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Co-Founder(s)

YOU

STARTUP

 YOURFAMILY

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DO I NEED A CO-FOUNDER?

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ARE YOU AWESOME?ARE YOU THIS GUY?

Technical Skills

(Lasers)

Strategic Business Visionand Negotiation Skills(Spectacles and Eyes)

Product Design Sense(Sweater & Hair)

Great ManagementSkills (Grip on Cat)

... Depends on the Product andTraction! Assuming you're not...

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MATE CO-FOUNDER QUALITIES

BALANCEExamples:● Sellers/Builders● Back-end/Front-end● Strategic/Analytical

● CEO/COO/CTO

OTHER QUALITIES● Good Communication

● Mutual Respect● Mutual Affinity● Timing/Proximity● Dedication... Contract!

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TIME TO MAKE A BABYSTARTUP

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HIRING PITFALLS

● Hire to reach goals, not toincrease headcount.

● Mythical Man Monthobservations -

○ 7+ ppl is not as fast as<6 ppl○ as team grows,

communication grows● Hiring causes temp drops

in productivity● Hiring wrong person

worse than hiring no one.

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THE BEGINNING TEAM

● Determines culture, practices, etc.

● Hire within 1 degree of separation, previous working relationships...● Job boards, Twitter, newsletters...● Don't go to clubs to find mates (recruiters to find co-founders).● Find talent in under-resourced areas (geography, experience, etc.)● Look for knowledge area/skills and culture fit.● Specialists vs. Generalists

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HIRING PROGRESSION

InterestTake out

MassResumes

- Must InsertPhrases- Coding

Challenges- NOT yearsof experience

PhoneScreen

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2008/01/getting-the-interview-

phone-screen-right.

html

Interview

- Over Skype,using

etherpad or 

Google Docs- Twoindividuals or 

Group

Contracting?

- DetermineContractor or 

Full-Time

Status

Evaluate in3 months

DON'T WASTE TIME!

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HIRING QUICK TIPS

● Highlighting the Worst○ Zappos Strategy○ Bad Code○ Difficulty of working in startup

○ Tough task (e.g. cleaning bathroom)● Hire people who can grow with the company

● Look for side projects and interest in sector 

● Reference Checks

● Generic Tips from Fred Wilson: http://www.avc.

com/a_vc/2012/06/mba-mondays-best-hiring-

practices.html

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Clearly

Communicate:1. Working hours

2. Salary range (+options) and how

you advance

3. Responsibilities and deadlines -

See Meebo job descriptions

4. Tools (todos, email, project

management, etc)

5. Create reachable goals

6. 1:1s with individuals

Thanks Ryan Carson for some of this!

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WHEN THE RELATIONSHIP FAILS.

IT'S NOT YOU, IT'S ME=

I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TORESIGN

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REMEMBER - EVERY FAMILY ISDIFFERENT. QUESTIONS?

 Andrew Lee - @_andrewlee

Co-founder of JamLegend (acquired by Zynga)

Creator of Fantasy Congress