Building a Successful Business

Scott HintzCo-Founder and VP Business Development

March 6, 2012New York City

1990

1993

1996

1996

2000

2006

My Timeline

1.Getting Started

2.Hiring / Management

3.Success and Growth

Product is your marketing plan

Love, not like

Execution more important than ideas

Stay focusedBe great at saying no

Listen to your customers

Feedback, not ideas

Iterate quickly

Don’t fear the big guys

You’re faster and more focused

Their interest is a good thing

Small, but high quality

Smart and humble

Mediocre players worse than horrible ones

Hire problem solvers

Avoid the boss’s trap

Set expectations early

Set the right incentives

You’ll be amazed what people can accomplish

Delegate

Irresponsible not to do it

Be scrappySaves money

Sets the right tone

Take the moneyDon’t fret over valuation

Stretch every dollar, even if you have a lot of them

Stay nimbleSmall team helps

Pay attention to gravity of business

Contrarian is a good wordShows confidence

Can create tremendous value (or save from big mistakes)

Apple Computer (AAPL)

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Scott Hintzscott@tripit.com