25 lessons learned - entrepreneurship 101
TRANSCRIPT
Co-Founder of ShopLocket Raised $1M+, Angel / VC Sold in 2014 to PCH
Founder of Female Funders Founded Angel School Author of O’Rei l ly ’s Funded 6 Time Angel Investor
#25 LESSONS LEARNED
VENTURE FUNDING IS NOT SUCCESS.#1
GROWTH HAPPENS ONE CUSTOMER AT A T IME.#2
RAISING VC MEANS YOU HAVE A BOSS.#3
YOU’LL GIVE UP 10 - 30% EACH ROUND NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU RAISE .
#4
IF YOU’RE NON-TECHNICAL YOU DON’T NEED TO STAY THAT WAY.#5
FOUNDER VESTING AGREEMENTS REALLY MATTER.#6
KEEP CLEAN MONTHLY F INANCIAL STATEMENTS.#7
EVERYONE MUST SIGN AN IP ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT.#8
A HIGHER VALUATION IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER.#9
DO YOUR OWN MEDIA.#10
EARLY STAGE FUNDING IS ALL ABOUT OPTICS .#11
WORK THE BACKCHANNEL#12
ALWAYS STAY FOR THE AFTER PARTY.#13
CANADIAN INVESTORS IDOLIZE US INVESTORS.#14
IF ITS NOT A YES , ITS A NO.#15
LATER STAGE FUNDING IS HARD. GET PROFITABLE.#16
HIGHER PRICES, H IGHER REVENUE.#17
THE VALLEY WILL CHANGE YOU. GET ON A PLANE.#18
IF YOU’RE IN HARDWARE, GO TO SHENZHEN.#19
CROWDFUNDING IS A SCIENCE#20hackathon.pchintl.com/launch-academy
THERE ARE NO MAGIC BULLETS. (NOT EVEN YC)#21
THE PEOPLE BESIDE YOU TODAY ARE YOUR “COHORT” .#22
PUTTING YOURSELF OUT THERE WILL PAY OFF.#23
“BALANCE” IS LOST GRADUALLY.#24
BE A COCKROACH.#25
kather ine@femalefunders .com @Kather ineHague