Excerpt from the presentation I gave at the no.1 conference in Brasil on internet, innovation and entrepreneurship.

1. 22nd November, Red innova, Brasil

2. Topics of today
Why?
What is Rockstart Accelerator?
7 lessons learned...

4. we LOVE startups

5. What is
Rockstart
Accelerator?

6. Rockstart Accelerator - what is it
10 teams
99+ mentors
1 year in 100 days
Amsterdam

7. Rockstart Accelerator - what is it
Spring
Program
Summer
Program

8. 99+ mentors that help you accelerate

9. 7 learnings to
rockstart your
company

10. #1 the team is everything
complimentary
skills
Embrace fights
Have the talk
Vesting
arrangements

11. #2 Work alongside the best

13. #3 Always keep your focus
The art of saying NO and planning
80-20 rule
stop newspapers, blogs on daily basis

15. #4 Know when to pivot
Your small size and vulnerability are
your biggest strength
Corporates have 1000s of employees, huge
resources, high quality and reliability

16. #4 Know when to pivot
Your 0 customers are a huge advantage
autonomy to change fast
constantly adapt and do better
No legacy structures
Learn and pivot when necessary

17. #5 master the investor game
Investors invest in lines, not dots....
Get referred
Build relationships, early...
Do your homework, difference VC & Angels

18. #5 master the investor game
Be, be like Marilyn Monroe
Do not send business plans, but a 2-pager
Then, be passionate but picky
Ask for #deals last year, references

19. #6 be a great mentee
Be passionate
Follow up
Express gratitude
Show impact
Create a group of mentors & schedule meetups and
brainstorm sessions

20. Cristian from
Nexi.me with
Steve Blank

21. #7 learn incredibly fast
Surround yourself with best mentors
Find people who have just “done” it
Pitch, Pitch, Pitch....and some more!

23. Learn how to learn, some statistics:
Of this speech you will remember:
- 50% tomorrow
- 25% saturday
- 10% next week
- 5% next month
Learn only what you need to learn, makes
notes, apply and dare to pivot.

24. Learn, accept pressure as normal every day
thing and stretch.....

25. Step forward, start!
Don Ritzen
Co-founder&CEO Rockstart
Accelerator
e: don@rockstart.com
t: @donritzen
s: slideshare.com/donritzen