Only 10% of start-ups are successful and yet 82% of founders think they will be successful. 78% of start-ups don't even manage to pay back their investors.

Dave Hersh scaled a company with Jive to more than 10 million dollars in turnover, took a growth investor on board and Jive later went public.

Through his other positions as a coach, board partner at a16z and also as a buyer of start-ups, he has a 360-degree perspective on the things that go wrong in the venture ecosystem. 

His book Reignition is all about dealing with the 90% of startups that don't achieve outlier success.

As a founder, how can you prevent your startup from getting stuck halfway through, or pull the cart out of the mud if that has already happened.

What you learn:

The evolution of the venture capital ecosystem and its current challenges

The importance of intuition versus data-driven decisions in company building

When and how to raise capital and the risks of funding too early or too much

The role of market access and operational efficiency in the success of startups

How to choose the right investor and the importance of deep personal connection and trust

ALL ABOUT UNICORN BAKERY: 

https://zez.am/unicornbakery

Dave Hersh:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davehersh/ 

Reignition - Transforming Stuck Startups: https://amzn.eu/d/3ZHnrUK 

Unicorn Bakery Whatsapp Broadcast:

Here you can find out everything you need to know as a founder: https://drp.li/jrq5S  

Our WhatsApp Broadcast keeps you up to date with insights into the scene, news and top content.

Marker:

(00:00:00) To what degree do you think the venture ecosystem is broken?

(00:04:67) What questions must be answered before building a company?

(00:11:33) Where do I position myself to set the guidance for the last few years?

(00:16:23) When is the right time to raise money, and do you differentiate between private and institutional investors?

(00:22:49) What do you tell founders that are scared of not reaching sales targets fast enough?

(00:25:36) How do I find the right investor, and what should I look for?

(00:29:26) How can founders see if they are on the right track and the company is moving in the right direction?

(00:34:27) What is the flywheel that leads to being stuck as a company?

(00:35:39) Trying to do my best hiring vs. putting persons in the position that hire better than me

(00:38:33) How do I unstuck my company, and how do I realize my own mistakes?

(00:49:01) What about overthinking in the early founder stage?

(00:52:39) What do you have to think about to become the best performer, and where do I start?

(00:59:20) Is it even possible to be successful in the early 20s?