Comments on: More thoughts on the advantages of being a serial entrepreneur http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/06/30/more-thoughts-on-the-advantages-of-being-a-serial-entrepreneur/ Nic Brisbourne's view from London on venture capital and exploiting change in technology and media Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:08:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: James Penman http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/06/30/more-thoughts-on-the-advantages-of-being-a-serial-entrepreneur/#comment-2701 James Penman Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:09:46 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/06/30/more-thoughts-on-the-advantages-of-being-a-serial-entrepreneur/#comment-2701 Instinct, for me, is fundamental regardless of the stage at which you're at. If your product (social media, novel, a painting, property, football etc) is driven by instinct I think you have a much higher chance of material success. It generates character (esp. imp in social media) and provides the secret sauce. Young entrepreneurs tend to work off instinct with massive visions which is perhaps why some provide the 'home runs' that are attractive in the VC game. The older you get, arguably the better you get at combining instinct with reason and in the start-up arena that means to me a better ability to guide your business through the various steps of growth to becoming a world class product. You get more canny as to how to deploy your resources to build your vision. Instinct also makes it great fun as you're basically working with what you 'are' as a person and that'll show in the product. The heart has its reasons of which reasons knows nothing and all that :-) Instinct, for me, is fundamental regardless of the stage at which you’re at. If your product (social media, novel, a painting, property, football etc) is driven by instinct I think you have a much higher chance of material success. It generates character (esp. imp in social media) and provides the secret sauce. Young entrepreneurs tend to work off instinct with massive visions which is perhaps why some provide the ‘home runs’ that are attractive in the VC game. The older you get, arguably the better you get at combining instinct with reason and in the start-up arena that means to me a better ability to guide your business through the various steps of growth to becoming a world class product. You get more canny as to how to deploy your resources to build your vision. Instinct also makes it great fun as you’re basically working with what you ‘are’ as a person and that’ll show in the product. The heart has its reasons of which reasons knows nothing and all that :-)

]]> By: James Penman http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/06/30/more-thoughts-on-the-advantages-of-being-a-serial-entrepreneur/#comment-11373 James Penman Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:09:00 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/06/30/more-thoughts-on-the-advantages-of-being-a-serial-entrepreneur/#comment-11373 Instinct, for me, is fundamental regardless of the stage at which you're at. If your product (social media, novel, a painting, property, football etc) is driven by instinct I think you have a much higher chance of material success. It generates character (esp. imp in social media) and provides the secret sauce. Young entrepreneurs tend to work off instinct with massive visions which is perhaps why some provide the 'home runs' that are attractive in the VC game. The older you get, arguably the better you get at combining instinct with reason and in the start-up arena that means to me a better ability to guide your business through the various steps of growth to becoming a world class product. You get more canny as to how to deploy your resources to build your vision. Instinct also makes it great fun as you're basically working with what you 'are' as a person and that'll show in the product. The heart has its reasons of which reasons knows nothing and all that :-) Instinct, for me, is fundamental regardless of the stage at which you’re at. If your product (social media, novel, a painting, property, football etc) is driven by instinct I think you have a much higher chance of material success. It generates character (esp. imp in social media) and provides the secret sauce. Young entrepreneurs tend to work off instinct with massive visions which is perhaps why some provide the ‘home runs’ that are attractive in the VC game. The older you get, arguably the better you get at combining instinct with reason and in the start-up arena that means to me a better ability to guide your business through the various steps of growth to becoming a world class product. You get more canny as to how to deploy your resources to build your vision. Instinct also makes it great fun as you’re basically working with what you ‘are’ as a person and that’ll show in the product. The heart has its reasons of which reasons knows nothing and all that :-)

]]> By: Martin Owen http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/06/30/more-thoughts-on-the-advantages-of-being-a-serial-entrepreneur/#comment-2694 Martin Owen Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:19:56 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/06/30/more-thoughts-on-the-advantages-of-being-a-serial-entrepreneur/#comment-2694 At a relatively advanced age, I am a “new” entrepreneur – however I have had to run teams, take risks and make difficult executive decisions (I was a Hackney school teacher once!). I have never ever regretted choosing the “clever and bright” over either the “experienced” or the “qualified”. All too often twenty years of experience is one year of experience twenty times over. Bill Kilmer may be right that there are automated sub-routines that make life within an enterprise easier – but I can hire that talent. The important thing is to back someone who gets it and is not deluded by their lack of reflection and reflexivity. BTW I am interested that you “are seeking to work with people who want to build world beating companies” when what I am hearing is that swift exits, M&A etc are what VCs seek. I thought my chances of building a UK based household tech brand name with a ten figure turnover and a customer based developing into the foreseeable future as “unfundable”. Back to the bootstrapping. At a relatively advanced age, I am a “new” entrepreneur – however I have had to run teams, take risks and make difficult executive decisions (I was a Hackney school teacher once!). I have never ever regretted choosing the “clever and bright” over either the “experienced” or the “qualified”.

All too often twenty years of experience is one year of experience twenty times over. Bill Kilmer may be right that there are automated sub-routines that make life within an enterprise easier – but I can hire that talent. The important thing is to back someone who gets it and is not deluded by their lack of reflection and reflexivity.

BTW I am interested that you “are seeking to work with people who want to build world beating companies” when what I am hearing is that swift exits, M&A etc are what VCs seek. I thought my chances of building a UK based household tech brand name with a ten figure turnover and a customer based developing into the foreseeable future as “unfundable”. Back to the bootstrapping.

]]> By: Martin Owen http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/06/30/more-thoughts-on-the-advantages-of-being-a-serial-entrepreneur/#comment-11372 Martin Owen Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:19:00 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/06/30/more-thoughts-on-the-advantages-of-being-a-serial-entrepreneur/#comment-11372 At a relatively advanced age, I am a “new” entrepreneur – however I have had to run teams, take risks and make difficult executive decisions (I was a Hackney school teacher once!). I have never ever regretted choosing the “clever and bright” over either the “experienced” or the “qualified”. All too often twenty years of experience is one year of experience twenty times over. Bill Kilmer may be right that there are automated sub-routines that make life within an enterprise easier – but I can hire that talent. The important thing is to back someone who gets it and is not deluded by their lack of reflection and reflexivity. BTW I am interested that you “are seeking to work with people who want to build world beating companies” when what I am hearing is that swift exits, M&A etc are what VCs seek. I thought my chances of building a UK based household tech brand name with a ten figure turnover and a customer based developing into the foreseeable future as “unfundable”. Back to the bootstrapping. At a relatively advanced age, I am a “new” entrepreneur – however I have had to run teams, take risks and make difficult executive decisions (I was a Hackney school teacher once!). I have never ever regretted choosing the “clever and bright” over either the “experienced” or the “qualified”.

All too often twenty years of experience is one year of experience twenty times over. Bill Kilmer may be right that there are automated sub-routines that make life within an enterprise easier – but I can hire that talent. The important thing is to back someone who gets it and is not deluded by their lack of reflection and reflexivity.

BTW I am interested that you “are seeking to work with people who want to build world beating companies” when what I am hearing is that swift exits, M&A etc are what VCs seek. I thought my chances of building a UK based household tech brand name with a ten figure turnover and a customer based developing into the foreseeable future as “unfundable”. Back to the bootstrapping.

]]> By: Andy Warren http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/06/30/more-thoughts-on-the-advantages-of-being-a-serial-entrepreneur/#comment-2688 Andy Warren Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:57:41 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/06/30/more-thoughts-on-the-advantages-of-being-a-serial-entrepreneur/#comment-2688 It would be interesting to see the research expanded to include the team that supports the entrepreneur. Often the figurehead or lead entrepreneur has a select band of experienced partners and it can be these that bring the real-world experience and knowledge which can provide a perfect complement to the enthusiastic novice. Experienced entrepreneurs are even more likely to quickly surround themselves with a strong team to support them, being more aware than the new entrants of their own limitations and strengths. With the right mix, the VC gets the best of both worlds, the exuberance and enthusiasm of the first time entrepreneur and the rational foundation of the experienced supporting cast. It would be interesting to see the research expanded to include the team that supports the entrepreneur. Often the figurehead or lead entrepreneur has a select band of experienced partners and it can be these that bring the real-world experience and knowledge which can provide a perfect complement to the enthusiastic novice.

Experienced entrepreneurs are even more likely to quickly surround themselves with a strong team to support them, being more aware than the new entrants of their own limitations and strengths.

With the right mix, the VC gets the best of both worlds, the exuberance and enthusiasm of the first time entrepreneur and the rational foundation of the experienced supporting cast.

]]> By: Andy Warren http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/06/30/more-thoughts-on-the-advantages-of-being-a-serial-entrepreneur/#comment-11371 Andy Warren Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:57:00 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/06/30/more-thoughts-on-the-advantages-of-being-a-serial-entrepreneur/#comment-11371 It would be interesting to see the research expanded to include the team that supports the entrepreneur. Often the figurehead or lead entrepreneur has a select band of experienced partners and it can be these that bring the real-world experience and knowledge which can provide a perfect complement to the enthusiastic novice. Experienced entrepreneurs are even more likely to quickly surround themselves with a strong team to support them, being more aware than the new entrants of their own limitations and strengths. With the right mix, the VC gets the best of both worlds, the exuberance and enthusiasm of the first time entrepreneur and the rational foundation of the experienced supporting cast. It would be interesting to see the research expanded to include the team that supports the entrepreneur. Often the figurehead or lead entrepreneur has a select band of experienced partners and it can be these that bring the real-world experience and knowledge which can provide a perfect complement to the enthusiastic novice.

Experienced entrepreneurs are even more likely to quickly surround themselves with a strong team to support them, being more aware than the new entrants of their own limitations and strengths.

With the right mix, the VC gets the best of both worlds, the exuberance and enthusiasm of the first time entrepreneur and the rational foundation of the experienced supporting cast.

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