Author, Investor, Speaker, Mentor
While it is true that entrepreneurship (and startup investing) require risk-taking, this focus on risk-taking can lead entrepreneurs to neglect the critical task of risk reduction. During a recent meeting with some founders, I walked them through some of the key ways that they could reduce the perceived risk of investing in their company. They … Continue reading The Importance of Reducing (Perceived) Risk
It’s hard to bring something new into the world. If it were easy, it would have already happened. Nearly all startups fail. They’re trying to do something new, and the status quo is one hell of a competitor. Doing nothing is easy and most people’s default choice. Don’t jump into entrepreneurship because you’re lured in … Continue reading Startup Success Requires Accepting Failure
I recently traveled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to speak at the RiseUp Summit Saudi. I had spoken at the RiseUp Summit in 2019 in Cairo, so when the organizers asked me if I would be willing to travel to Riyadh for their first event in Saudi Arabia, I checked the calendar, saw that it wouldn’t … Continue reading Travelogue: Riyadh
I have two degrees from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, but I often tell audiences that my work in improvisational comedy has been more impactful on my career than any of those diplomas. I feel very fortunate that I came across improv when I was a freshman at Stanford. Unlike some … Continue reading Improv and Entrepreneurship
We’re in a buyer’s market for capital these days, which means that every day I read headlines about how Startup X raised Y million at a Z billion-dollar valuation from Funds A, B, and Tiger Global. It’s very easy for first-time entrepreneurs to read these headlines and think that the most important number is Z, … Continue reading Choosing a VC based on valuation is like hiring the cheapest job candidate
I strongly believe that it is important to give back to the world, both because it is the right thing to do, and because giving back is a key practice for improving one’s mental health and happiness. But while others might decide to volunteer to help build shelters for the needy, I know that I’d … Continue reading Why I Support The Women’s Startup Lab (and You Should Too)
Back in 2017, I worked with the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) to run week-long program for entrepreneurs to visit Doha, look for great technologies to commercialize, and walk away with as much as $500K in seed funding from the Qatar Technology Venture Fund to launch a new startup. Things went so well, we’re doing it … Continue reading Come with me to Doha this October (all expenses paid)
Paul Smith recently wrote about the phenomenon of entrepreneurs who slack off after raising their seed round: “Here’s what I see three quarters of startups doing immediately after they raise a seed round: After months of working 60 hour weeks (and the rest, usually) to launch and demonstrate early growth to convince investors they’re worth … Continue reading Entrepreneurs who slack off after raising money aren’t entrepreneurs
Y Combinator CEO Sam Altman just released a fascinating set of statistics about the firm. The numbers are pretty stunning; Y Combinator’s 940 companies are now worth more than $65 billion. That’s an astonishing mean value of $69 million…and recall, that Y Combinator buys into those startups at a sub-$1 million valuation. Now that’s a … Continue reading The Odds Are Always Against Startups
First Round Capital, the first and foremost of the “micro” VC funds, recently released a retrospective set of lessons learned based on 10 years of investing data. It’s an incredible trove of data, some of which I love, some of which makes me feel uneasy. But since I always believe in working with the world … Continue reading The Ultimate Startup Success Plan (based on 10 years of data)