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Your Startup, a CMO, and that Elusive Question of Equity

Tuesday, 28 August 2018 by
First let’s establish as fact, a couple of assumptions.  This is a key role in your organization, at a distinct stage in a specific type of new company; and as a team member so critical, we need to be on the same page as to our context in working through this question. Early stage =
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Getting to Know Your Venture Capitalist

Tuesday, 28 August 2018 by
There are two types of people in the world. Those who know what they’re doing and those who don’t. Your challenge, as an entrepreneur raising capital, is to discern the difference. Even with the very best of intentions, wealth doesn’t necessarily = experience, good advice, and sound decisions. In venture capital this fact can lead to disastrous
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The Cracks of an Entrepreneur

Friday, 24 August 2018 by
OnInnovation Interview: Elon Musk; Creative Commons license to use
In a New York Times interview with David Gelles, James B. Stewart, Jessica Silver-Greenberg, and Kate Kelly, the Times journalists noted that Elon Musk, “choked up multiple times, noting that he nearly missed his brother’s wedding this summer and spent his birthday holed up in Tesla’s offices as the company raced to meet elusive production targets on a crucial new
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Venture Capital in Texas

Thursday, 26 July 2018 by
The last time I had an opportunity to do this at such a scale was during Amazon’s Startup Day. What is the state of the Texas venture capital ecosystem? Interestingly, personally, since speaking for Amazon, Austin has been hemming and hawing about HQ2 and while the merit of that happening or not, is fodder for
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What Does it Mean to be Working in Technology?

Friday, 13 July 2018 by
Frankly, I hate how, since the dawn of the computer and internet, when we say “technology” we tend to presume only software, web sites, and smartphones. “Technology” does not mean semiconductor and code! The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes The idea of technology was defined in 1829! Technology (“science of craft”, from Greek, techne, “art, skill, cunning
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The VCs I Read

Wednesday, 04 July 2018 by
Last thought first: How do we follow all of these great mentors and writers? Here’s a Twitter List to Follow <- Subscribe there and you’ll get all of their posts I’ve spent years, week after week, dropping to entrepreneurs some of the names of VC blogs and bloggers I love.  In every Incubator and session I
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Start Up Right: Know Your Potential Customers

Tuesday, 22 May 2018 by
Every entrepreneur struggles with the idea of traction. The word we hear uttered by investors, mentioned by advisors, cited in blog posts, and the holy grail of entrepreneurship, traction, really means a lot of different things to any number of people.  And still, as we venture forth, we’re constantly focused on customers and what I’ve noticed
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