This document provides advice on building a startup dream team and discusses co-founders, first hires, and advisors. It recommends that co-founders should have complementary skills, the right chemistry, traits like integrity and perseverance. The first hires should believe in the company vision and fit the culture. Advisors can provide valuable guidance if asked and properly compensated. Building the right team is essential for startup success.

1. building a start up dream team:
co-founders, first hires & advisors
JONAH LEVEY
jonahlevey@gmail.com

2. Jonah Levey
• entrepreneur
• angel investor/advisor
• board member:
mekong capital
• founder: vietnamworks.com
& navigos search
about me…

3. 1. co-founders

4. how many…
depends on…
• complexity
• Industry
• your skills & experience
2 or 3 co-founders is usually ideal

5. where to look…
personal network
• colleagues
• classmates
• other connections…
expand your network
• events
• referrals
• online…

7. right skills
complimentary to you
in line with growth/success drivers of your start up

8. right chemistry (as important as right skills)
personality fit
• complimentary, not identical
culture fit (values)
compatibility (like-mindedness)
& partnership
right skills but wrong chemistry leads to failure

9. required traits
integrity
• do what you say by when you say you will do it
entrepreneurial
• flexible, ok with change
• ok with uncertainty
• risk taking
• start up DNA (not “big company type”)
perseverance!
• determined, unstoppable

10. "I'm convinced that about half of what
separates the successful entrepreneurs from
the non-successful ones is
pure perseverance.“
- Steve Jobs

11. best teams win
factors most important for start up success:
according to Bill Gross
https://www.ted.com/talks/bill_gross_the_single_biggest_reason_why_startups_succeed

12. be cautious and smart
about equity
founder vesting (for
everyone, even you!)
• 4 years
• 25% per year

13. agreed vision
co-founders need to agree on:
• what problem are you solving?
• what does the future
look like with your product,
service in it?
• what’s your goal?
• why are you the right team?

14. learn to sell
to attract co-founders, investors and employees you
must SELL

15. 2. first hires

16. sell the future
early stage recruiting
• sell "the future”
• vision for the company
• vision for the job
Have a great answer to:
why would someone awesome
want to work here?

17. hire ahead of your stage
hire people who can lead your growth
(not struggle to keep up)

18. remember: right chemistry
(as important as right skills)

19. success flows from culture:
accordingto Tony Shieh,CEO ofZappos
“If we get the culture right, then most of the other
important stuff will happen naturally…"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uINIExpJ3I
watch this video!

20. culture fit, values exercise…
who are the people in your life you consider to be your
closest friends?
what characteristics do they share?
• character
• personality
• traits
• Values
this will help you understand what type of people are
good co-founders for you!

21. engagement
people stay when:
• they share core values
• they love the company
culture
• they FEEL your care for
them, their development
leads to emotional commitment
to your
• company,
• business goals, objectives

22. be a great boss
#1 reason for job dissatisfaction:
• boss SUCKS
serve your team members, not just your company
some will still quit.
it’s ok. remain unstoppable!
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20130709152707-5799319-the-top-10-reasons-people-hate-their-job
http://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2014/01/20/8-common-causes-of-workplace-demotivation/

23. 3. advisors

24. advisors
ask — don't be afraid to ask
pay — cash or equity
(e.g. $10k/yr or 0.1%-0.4%/yr)
you'll be surprised
who says yes!

25. the
end
Thank You!