article thumbnail

Leaving Government for the Private Sector – Part 2

Steve Blank

Laura Thomas is a former CIA operations officer. Strategy and Operations roles: These roles help make sure vision, resources (budgets and people), and the market opportunity are aligned. I also work closely with all members of the executive team, the Board of Directors, and Advisory Board. Read part one here.

article thumbnail

5 Reasons To Enlist Outside Advisors For Your Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

In my experience as an angel investor for new startups, I’m always surprised by how many entrepreneurs are looking for funding without outside advisors. An experienced Board can give them credibility, as well as advice on the many pitfalls of starting a new company. Advisory members are Board of Directors candidates.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

6 Key Leaders Every Technical Startup Needs To Thrive

Startup Professionals Musings

Yet every entrepreneur I meet wants to talk about the idea, and rarely mentions the team. Thus I was happily surprised when I found the classic book, “ The Tech Entrepreneur’s Survival Guide ,” by Bernd Schoner, PhD, and cofounder of ThingMagic, which leans heavily on the people side of the equation. The operations superstar.

article thumbnail

When To Enlist A Board Of Directors Or Advisory Board

Startup Professionals Musings

Many entrepreneurs I know are confused by definition and need for an Advisory Board versus a Board of Directors. By definition, Advisory Boards are voluntary and have no fiduciary responsibility. How much are you willing to spend on your board? Do you expect involvement in company operations?

article thumbnail

5 Lessons Every Entrepreneur Should Know

YoungUpstarts

From that experience, I have grown as an entrepreneur, but that “growth” came at a tremendous expense, so I thought I would share the 5 lessons I learned throughout that experience that every entrepreneur should know. As entrepreneurs, we drive this alignment with our team; why not treat owners with the same expectations?

CTO Hire 100
article thumbnail

How To Survive The Loss Of A Main Customer

YoungUpstarts

by Zain Jaffer, serial entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Zain Ventures. This is especially true for startups, which operate on the basis of customer traction to solidify expectations with investors or lending institutions. When the time comes, the following actions can help entrepreneurs get back on their feet: 1.

Customer 347
article thumbnail

5 Questions To Consider When Contemplating Advisors

Startup Professionals Musings

Many entrepreneurs I know are confused by the definition and need for an Advisory Board versus a Board of Directors. By definition, Advisory Boards are voluntary and have no fiduciary responsibility. How much are you willing to spend on your board? Do you expect involvement in company operations?