When I was two years old, my parents bought their first home in America. For two immigrants from India, this action epitomized the ‘American Dream’ that was promised to them a decade earlier when my father left his homeland with just $20 + a scholarship to a US PhD program to his name. To celebrateContinue reading “Take Down This Flag”
Category Archives: Essays
The Founder Tree
Championships matter, of course. But when ESPN assembled an all-star panel to pick the 20 best NFL coaches in history, these experts focused on another key attribute when ranking these leaders — their coaching trees. It’s not enough to win now. You also have the responsibility to recruit and develop leaders who go on to win theirContinue reading “The Founder Tree”
Entrepreneurship = Get Rich Slow
Ever seen this quote? “Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t, so that you can spend the rest of your life living like most people can’t.” Starstruck wantrepeneurs: Understand the real-world challenges that you’re going to face as a startup founder. It’s not just 100+ hour work weeks coding inContinue reading “Entrepreneurship = Get Rich Slow”
Valuing Seed-Stage Startups
Do you have 6+ months of runway? If Yes: Continue to Step 2. If No: Calculate the minimum investment needed to get to your next milestone. Make a list of the five investors who are most likely to give you money. Pitch all five and ask each one for the full amount needed. Offer themContinue reading “Valuing Seed-Stage Startups”
On Being ‘First’
As entrepreneurs, we’ve all experienced the rush of excitement that accompanies the arrival of a bright new startup idea. There’s something magical about the belief that you are the very first person in history to figure out this secret. It’s hard not to start counting the billions of dollars in your future bank account. TheContinue reading “On Being ‘First’”
Don’t Just Lead By Example
“Lead by example.” This cliché, constantly provided to new entrepreneurs and first-time CEOs, is often terrible advice for the heads of large organizations (or founders of startups that aspire to be large). What entrepreneurs usually gather from this recommendation is that they simply need to work their asses off, and their team will follow them.Continue reading “Don’t Just Lead By Example”
7 Ways To Improve Your Demo Day Pitch
So, you’ve picked the best startup accelerator for you and survived the first months of the program. Now you feel your eyes wandering towards the finish line, and that big Demo Day presentation looming large. If you’re like me, public speaking is an unnatural experience. Add the fact that you need to summarize your entireContinue reading “7 Ways To Improve Your Demo Day Pitch”
Choosing The Right Startup Accelerator
This is a seemingly complex problem, but it all comes down to one simple question: Product? Don’t have the resources to build the product of your dreams? Incubators run by notable operators can help you with user testing, prototyping, manufacturing, pilot programs, etc. Consider Industry-Specific Programs: Rock Health, Lemnos Labs, Code for America Team? Need helpContinue reading “Choosing The Right Startup Accelerator”
Are You Running Your Business Like A Lemonade Stand?
This essay was originally written for Under30CEO. On day one of your new business, you have a hundred job functions. Try to fit “CEO, President, CFO, Technical Director, Web Developer, Accountant, Sales Representative, Receptionist, Janitor” onto your business cards. To millions of experienced entrepreneurs, this feels like what a small business is always supposed toContinue reading “Are You Running Your Business Like A Lemonade Stand?”