Silicon Valley Comes to Imperial 2012

1. THE STORY
BEHIND A
STARTUP
5 CHAPTERS
Stefano L Tresca
www.iSeed.co
5 MYTHS
@startupagora 1 (BIG) TRUTH

2. WHY ME
15 years in
startups of any size
(up to 6.7 billions)*.
Love to help young
this is NOT me startups.
this is me
*Made all the
mistakes you can
make already (and a
bit more).

3. #1
THE IDEA
THE CHOICE

4. Myth #1
Doing a
startup is
cool.*
*I think it’s
really cool
but ...

5. Working for
WHO IS a large
RIGHT? company
is like
waterboardin
g.
PAUL GRAHAM
Co-Founder
Y Combinator

6. Working for
a large
WHO IS company has
RIGHT? been the
best
decision in
my life.
MY DAD
Co-Founder
of ... Me

7. They’re both
right.

8. YESTERDAY working
for a big company was
cool. TODAY working
for a startup is cool.
TOMORROW ???

9. Do a startup
because YOU
want, not
because they
say is cool.

10. #2
THE IDEA

11. Myth #2
A good idea wins
every time.

12. You “just”
need to work
150% of your
time. Sorry …
I mean 250%.
ARMANDO BIONDI
Serial
Entrepreneur
Pick1.com

13. You need a good IDEA,
excellent EXECUTION,
good TIMING, high
PERSEVERANCE and
some LUCK ... to
start.*
*don’t forget to look for a good
TEAM asap.

14. #3
EXECUTION

15. WARNING
this is where I get
really unpopular with
the professors.

16. Myth #3
Work hard and
you will be
rewarded.

17. As a startup
CEO I slept
like a baby:
I woke up
every two
hours and
cried.
BEN HOROWITZ
Entrepreneur &
Venture Capital

18. You WILL work
hard but you can
STILL die broke.

19. N. TESLA a T. EDISON a Who is this
genius died genius died man?
broke rich.

20. ST
JU NG
KI
EC OU
CH Y
ON
N. TESLA a T. EDISON a PROF. DENNIS
genius died genius died GABOR,
broke rich. Imperial
College
London. Noble
Prize.

21. #4
FUNDING*
*My area. I will
be less emotional
here ...

22. I have been
rejected by
300 venture
capitals.
TIM WESTERGREN
Co-Founder
Pandora

23. Other speakers are
on the professional
fund rising today.*
*So let me provide a
few practical ideas for
the beginners (all
tested).

24. • Friends & Family, your network is
stronger than you think.
• Lower the lifestyle, start early or it’ll
be to late.
• Sell your stuff on eBay, you can buy
everything again later.
• Work in your free time, simple
mindless task (deliver pizza,
TaskRabbit, etc.).
• Public or students competition, even if
you lose you’ll promote your startup.

25. During the
YOU night I was
DON’T working as a
TRUST dubber on
ME? Elance.
CHRIS SACCA
Lowercase Capital
2 billion manager

26. ... but don’t forget to think big
•Hire a grant application specialist, they
often work on a success fee.
•Hire a fundraiser, not simple but
sometimes they work on a success fee (I
do it if I like the project).

27. #5
SO WHY A
STARTUP?

28. It’s a
IT DOESN’T struggle to
LOOK SO save your
COOL company’s
ANYMORE ! life - and
your own skin
- every day.
SPENCER FRY
Co-Founder
Carbonmade

29. No Myth
The truth is ...

30. I don’t know !

31. But here I am and
I can’t imagine
doing anything
different.

32. THANK YOU !
Not all those who
wander are lost.
BILBO BAGGINGS
If you liked it tweet
@startupagora

33. QUESTIONS?
Stefano L Tresca
(SMALL) ANGEL, MENTOR, LAWYER
www.iSeed.co
pr@iseed.co
@startupagora