32. BE PASSIONATE
ABOUT YOUR
PRODUCT
Never, ever, stop innovating,
leveraging the insights of your
customers, the lessons of
your competitors and the
message of the market.
14
35. CELEBRATE YOUR
CUSTOMERS
In your customers lie valuable
insights, powerful corroboration
of your story and incredible
market leverage with your
targets.
15
41. UNDERSTAND
YOUR EXIT
ECOSYSTEM
You will benefit from
understanding who might
care enough about what you
do to deliver strategic
returns in an exit and why.
17
56. RESPECT THE
IMPORTANCE OF
TIMING
Startup success is often a
question of timing. Listen to
your data, your market, and be
prepared to move quickly
when the opportunity
strikes.
22
“Fundamentally Irrational Exercise” ... “whether you are a CEO recruiting a team or winning over funding ... it’s about convincing other people to come along for the ride”
It’s a “non-trivial problem”
Poignant, fast growing, sustainable, etc.
Poignant, fast growing, sustainable, etc.
Frankly, do this everywhere.
Frankly, do this everywhere.
Treat your team as your most precious resource.
Treat your team as your most precious resource.
Leverage these insights and adapt the plan if necessary to speed your mission.
Leverage these insights and adapt the plan if necessary to speed your mission.
get as much of it as you can ... never stop looking for it
get as much of it as you can ... never stop looking for it
Never ever stop trying to gain leverage on them.
Never ever stop trying to gain leverage on them.
Get on the radar of your potential buyers, carefully. Visibility into your increasing importance and traction can be useful. Where it makes sense, make your success their success.
Get on the radar of your potential buyers, carefully. Visibility into your increasing importance and traction can be useful. Where it makes sense, make your success their success.
Learn to listen to the data and lay the foundations to avoid failure sooner.
Learn to listen to the data and lay the foundations to avoid failure sooner.
Understand that questioning is not the same as action. Question always, coordinate actions carefully.
Understand that questioning is not the same as action. Question always, coordinate actions carefully.
powerful market knowledge, rich business development contacts, deep exit relationships and strategic minds.
powerful market knowledge, rich business development contacts, deep exit relationships and strategic minds.
Understand them well before embarking on the journey.
Understand them well before embarking on the journey.
Do what you can to be as prescient as possible.
Do what you can to be as prescient as possible.
Never let up and never assume your competitors are taking a day off.
Never let up and never assume your competitors are taking a day off.
Leverage your team/capital/insights, against your competitors, for your customers, in negotiation and ultimately for your shareholders in an acquisition or liquidity event
Leverage your team/capital/insights, against your competitors, for your customers, in negotiation and ultimately for your shareholders in an acquisition or liquidity event