This is the presentation Jeffrey Beir & I gave at Harvard Innovation Lab on 7/23/2013.
You’ve got a big idea addressing a huge market opportunity - should be no problem getting financed and building a successful company. But that’s not how real companies get built. In the engineering world, agile has replaced traditional waterfall methodologies because it lowers risk, improves predictability and allows for mid-course correction. The same applies when thinking about how you build your business.
Abby and Jeffrey will present a framework for building your business with an agile mindset and explain why most companies should be built this way...
4. Some startups get stuck in the mud
• Too big, or too small of an idea
• All product, no customer
• Surprised by external events
• Assuming a straight line
• Running out of money
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“To organize the
world’s information
and make it universally
accessible & useful”
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“To be the earth’s most
customer centric company;
to build a place where people
can come to find and discover
anything they might want to
buy online.”
54. How do I protect my downside?
What proof do you have that it will work?
You should be able to
answer these questions
Why is this a big opportunity?
How can I write a small check so I can see some proof?
what will you do next and how much more capital will you need?
What can go wrong?