Are the best startup ideas those that come from years of experience in a particular field, making something with which you’re immensely familiar? Or should they come from left field, allowing you to bring a new, and often disruptive, perspective to bear on an industry that needs some shaking up? It’s a tough dilemma, forcing you to choose between the predictable familiarity of evolution and the bloodshed and transformation of revolution. In this session, Sendgrid’s Isaac Saldana will discuss getting from the fundamental idea to the earlysteps of execution, drawing on his experience launching and growing three very different startups.

1. Evolu&on
or
revolu&on:
where’s
the
best
place
to
start
from?
Isaac
Saldana,
Co-­‐founder

2. Startups
are
hard

3. Trade

4. Why
do
you
want
a
startup?

5. Who
are
you?

6. Decision
Framework

7. Resources

8. Rela&onships

9. Knowledge

10. Happiness

11. Who
am
I?

12. Previous
Startups
• Abovethelimit
• Erigid
• ThemBid
• NotPaul

13. Can
you
be
the
best
in
the
world?

14. Resources
Rela&onships
Knowledge
Happiness
Again?
Abovethelimit
30
55
90
60
90
Erigid
50
55
95
60
95
ThemBid
40
60
60
60
50
NotPaul
60
55
60
60
40
SendGrid
95
90
95
90
100

15. Linear
Regression
h! (x) = ! 0 +! 1 x1 +... + ! m xm = !T X
! = (X T X)"1 X T y Minimize
with
normal
equa&on
! $ !90 $
1 30 55 90 60 # &
# &
# 1 50 55 95 60 & #95 &
X =# 1 40 60 60 60 & y = #50 &
# & # &
1 60 55 60 60 #40 &
# &
#
" 1 95 90 95 90 &
% #100&
" %

16. Would
I
do
it
again?
!30 $ Resources
# &
x= #60& Rela&onships
64.7
#95& Knowledge
# &
"90% Happiness

17. Would
I
do
it
again?
!30 $ Resources
# &
x= #90& Rela&onships
>100
#95& Knowledge
# &
"90% Happiness

18. Would
I
do
it
again?
!30 $ Resources
# &
x= #90& Rela&onships
>100
#95& Knowledge
# &
"60% Happiness

19. Would
I
do
it
again?
!30 $ Resources
# &
x= #90& Rela&onships
55
#60& Knowledge
# &
"90% Happiness

20. Would
I
do
it
again?
!95$ Resources
# &
x= #60& Rela&onships
42.7
#60& Knowledge
# &
"60% Happiness

21. Would
I
do
it
again?
!95$ Resources
# &
x= #90& Rela&onships
86.7
#60& Knowledge
# &
"60% Happiness

22. Would
I
do
it
again?
!95$ Resources
# &
x= #90& Rela&onships
46.3
#60& Knowledge
# &
"90% Happiness

23. Would
I
do
it
again?
!95$ Resources
# &
x= #60& Rela&onships
88.7
#90& Knowledge
# &
"60% Happiness

24. Wrap
up

25. Thanks
for
listening
Isaac
Saldana
@isaldana
isaac@sendgrid.com