Comments on: The role of company advisors (Part II) http://www.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/06/the-role-of-company-advisors-part-ii Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:52:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Aziz Grieser http://www.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/06/the-role-of-company-advisors-part-ii/comment-page-1#comment-19489 Aziz Grieser Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:37:25 +0000 http://new.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/06/the-role-of-company-advisors-part-ii#comment-19489 Thanks Gerald. I try to keep my eyes open. One thing I said incorrectly is that I don't believe in luck. I think you make your own. Everyone's heard this argument, it's not new. Matter of fact, I believe Seth and Brad write about it regularly. <br /> <br /> It falls in line with your point, that you have to actively search for those relationships. Thanks Gerald. I try to keep my eyes open. One thing I said incorrectly is that I don't believe in luck. I think you make your own. Everyone's heard this argument, it's not new. Matter of fact, I believe Seth and Brad write about it regularly.

It falls in line with your point, that you have to actively search for those relationships.

]]> By: sethlevine http://www.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/06/the-role-of-company-advisors-part-ii/comment-page-1#comment-19488 sethlevine Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:23:27 +0000 http://new.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/06/the-role-of-company-advisors-part-ii#comment-19488 aziz - re: snapshots, i like the idea of previewing where i'm going (or sending my readers) before they leave my page (since i lose them when they click away, but i like to provide links to other relevant content in my posts). i agree that it can be annoying at times - my preference would be the power to enable it by link (i.e., turn it on where its relevant and keep it off things like intense debate, where it just gets in the way). s <br /> aziz – re: snapshots, i like the idea of previewing where i'm going (or sending my readers) before they leave my page (since i lose them when they click away, but i like to provide links to other relevant content in my posts). i agree that it can be annoying at times – my preference would be the power to enable it by link (i.e., turn it on where its relevant and keep it off things like intense debate, where it just gets in the way). s

]]> By: Gerald Joseph http://www.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/06/the-role-of-company-advisors-part-ii/comment-page-1#comment-19486 Gerald Joseph Sat, 07 Jun 2008 13:33:06 +0000 http://new.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/06/the-role-of-company-advisors-part-ii#comment-19486 Aziz, <br /> The VC Partner/Angel Investor can be easy to find, but difficult to get on board. I guess there are a number of factors that can work in your favor - timing, luck/good fortune, geography, mutual interests (similar technical backgrounds and career trajectories), organizational or institutional affiliations (alumni, frat/soror membership), etc. I think the key is to keep your eyes open, network, stay active in regard to all possible self-branding/PR methods at your disposable, and remember that luck favors the prepared. <br /> <br /> Shane, <br /> The prospective Customer is actually the most direct "Advisor" and "Financier" a Startup can find since the relationship dynamics are straightforward and fairly predictable. If you listen to the customer in various ways and adapt Product Development whenever possible to suit Customer needs and tastes, then you increase your potential success. Aziz,
The VC Partner/Angel Investor can be easy to find, but difficult to get on board. I guess there are a number of factors that can work in your favor – timing, luck/good fortune, geography, mutual interests (similar technical backgrounds and career trajectories), organizational or institutional affiliations (alumni, frat/soror membership), etc. I think the key is to keep your eyes open, network, stay active in regard to all possible self-branding/PR methods at your disposable, and remember that luck favors the prepared.

Shane,
The prospective Customer is actually the most direct “Advisor” and “Financier” a Startup can find since the relationship dynamics are straightforward and fairly predictable. If you listen to the customer in various ways and adapt Product Development whenever possible to suit Customer needs and tastes, then you increase your potential success.

]]> By: Shane Jones http://www.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/06/the-role-of-company-advisors-part-ii/comment-page-1#comment-19485 Shane Jones Sat, 07 Jun 2008 09:11:35 +0000 http://new.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/06/the-role-of-company-advisors-part-ii#comment-19485 Looks like comments are working for me now. Looks like comments are working for me now.

]]> By: sethlevine http://www.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/06/the-role-of-company-advisors-part-ii/comment-page-1#comment-19484 sethlevine Sat, 07 Jun 2008 08:19:34 +0000 http://new.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/06/the-role-of-company-advisors-part-ii#comment-19484 from shane (comments were not working when he tried to put this up): <br /> <br /> Another type that might work for the list is ‘The Prospective Customer’. For consumer products/services, I don’t think it makes much sense, but for enterprise software it’s critical. Most early adopters don’t even get interested in your company until you have a very good demo to get them excited. However, if your idea is any good, there will be at least a few prospective customers that share your vision and passion for the solution that could play a key role on the advisory team. Part cheerleader, part subject matter expert, part critic. They’ll answer you honestly when you ask how much they would be willing to pay for a product like this. Eventually, this advisor could be your flagship case study and lead a customer advisory board after you gain some market share. from shane (comments were not working when he tried to put this up):

Another type that might work for the list is ‘The Prospective Customer’. For consumer products/services, I don’t think it makes much sense, but for enterprise software it’s critical. Most early adopters don’t even get interested in your company until you have a very good demo to get them excited. However, if your idea is any good, there will be at least a few prospective customers that share your vision and passion for the solution that could play a key role on the advisory team. Part cheerleader, part subject matter expert, part critic. They’ll answer you honestly when you ask how much they would be willing to pay for a product like this. Eventually, this advisor could be your flagship case study and lead a customer advisory board after you gain some market share.

]]> By: sethlevine http://www.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/06/the-role-of-company-advisors-part-ii/comment-page-1#comment-19487 sethlevine Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:26:51 +0000 http://new.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/06/the-role-of-company-advisors-part-ii#comment-19487 yikes! proof that i should start blogging in the morning until i've had my first cup of coffee. all fixed. thanks mike. yikes! proof that i should start blogging in the morning until i've had my first cup of coffee. all fixed. thanks mike.

]]> By: Aziz Grieser http://www.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/06/the-role-of-company-advisors-part-ii/comment-page-1#comment-19483 Aziz Grieser Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:22:45 +0000 http://new.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/06/the-role-of-company-advisors-part-ii#comment-19483 Succinct. I'd only add that it is not easy to find AND get to know a VC Parter Angel investor that is ALSO not already too busy to give you that much time, unless there is some very unique circumstance, and by unique I am referring to luck or good fortune. There is one more role I'd add: that of the "doer". Get someone who is focused on taking care of business as part of a meeting. After the initial brief discussion, each subsequent discussion involves a conference call connecting you to someone, an in-depth review of your work, co-developing a product road map, and constantly acting and not thinking to solve your startup's biggest problems. <br /> <br /> Unrelated to this post: Why do you find snapshots useful to you? It gets in my way whenever I scroll anywhere on the page, displays an IntenseDebate popup which I could have seen directly at IntenseDebate (I hate popups), and doesn't have any legible that I can discern except for unrelated link advertisements distracting and leading people away from your world. Not attacking, really just curious to the value. <br /> <br /> Succinct. I'd only add that it is not easy to find AND get to know a VC Parter Angel investor that is ALSO not already too busy to give you that much time, unless there is some very unique circumstance, and by unique I am referring to luck or good fortune. There is one more role I'd add: that of the “doer”. Get someone who is focused on taking care of business as part of a meeting. After the initial brief discussion, each subsequent discussion involves a conference call connecting you to someone, an in-depth review of your work, co-developing a product road map, and constantly acting and not thinking to solve your startup's biggest problems.

Unrelated to this post: Why do you find snapshots useful to you? It gets in my way whenever I scroll anywhere on the page, displays an IntenseDebate popup which I could have seen directly at IntenseDebate (I hate popups), and doesn't have any legible that I can discern except for unrelated link advertisements distracting and leading people away from your world. Not attacking, really just curious to the value.

]]> By: Mike Johnston http://www.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/06/the-role-of-company-advisors-part-ii/comment-page-1#comment-19482 Mike Johnston Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:00:38 +0000 http://new.sethlevine.com/wp/2008/06/the-role-of-company-advisors-part-ii#comment-19482 Nice post. You mispelled 'role' in the title. Nice post. You mispelled 'role' in the title.

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