25 lessons learned - entrepreneurship 101

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