hiring for startups masschallenge 2010
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TRANSCRIPT
Tips For Hiring
Jeff Bennett
Swap.com CEO
www.jeffbennett.com
Introduction
Introduction
• 25 years of experience in Technology / Internet sector
• Last 15 years as an executive and entrepreneur
• Advisor and Mentor to many emerging ventures in Boston and abroad
• Blog about innovation and entrepreneurship on www.jeffbennett.com
Keys For Building
Organization
. . . You Need To Know What
You Are Hiring For
Building A “Start Up” Is Like Building House
• Blueprint
• Materials
• Contractor
• Site Work
• Foundation
• Frame
• So on…
Keys For Building An Organization
• Strategy or Strategic Direction
• Values and Beliefs
• Work Plan and Road Map
• Resource Needs
• Organization Structure/Approach
• Evangelize, Network, Evangelize, Network, Recruit…
• Reference Checking is CRITICAL!!!
Strategy or Strategic Direction
• Every successful and sustainable venture has a strategy… or at least a strategic direction
• Strategy for start ups provides focus .. It
cant be stuck just in the Entrepreneurs head
• Important for all involved as a stake in the
ground you measure progress from– Rooted in the marketplace– Team of Founders, Investors, Employees & Partners– To serve Customers
• Work plan or road map is how you execute against the strategy
• Resource planning comes from the road map …. Human and Capital requirements come form resource planning
Values and Beliefs
• Values guide and sustain society …community …company
• Entrepreneurship is not a job… it is
a pursuit that is all encompassing
• Every entrepreneur has some set of
of values… you want your team to
share these
• Important for initial team … and those
that join as you expand the venture
Work Plan and Road Map
• Executing on a strategy or strategic direction just does not happen
• Every organization needs a work plan for how they
will deliver against the strategy
• Entrepreneurs are creative … sometimes not
disciplined … you need a plan!
• You might be the Entrepreneur … but not GOD!
• Even with the most creative and entrepreneurial
team … all the stake holders need to know what to do
• Smart people like to be part of the planning… share the results of learning… key to success is a collaborative model on developing the work plan
Resource Needs
• Strategy or strategic direction will yield road map … the Entrepreneur has to
determine how to execute on that road map
• Constant struggle is managing capital
outlay, talent and time
• Every entrepreneur needs resources to
implement the plan
• DO NOT fall into the trap that you have to
“know” everything
• Need to determine the skill sets and amount of resource you need to execute on the plan … develop an open environment with TRUST to collaborate
• Create many scenarios looking at immediate and near term needs
Organizing Resources
• Organization plans are put in place to execute on the plan today … but you should think for near term too
• Things to be cognizant of when planning for
today and tomorrow:– Talent needed – Roles and titles– Full time / part time / consultant options– Technology tools and standards
• Don’t be stymied by building Rome now…
but you have to think about today and tomorrow
• Evaluate structure, talent and approach quarterly.
• If it aint working… fix it immediately
Evangelize, Network, Recruit
• As the entrepreneur you have are “Chief Evangelizer Officer”…and more
• Create or tap into a network … MassChallenge is giving all of an awesome start at this … networking is so important to so many aspects of your business
• Tap the network for hiring
• Seek world class talent that fits the plan
• Remember the “values”
• Get many people in on the interviewing
so you can get full assessment
• Get to know as much about the candidates as is possible
Reference Checking Is CRITICAL
• Reference checking is hard work…but it is critical to successful hiring…
• We live in a virtual “MRI” today
• Ask your candidates for references….call them
• Ask those references for other references
• Utilize Facebook and LInkedIn
• Build a “full 360” on your candidates
• Hire through trusted networks whenever you can to reduce the risk
Tips For Hiring Right Team
For Your Start Up
… Need Great People
Who Get Shit Done
No HO-DinksIncapable of “Getting Shit Done”
No Low Energy InsectsIncapable Of “Getting Shit Done”
Look for Real Entrepreneurs Like You…
Look for “Non-Bureaucrats”
Talent Is Key…Look For Athletes
Look For Those Who “Think Big”
Guidelines
For Hiring
Hiring for Start Ups
Hiring for Start Ups
Q&A
Tips For Hiring
Jeff Bennett
Swap.com CEO
www.jeffbennett.com