meet the next great founder. You enjoy meeting new people and have a healthy appetite for conversation. You are hungry.

Technical Review 156

Technical Review North America Seed Stage Bandwidth 156

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 22, 2011

Want meet one of his key investors, USV partner Albert Wenger ? I turned around and there was StockTwits founder (and my favorite Tweeter) Howard Lindzon. And we’re here with Dan Martell , who like any great startup founder is wearing his company t-shirt for Flowtown. Wendy Tan White, the founder of Moonfruit.

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Technical Cofounder Austin Hosting Cofounder 294

YoungUpstarts

JUNE 23, 2014

The same pattern can hold true for interactions with banks, vendors, distributors, and other strategic partners. And somewhere out there, there’s a buyer, vendor, or other strategic partner who’s willing to take a chance on your fledgling business. you’ll know it’s time to suck it up and approach another prospective client or partner.

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Technical Cofounder Florida Cofounder Tampa 150