how to start a startup: designer edition

HOW TO START A STARTUP:DESIGNER EDITION

ELI ALEYNER - @EALEYNERMANI FAZELI - @MCFAZELI

SPONSORS

ABOUT US

DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC ALLIANCES @ XTREME LABS

PRIOR LIFE: AMAZON.COM,MICROSOFT

CO-FOUNDER@ BETTEREZ

HELPED START: CONTEXTLOGIC,MANAWA NETWORKS

VALUE OF DESIGN

BUSINESS + TECH = STARTUP?

YESTER YEAR

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/5109451656/

THE WORLD HAS CHANGED

DESIGN != UI

http://www.jonathoncolman.org/my-content/uploads/stairways.jpg

Common mistake in industry Product market fit

Design schools teach lean & agile

WHY DESIGN?

High consumer expectationDesign as a core competency

Re-imagining technology

http://www.flickr.com/photos/werkunz/4397246022/sizes/l/in/photostream/

FOUNDER PATHWAYS

Raw talentOffspring of successful startups

Consultant converts

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenny-pics/3110911974/

STARTING VS. JOINING

Do vs. learnEquity vs. salary

Risk / reward tolerance

http://www.incrowdnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/bigstock-Entering-Startup-3600494.jpg

INCEPTION

Prototype > PlanDoing > Talking

"Fake it ‘til you make it”

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tkiy/4460857417/

EARLY STAGE

Bring the vision to marketHave profound impactMaximize your upside

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tfangel/4494611999/

HOCKEY STICK

Bring the vision to the massesExpand the product offering

Grow your skills rapidly

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nedrai/4333409761/

HOW DESIGNERSSHOULD START COMPANIES

SEEK A CO-FOUNDER

Complimentary skillsEmotional & mental partner

Increase odds of success by 40%

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nwardez/3834852526/

FOUNDERDATING

NO IDEA NECESSARY

HIGH QUALITY

REACH

50% ENGINEERS

000100011100001000100101000

100

PREMIERE ONLINE NETWORK FOR

ENTREPRENEURSTO CONNECT & F IND COFOUNDERS

EXPLORE IDEAS

Identify trending problemsLook to past experiences

Go beyond aesthetics

http://www.flickr.com/photos/valentine_mariner/3696433493/

BUILD SOMETHING

Start a side projectAttend hackathons

Learn to code (even a bit)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasamarshall/4310973329/

LAUNCH

Get in front of usersMeasure religiously

Simplify

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6996753124/

CHOICES…

THANK YOU!QUESTIONS?

REFERENCES[1] WWW.DESIGNSTAFF.ORG/ARTICLES/DOES-YOUR-STARTUP-NEED-A-DESIGN-CO-FOUNDER-2012-01-12.HTML[2] FUNDERSANDFOUNDERS.COM/STARTUP-DIRTY-LAUNDRY-CONFLICTS-THAT-KILL-PARTNERSHIPS/

@FounderDating , @ealeyner, @mcfazeli

http://www.facebook.com/FounderDating

APPLY to JOIN