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Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed: Dennis Crowley
by Scott Edward Walker on March 22nd, 2011“We have these things in our head, and we just want to get them built.” –Dennis Crowley
To Our Clients & Friends: Welcome to our weekly series “Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed.” Each week, we post a short video clip of a successful entrepreneur, investor or business leader on a variety of topics to help entrepreneurs succeed.
This week, we again present Dennis Crowley, Co-founder and CEO of foursquare and a super smart and successful entrepreneur. In this interesting, four-minute interview with Chris Dixon (courtesy of TechCrunch TV), Dennis discusses (i) launching a startup in New York City, (ii) fundraising and (iii) growing from 2 to 50 people (i.e., “building the machine that builds the products”). I hope you enjoy it. Many thanks, Scott
Do More Faster – Part I
by Scott Edward Walker on March 9th, 2011Introduction
I just finished reading the book Do More Faster, which is a collection of blog posts/articles by successful entrepreneurs and investors edited by David Cohen, the founder and CEO of TechStars, and Brad Feld, the managing director of Foundry Group. As Brad noted on his blog: “Our goal was to write a unique book full of useful information for any early stage entrepreneur. Rather than give advice or simply tell an entrepreneurial success story, we decided to blend the experience of the TechStars entrepreneurs and the TechStars mentors in an organized fashion.”
Below are a few nuggets from the first half of the book; I will share some second-half quotes in my next post. Cheers, Scott
Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed: Fred Destin
by Scott Edward Walker on March 2nd, 2011To Our Clients & Friends: Welcome to our weekly series entitled “Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed.” Each week, we post a short video clip of a successful entrepreneur, investor or business leader on a variety of topics to help entrepreneurs succeed.
This week, we present Fred Destin, a partner at Atlas Venture and a smart investor (and a good guy). In this interesting presentation in Berlin last year, Fred discusses how to pitch your startup to investors, including (i) honing your story, (ii) how to get past “no”, (iii) the importance of a business model and (iv) traction. I hope you enjoy it. Many thanks, Scott
Hacking Venture Capital – Fred Destin – pt1 from Seedcamp on Vimeo.
Walker Twitter Highlights: February 21st – 27th
by Scott Edward Walker on February 28th, 2011I’m using Twitter as a form of micro-blogging to share interesting blog posts, articles, Quora answers and podcasts relating to entrepreneurship and startups, M&A and legal issues. If you missed this week’s Twitter updates, below are my five most popular tweets (via bit.ly) and my blog-related tweets. If you’d like to see all of my tweets (or an RSS feed of them), you can do so here. Thanks, Scott
Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed: Eric Ries
by Scott Edward Walker on February 8th, 2011To Our Clients & Friends: Welcome to our weekly series “Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed.” Each week, we post a short video of a successful entrepreneur, investor or business leader on a variety of topics to help entrepreneurs succeed.
This week, we present startup guru Eric Ries, who is an author, speaker and consultant for The Lean Startup and a very smart guy; previously, he co-founded and served as Chief Technology Officer of IMVU. In this interesting 15-minute speech from the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco, Eric provides an excellent overview of his lean startup methodology, including (i) how a startup is an experiment; (ii) the importance of the pivot; (iii) validated learning; and (iv) the feedback loop. I hope you enjoy it. Many thanks, Scott
Back to New York City: How I Came Full Circle
by Scott Edward Walker on February 2nd, 2011Background
I began my legal career as a corporate associate at two major law firms in New York City. After nearly eight years, however, I realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life helping entrepreneurs (like my father). I also saw a big problem in the legal marketplace — i.e., that the big-firm template generally doesn’t work for entrepreneurs and startups. Accordingly, in 2005, I moved to California — the land of the entrepreneurs — to try to solve this problem and launched Walker Corporate Law.
Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed: Marc Andreessen
by Scott Edward Walker on January 17th, 2011To Our Clients & Friends: Welcome to our weekly series “Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed.” Each week, we post a short video clip of a successful entrepreneur, investor or business leader on a variety of topics to help entrepreneurs succeed.
This week, we again present Marc Andreessen, a brilliant entrepreneur and co-founder and general partner of the venture capital firm, Andreessen Horowitz; he is also co-founder and chairman of Ning. In this interesting, two-minute clip (courtesy of Stanford University’s Entrepreneurship Corner), Marc discusses the general criteria for a successful, high-tech startup: (i) Is there a big market? (ii) Is there a “10x change” happening in the landscape? and (iii) Is the team outstanding? I hope you enjoy it. Many thanks, Scott
Walker Twitter Highlights: January 9th – 15th
by Scott Edward Walker on January 16th, 2011I’m using Twitter as a form of micro-blogging to share interesting blog posts, articles, Quora answers and podcasts relating to entrepreneurship and startups, M&A and legal issues.
If you missed this week’s Twitter updates, below are my five most popular tweets (via bit.ly) and my blog-related tweets. If you’d like to see all of my tweets (or an RSS feed of them), you can do so here. Thanks, Scott
Walker Twitter Highlights: January 2nd – 8th
by Scott Edward Walker on January 8th, 2011I’m using Twitter as a form of micro-blogging to share interesting blog posts, articles, Quora answers and podcasts relating to entrepreneurship and startups, M&A and legal issues.
If you missed this week’s Twitter updates, below are my five most popular tweets (via bit.ly) and my blog-related tweets. If you’d like to see all of my tweets (or an RSS feed of them), you can do so here. Thanks, Scott
Can I Raise Money for My Startup via Twitter?
by Scott Edward Walker on January 5th, 2011Introduction
I get this question all the time (in one form or another): “Hey Scott, can I raise money for my startup via Twitter? I have a lot of followers, and I know some of them would be interested in investing.” As discussed below, the answer is no — unless the tweet is a direct message (a “DM”) to a follower with whom you have a substantive, pre-existing relationship.
Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed: Steve Blank
by Scott Edward Walker on December 20th, 2010To Our Clients & Friends: Welcome to our weekly series entitled “Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed.” Each week, we post a short video clip of a successful entrepreneur, investor or business leader on a variety of topics to help entrepreneurs succeed.
This week, we again present startup guru Steve Blank, a retired, highly-successful serial entrepreneur (with 30+ years of venture experience) and one of the smartest startup guys out there. In this powerful clip, Steve discusses, among other things, (i) the importance of hubris, vision and passion; (ii) how entrepreneurship is a “calling” – “not a job”; (iii) the importance of getting out of the building to learn what the customer wants; and (iv) how a startup is “nothing more than a series of guesses.” I hope you enjoy it. Many thanks, Scott
How To Be a Silicon Valley Lawyer: A Tribute to Craig Johnson
by Scott Edward Walker on December 15th, 2010
Craig Johnson
Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed: Dave McClure
by Scott Edward Walker on December 13th, 2010To Our Clients & Friends: Welcome to our weekly series entitled “Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed.” Each week, we post a short video clip of a successful entrepreneur, investor or business leader on a variety of topics to help entrepreneurs succeed.
This week, we present Dave McClure, a smart entrepreneur turned angel investor and venture capitalist and founding partner of 500 Startups, an internet startup seed fund and incubator program headquartered in Mountain View. In this interesting recent interview (courtesy of Vator.TV), Dave discusses, among other things, (i) how his fund differentiates from other funds; (ii) the changing M&A market (and the new set of potential acquirors); (iii) portfolio company exit strategies; and (iv) customer acquisition. I hope you enjoy it. Many thanks, Scott
How Should a Startup Compensate its Attorneys?
by Scott Edward Walker on December 1st, 2010Introduction
This post was originally part of my “Ask the Attorney” series which I am writing for VentureBeat (one of my favorite websites for entrepreneurs). Below is a longer, more comprehensive version. Please shoot me any questions you have in the comments section – or feel free to call me directly at 415-979-9998. Many thanks, Scott
Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed: Scott Belsky
by Scott Edward Walker on November 29th, 2010To Our Clients & Friends: Welcome to our weekly series entitled “Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed.” Each week, we post a short video clip of a successful entrepreneur, investor or business leader on a variety of topics to help entrepreneurs succeed.
This week, we present Scott Belsky, the founder and CEO of Behance and the author of the best-selling book Making Ideas Happen. In this interesting, four-minute interview with Henry Blodget (courtesy of Business Insider), Scott discusses (i) why he quit Goldman Sachs to launch a startup: (ii) his desire “to do what he loves”: and (iii) the value of startup experience. I hope you enjoy it. Many thanks, Scott
Walker Twitter Highlights: November 7th – 13th
by Scott Edward Walker on November 14th, 2010I’m using Twitter as a form of micro-blogging to share interesting blog posts, articles and podcasts relating to entrepreneurship & startups, mergers & acquisitions, and business & corporate law issues.
For those of you who missed this week’s Twitter updates, below are my five most popular tweets (via bit.ly) and my blog-related tweets. If you’d like to see all of my tweets (or an RSS feed of them), you can do so here. Thanks, Scott
Walker Twitter Highlights: October 31st – November 6th
by Scott Edward Walker on November 7th, 2010I’m using Twitter as a form of micro-blogging to share interesting blog posts, articles and podcasts relating to entrepreneurship & startups, mergers & acquisitions, and business & corporate law issues.
For those of you who missed this week’s Twitter updates, below are my five most popular tweets (via bit.ly) and my blog-related tweets. If you’d like to see all of my tweets (or an RSS feed of them), you can do so here. Thanks, Scott
Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed: Paul Graham
by Scott Edward Walker on October 27th, 2010To Our Clients & Friends: Welcome to our weekly series “Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed.” Each week, we post a short video clip of a successful entrepreneur, investor or business leader on a variety of topics to help entrepreneurs succeed.
Today, as a bonus to the Mark Zuckerberg clip posted on Monday, we present startup guru Paul Graham, co-founder of Y Combinator and a very smart guy. Indeed, I was discussing Paul last night during my presentation to the Lean Startup Circle in Portland. In this interesting, recent four-minute clip (courtesy of TechCrunch), Paul discusses, among other things, (i) how negotiating leverage has shifted to the founders in connection with angel financings; (ii) how much cheaper it is to launch a startup these days; and (iii) how it is becoming “social acceptable” to launch a startup. I hope you enjoy it. Cheers, Scott
Walker Twitter Highlights: October 17th – 23rd
by Scott Edward Walker on October 24th, 2010I’m using Twitter as a form of micro-blogging to share interesting blog posts, articles and podcasts relating to entrepreneurship & startups, mergers & acquisitions, and business & corporate law issues.
For those of you who missed this week’s Twitter updates, below are my five most popular tweets (via bit.ly) and my blog-related tweets. If you’d like to see all of my tweets (or an RSS feed of them), you can do so here. Thanks, Scott
Walker Twitter Highlights: October 10th – 16th
by Scott Edward Walker on October 17th, 2010I’m using Twitter as a form of micro-blogging to share interesting blog posts, articles and podcasts relating to entrepreneurship & startups, mergers & acquisitions, and business & corporate law issues.
For those of you who missed this week’s Twitter updates, below are my five most popular tweets (via bit.ly) and my blog-related tweets. If you’d like to see all of my tweets (or an RSS feed of them), you can do so here. Thanks, Scott
Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed: Steve Blank
by Scott Edward Walker on October 11th, 2010To Our Clients & Friends: Welcome to our weekly series entitled “Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed.” Each week, we post a short video clip of a successful entrepreneur, investor or business leader on a variety of topics to help entrepreneurs succeed.
This week, we present startup guru Steve Blank, a retired, highly-successful serial entrepreneur (with 30+ years of venture experience), and currently a Consulting Professor at Stanford and blogger extraordinaire. In this interesting, short clip (courtesy of Stanford University’s Entrepreneurship Corner – 11/11/09), Steve discusses his checklist for entrepreneurs launching a venture, including (i) what’s the opportunity? (ii) where’s the innovation? and (iii) who’s the customer? I hope you enjoy it. Many thanks, Scott
Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed: Jerry Kaplan
by Scott Edward Walker on October 4th, 2010To Our Clients & Friends: Welcome to our weekly series entitled “Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed.” Each week, we post a short video clip of a successful entrepreneur, investor or business leader on a variety of topics to help entrepreneurs succeed.
This week, we present Jerry Kaplan, a serial entrepreneur, technical innovator and author of “Startup–A Silicon Valley Adventure.” In this solid seven-minute clip (courtesy of Stanford University’s Entrepreneurship Corner), Jerry discusses the “five biggest mistakes that entrepreneurs make,” including (i) having unclear goals; (ii) trying to prove that they are smart; and (iii) doing it for the money. I hope you enjoy it. Many thanks, Scott
Dear Entrepreneurs: Choose Your Own Legal Counsel
by Scott Edward Walker on September 8th, 2010Introduction
The purpose of this post is expand upon my answer to the question on Quora:
“What should you do as a startup when a Bay Area VC insists that you use their expensive legal counsel?”
Mark Suster, a VC at GRP Partners, has also written and spoken about how he likes to “share” his legal counsel with the startup in which he is investing. My advice to entrepreneurs is clear: push back hard on this issue and choose your own strong, independent legal counsel – i.e., a law firm that’s going to work hard to protect you and watch your back.
Walker Twitter Highlights: August 29th – September 4th
by Scott Edward Walker on September 5th, 2010I’m using Twitter as a form of micro-blogging to share interesting articles, blog posts and podcasts relating to entrepreneurship, startup and corporate law issues, and mergers & acquisitions.
For those of you who missed this week’s Twitter updates, below are my five most popular tweets (via bit.ly) and two most popular blog-related tweets. If you’d like to see all of my tweets (or an RSS feed of them), you can do so here. Many thanks, Scott