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My Life as an Entrepreneur. And struggles as CEO Jacob Ner-David 2bVentures. My List 1994 -. TTR Technologies ( www.ttr.co.il ) [1994] Ambient Technologies ( www.ambient.co.il ) [1995] Delta Three ( www.deltathree.com ) [1996] Congruency ( www.congruency.com ) [1999]
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My Life as an Entrepreneur And struggles as CEO Jacob Ner-David 2bVentures
My List1994 - • TTR Technologies (www.ttr.co.il) [1994] • Ambient Technologies (www.ambient.co.il) [1995] • Delta Three (www.deltathree.com) [1996] • Congruency (www.congruency.com) [1999] • Taskmail (www.taskmail.com) [2000] • AccessME (www.accessme.com) [2000] • NomadIQ (www.omnisky.com) [2000] • Back Bay Scientific (www.backbayscientific.com) [2000] • ??????????? [2001]
The “IDEA” Doesn’t have to be the best – JUST GOOD ENOUGH BUT THEN IT IS THE BEST!
The Team Be very careful with the “founder” title – it will come back to haunt you!
The MONEY Go as long as you can without it!! But remember that everything is money: your time is money!!
The Politics This is where great ideas get buried – avoid politics at all costs. Remember that not much separates all of us. She easily could be your “boss” next time. . .
Top Tips • Never look back, but learn from the past • Need to create a black box effect • Be absolutely prepared to change plan, but be absolutely dedicated to the plan of the moment • The usual: 10% of a good thing is worth much more than 99% of ZERO • Don’t hold grudges • Nothing is secure • And of course, TIMING IS EVERYTHING
A Start-Up CEO • Full time – but I mean full time • Dirty Delegating • No room for mistakes • Never Personalize the Company • Growth without drowning
Full Time • CEO sets the tone for working rhythm – but don’t play out of tune • There is no real down time • Fine line between working hard and burning out • Family must support you – and you must support them • You have to judge what needs to be finished NOW, and what can wait for tomorrow • But PLEASE, do something other than just the company
Dirty Delegating • Management 101 does not apply here • Everybody gets their hands dirty – make your own coffee • But CEO can’t do everything • Delegation without total removal is delicate balance • Constantly need to make sure that everyone has a full time job • Learn people’s strengths – don’t assume anything
No room for Mistakes • But it won’t be perfect – Get used to it • Treat every dollar as your last • Every meeting could be the most important • Every day check yourself to make sure you are leading in the right direction
Never Personalize It • Do not become the company • Retain a separate identity • But be strongly associated • Company failure is not failure as CEO • Always remember that you can’t do it alone – team really is just as important
Growth Without Drowning • CEO needs to keep growth in check – remember the Golem and water story • Big is not always better • Start-up staff should always feel slightly overworked • Some people do not scale, and some organizational models break apart • Company should feel the same but different
GOOD LUCK!!! Jacob Ner-David Jacob@2bventures.com