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When Should Technical Founders Become CEO?

Both Sides of the Table

Much has been written about when it is time to hire a “professional CEO” to run a startup company and of course that has long been a norm in Silicon Valley when founders find that their inexperience may be a limiting factor in company growth ( know as the Peter Principle ). So why did Larry need to return?

Founder 309
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A Venture Capital History Perspective From Jack Tankersley

Feld Thoughts

Some were Silicon Valley early stage companies, such as Apple, Quantum, and Masstor Systems. Take a look at the founding syndicates of each: Masstor Sytems (5/1979). Quantum Corporation (6/1980). What is striking about these syndicates is that nobody had any meaningful capital, which forced syndication and cooperation.

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Beyond the Lemonade Stand: How to Teach High School Students Lean Startups

Steve Blank

We realized that past K-12 Entrepreneurial classes taught students “the lemonade stand” version of how to start a company: 1) come up with an idea, 2) execute the idea, 3) do the accounting (revenue, costs, etc.). Sharks, in turn, argued with one another and even attempted to form syndication in one instance.

Lean 334
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The Difference Between Apple & Facebook ? AGILEVC

Agile VC

Both companies generate direct revenue from their platform in the form of a revenue share / platform tax (typically 30%) on software and digital goods sold through the respective platforms. Facebook’s direct platform revenue accounted for about 15% of the company’s overall sales whereas Apple’s was less than 1%.

Java 170
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This Week in VC with Dana Settle of Greycroft Partners

Both Sides of the Table

Founded in November 2007 in New York City by Alexis Maybank and Kevin Ryan (co-founder of DoubleClick); CEO is Susan Lyne (ex-CEO Marta Stewart Living Omnimedia) Revenue estimates: $50mm in 2008; $170mm in 2009 (versus budget of $150mm); $450mm forecasted for 2010. Note that these are “gross” revenue numbers.

Partner 240
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LinkedIn: The Series A Fundraising Story ? AGILEVC

Agile VC

Silicon Valley is still emerging from the tech bubble and massive downturn of late 2000-2002. Online social networking is a concept still being evangelized even in Silicon Valley… Friendster is in private beta (wasn’t until Oct 2003 they received Google acquisition offer which they turned down for Kleiner/Benchmark round).

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Cliff Notes S-1: Kayak ? AGILEVC

Agile VC

How They Make Money: Majority of Kayak’s revenue actually comes from advertising on their site (55%), not lead generation or referral fees to travel suppliers as you might think (more on this below). Financial Snapshot: 2010 Revenue: $170 million. Revenue growth: 51% YoY (2010), 1% YoY (2009), 131% YoY (2008).