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Why Your 51% Ownership Guarantees You Nothing
You know the scene in The Social Network where Eduardo meets with Peter Theil’s attorney for the first time. The attorney casually mentions that Mark Zuckerberg’s equity will be over 50% ownership, and Eduardo, sagely, says, “That’s good because Mark needs to be protected?” Yeah, that scene. [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe…
Read MoreWhy You Should Offer Your Team Unlimited Time Off
One of the smartest things we ever did was offer our employees unlimited vacation. I know it sounds crazy for startups to tell their employees they can take as much time off as they want, but it’s really not crazy at all. Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.…
Read MoreHow Do You Really Feel As A Startup CEO?
I’d love to sit here telling you that being a CEO was great, and it was great. Truly, truly great. However, I’d be lying if I told you there was only one feeling I had being CEO. [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] There were times I felt…
Read MoreWhat Are The 11 Biggest Myths About Being A CEO?
Blossom, Avery, and I were at dinner at Nobu in Palo Alto. I looked over at the table next to us and who’s there but Marc Andreessen and his wife. [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] No one was paying attention to them, and no one asked Marc for…
Read MoreHow Do You Extend Your Runway Before Raising Money?
I was talking with one of my 1:1 coaching clients today. Two weeks ago, “Sam’s” company was ramping demand and preparing to raise their next round of funding. [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] Sam told me today that every customer meeting he had was canceled because of…
Read MoreCan You Ever Lie To Your Investors?
“Brett, I want to share with you what the CEO of ‘Company X’ (a well known public company) said at the investor conference I went to,” Jack Gifford, Maxim Integrated Products CEO, said to me. Then he barked at me, “Take some notes.” [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.]…
Read MoreWhat Are The 5 Rules You Need To Divide Founder Equity?
“How much equity do you think I should give “Frank?”” That was the question “Sam”, the co-founder of a company that I’m working with asked me last week. He was considering bringing Frank on as a late co-founder to the company. [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] “I’ve…
Read MoreHow Do You Compensate A Part Time Co-Founder?
“You should stay at your job until we get funded,” I said to Jeroen. It was September 2008 and Jeroen had just agreed to be our co-founder and VP Engineering. [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] The economy was sinking like a stone and venture capital funding appeared…
Read MoreHow Should You Manage Your Remote Team?
I was talking with “Vikram”, a CEO I’ve been working with, the other day. Vikram commutes between the US and Bangalore, spending three months in the US, and then three months in India. [Do you want to grow your business? Maybe I can help. Click here.] When we spoke, Vikram had just spent time with…
Read MoreWhat Are Five Decisions You Need To Make Before Raising Money?
“I don’t think we should raise $11 million,” my co-founder, “John”, said to me. “We will give up control of the company! We should only raise $6 million.” “John, we’re going to have to raise the $11 million and probably more. Getting the $11 million gives us more runway,” I said. “Let’s get the money…
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