The Startup Velocity Question: What Hinders Acceleration in VC Funded Companies?

I have been running 1Mby1M since 2010. I find myself saying to entrepreneurs ad nauseam that VCs want to invest in startups that can go from zero to $100 million in revenue in 5 to 7 years.

Startups that do not have what it takes to achieve velocity should not be venture funded.

Experienced VCs, over time, have developed heuristics to gauge what constitutes a high growth venture investment thesis. 

1Mby1M Udemy Courses with Sramana Mitra: Bootstrapping

Over the course of two years, we have released over 70 courses on Udemy with the aim to democratize entrepreneurship education at scale globally. This series of posts aims to help you find the one you need easily and provide you with discount coupons.

Child Entrepreneur David Koretz, Now CEO Of Mykonos Software (Part 1)

If you haven’t already, please study our Bootstrapping Course and Investor Introductions page. 

Sramana Mitra:  David, let’s start at the beginning of your story. What is the genesis of your entrepreneurial roots?

David Koretz: I grew up in Rochester, New York. Like a lot of entrepreneurs, my journey started earlier, more informally than it did formally. My parents owned a small insurance and commercial collection agency. They worked together all day, so when they came home they would still talk business, especially around the table. I was either not going to pay attention at the dinner table or I had to learn how to understand business. >>>

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Bootstrapping To 20 Million: Replicon Co-Founders Raj And Lakshmi Narayanaswamy (Part 1)

If you haven’t already, please study our Bootstrapping Course and Investor Introductions page. 

Raj Narayanaswamy is the co-founder and CEO of Replicon. He has over 15 years of software development and senior management experience. Narayanaswamy has a bachelor’s degree in computer science degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, and is an active member of the high-tech business community. Lakshmi Narayanaswamy is the co-founder and co-CEO of Replicon with a focus on strategic initiatives for global operations. Prior to starting Replicon, she worked as a software engineer for Verity (formerly known as FTP Canada). She holds degrees in computer science and electrical engineering.

Sramana: To begin, would you please provide a bit of history and personal background related to your career path to becoming entrepreneurs?

Lakshmi Narayanaswamy: I am from a small town in India. I did my undergraduate studies in electrical engineering in Chennai. After that I went to the University of Calgary in Canada where I earned a computer science degree. After graduation I began working for FTP Canada, which eventually became Verity, although I am not sure that the company exists anymore. >>>

Do You Want To Have Dinner With The Guy You Want To Hire? Christos Cotsakos, Founder Of ETrade And CEO Of EndPlay (Part 1)

Christos Cotsakos is the founding chairman, CEO and president of EndPlay, a Software as a service provider of web content management solutions to enterprise clients in media, entertainment, and education. After enlisting in the Army in and serving a tour through Vietnam, he began his career as a package handler at Federal Experss. In 1988 he became the VP of European operations and served in that role until 1992 when he left to begin work at ACNielsen. In 1995 he was promoted to co-CEO and served in that role until leaving in 1996 to become the CEO of E*TRADE. His full bio is available at https://www.wpunj.edu/ccob/about-us/cotsakos.dot

Sramana: Christos, let’s discuss your background first. Where do you come from? What led you down your career path and toward entrepreneurship?

Christos Cotsakos: I come from Paterson, New Jersey. My parents moved there from Greece. It is a town that is famous for the silkworm factories and the manufacturer of the Colt 45. >>>

Celebrating MIT’s 150th Anniversary: Alumni Ian Clemens, Founder Of IDV Solutions (Part 1)

If you haven’t already, please study our Bootstrapping Course and Investor Introductions page. 

Ian Clemens is the co-founder and chief technology officer for IDV Solutions. Ian is an expert in interactive data visualization, location intelligence and business intelligence software, and has authored a number of articles on the topic in publications including DM Review and Directions Magazine.
Prior to joining IDV, he was director of technology solutions for Universal Map, a map publisher and distributor, and senior consultant for BBK Ltd./Anderson Economic Group, a consulting firm specializing in economics, finance, and public policy. Clemens holds a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in Christian studies from Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Sramana: Ian, let’s go back to the beginning of your story. Where did you grow up and what was the path that you took to becoming an entrepreneur?

Ian Clemens: I was born and raised in southeastern Pennsylvania. I went to MIT in 1991, where I was exposed to a very creative environment and a can-do atmosphere that was infectious. I majored in applied mathematics. >>>

Building A Billion-Dollar Solar Company: Canadian Solar CEO Shawn Qu (Part 1)

If you haven’t already, please study our Bootstrapping Course and Investor Introductions page. 

Dr. Shawn (Xiaohua) Qu is the founder, chairman, president and CEO of Canadian Solar. Prior to founding Canadian Solar in 2001, he worked at Matrix and Photowatt International as a research scientist, and director of silicon procurement, director of solar products, strategic planning and business development, and technical vice president (Asia Pacific) of Photowatt International S.A. Prior to Photowatt, he was a research scientist at Ontario Power Generation Corp. (formerly Ontario Hydro), where he worked in the development of Sphere Solar technology. Physical Review. Dr. Qu received a Ph.D. in material science from the University of Toronto in 1995, a M.Sc. in physics from the University of Manitoba in 1990 and a B.Sc. in applied physics from Singh University (Beijing, China) in 1986.

Sramana: Shawn, tell me some of your personal story. What were the factors in your background that led you to take the path that led you to where you are today?

Shawn Qu: I was born in China near Beijing. Both of my parents are university professors and taught mathematics. I grew up in Beijing. >>>

Surviving The Dotcom Crash And Building A Sustainable Business: LivePerson CEO Rob LoCascio (Part 1)

If you haven’t already, please study our Bootstrapping Course and Investor Introductions page. 

Rob LoCascio is the founder and CEO of LivePerson, a leader in Intelligent Engagement Solutions that help thousands of top brands and websites around the world monitor and connect to their consumers online. Rob is a serial entrepreneur and sold his first company, IKON, in 1995, before founding LivePerson in 1998. He is also the founder of the LivePerson Cares Project, which includes a project that feeds 8,000 families in New York, earning him the title of “Person of the Day” by The Huffington Post in 2010. Robert holds a B.A. in business administration from Loyola College.

Sramana: Rob, tell me a bit about your background. What is the beginning of your personal story?

Rob LoCascio: I grew up in Long Island. My grandfather and father were entrepreneurs, and my entire family was entrepreneurial. I went to college at Loyola University and graduated in 1990. >>>

Bootstrapping A Latin American Social Networking Powerhouse With 50 Million Users: Sonico CEO Rodrigo Teijeiro (Part 1)

Rodrigo Teijeiro is the founder and CEO of Sonico, a social network for Latin America. He studied business administration at the University of Southern California and economics at theUniversidad de San Andrés. He is a self-proclaimed Internet addict and was able to position Sonico as the social network of choice for Latin America in just two years.

Sramana: Rodrigo, take us through your personal journey. Where are you from, where did you grow up, and what road did you take to become an entrepreneur?

Rodrigo Teijeiro: I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. When I was four my parents decided to go to the U.S. for a few years because he worked for the IMF and World Bank, and we lived there for five years, which is when I learned English. >>>

From Mannarakoil To CEO Of Global Scholar: Kal Raman’s Journey (Part 1)

Sramana: In 1996 when you finally left Walmart, the Internet was starting to emerge.

Kal Raman: Absolutely. I had a great mentor at Walmart, Mr. Doyle Graham, who is no more. He was like a father figure to me. He was the CIO of the international [division]; unfortunately, he passed when we was the same age as my father. >>>

From Mannarakoil To CEO Of Global Scholar: Kal Raman’s Journey (Part 1)

Kal is the CEO of GlobalScholar.com. Prior to joining GlobalScholar.com, he was senior vice president of the world wide hardlines business at Amazon.com from August 2004. From 2001 to 2004, he was the CEO of drugstore.com and also served as COO and CIO. Prior to drugstore.com, Kal has served as the CIO of NationsRent and senior director of technology at Blockbuster and as director of technology at Walmart. He began his career with Tata Consulting Services.

Sramana: Kal, tell me a bit about where you come from and your background.

Kal Raman: My name is Kalrana Raman Srinivasan, but people here call me Kal Raman. This country gave me everything I have but took 50% of my name; I suppose it was a fair trade! >>>

Connecting The Censored Internet: AnchorFree CEO David Gorodyansky, Mountain View, CA (Part 1)

If you haven’t already, please study our Bootstrapping Course and Investor Introductions page. 

David Gorodyansky is the CEO and co-founder of AnchorFree. Previously, David founded Intelligent Buying Inc., a profitable asset management company and reseller of IT enterprise networking equipment. Prior to that, David launched a B2B Web service in the field of competitive intelligence, which in turn, gave rise to the spin-off of a large network of IT service management portals. David’s earlier work experience has included several years of wireless research, planning, and enterprise strategy at Remedy Corporation, Fulcrum Management, and work with analyst companies such as Gartner Group, IDC, and Meta Group. David is a member of the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals and an advisor on the Technology Expert Council to Edwin M. Lee, the mayor of San Francisco.

Sramana Mitra: David, where are you from and where does your story begin?

David Gorodyansky: I was born in Moscow, Russia. I moved to Palo Alto with my parents when I was nine, so I pretty much grew up here. >>>