Entrepreneurship: Basics &

How to Start

Akhsar KharebovFeb 2013 @ SJSU

WARNING: Don't try to write this presentation down. 

It's online! 

Breakdown

Part 1: A word on Entrepreneurship...

Part 2: How to get started?

Part 3: Q & A

Part 4: Round Table over food

Definition of sorts...

entre·pre·neurship n.     The process by which an entrepreneur identifies solutions to what others see as problems. This process significantly reduces the economic cost of the problem, thus creating the value for the stakeholders.

Idiomatic

Finding a diamond in the rough

Cooking a stone soup

Setting up the dominos effect

Functional

Solving a real problem

Getting people to use your solution

Happens in organizations of all sizes

Statistically

Lot of small failures

Few stupendous successes

Generates all the wealth

Three Skills

Vision: Predict where the ball is going

Execution: Guts to leave the herd  

Flexibility: Manage constant change

Picking An Idea

Lacks a solution on the market

Overlaps skills needed to execute 

Depends on team you can secure

Building a Team:

In the real world or at least Silicon Valley:

Availability beats talent

Always pursue A+ talent

Team fit. Drive. Ability to grow

Building Products

Iterate: Build quickly, release often

Customer: Lead and listen

Focus: Ventures die of indigestion

Operating a StartUp:

First low hanging fruit ... but dont stop there

Grow market share, minimize margins aggressively

It's a marathon and execution is king

Putting it all together

slide from Lex Sisney presentations at organizationalphysics.com/

To get involved. Start Early.

Get your foot in the door any way possible.

Do something.

The best way to get involved in the industry is to start

working in it.

Getting In:

1. You can start your own start-up. (Very High Risk/Reward)

2. Target. Research. Approach very early start-ups for any job they have - they hire on availability. (High Risk/Medium Reward)

3. MOST IMPORTANT: Acquire some useful combination skills- Engineering - Sales / Marketing (later stage)(Low Risk/High Reward)

(Hint: Do 1 and/or 2 on as a side gig, to get to 3)

Easier Way

Learn Applicable Skills

●Learning is easier than ever. 

●Tools, Tutorials, Videos, Books and Courses are online and often free. (Appendix I)

●Applicable? ...See next slide

Creative Learning

Your aim should be to create something with your new skills. 

Doesn't have to be perfect or big. Just make something. 

Simplicity is brilliance. You can even build something for your

family or friends.

Places to see, Events to Participate In

Things To Do

Seasonal Events

Events that might lead to a job in a startup:Start-Up or Demo NightsCompetitionsHackathons

Meet people!! Connections are key.

StartUpDigest is a good source for listings

Programs and Spaces

Many Incubators & Accelerators○seed support and job boards

Even more Co-Working & Hackerspaces○network and learn

*See Appendix B

Local Events

Start-up oriented groups at meetup.com○106Miles○SV Health○SV NewTech○search for "startup", "venture", "founder"

Company events○ launches or demos announced on website,

facebook & twitter of the company and their investors (ex: news.ycombinator.com )

Internships or jobs:

● looks at newly founded or funded start-ups at:○ techcrunch.com, venturebeat.com

●and the websites of funds that invest in them○sequoiacap.com, dfj.com, ventures.io

(hint: alumni are most useful here)

(hint 2: be respectful)

(hint 3: keep friends)

Info that just didn't fit:*See Appendix C - Picking a StartUp

Internships or jobs:

General advice

●Reject Negativity

●Always Strive for Improvement

●Be passionate!

●Challenge your self.

●Have a balance.

Questions....

Comments, Questions, Concerns or Requests

Reach Out:hello@akhsar.com

Start learning now. Places to start. :

Hands on with coding:Codecademy.com Coursera.comUdemy.comElequent JavaScript

Open Course Lectures Online: - MIT, Stanford, UCB

Basic Tutorials:DontFeartheInternetNet Tuts

Appendix A

Appendix B●Many Incubators & Accelerators: f6s.com  

●Many Communal & Hacker Spaces   

ycombinator500.coRockHealthChurnLabs

AngelPadLemnosLabsDogPatchLabsRocketSpace

not local:TechStarsAmplify.laStartUpAmerica

TechShop (SJ/PA/SF)PariSoma (SF)HackerDojo(MV)*I can help with tours

BioCurious(Sunn)TechMediaCenter NestGVS

Appendix C: What start-up is right for you:

●Earlier stage companies are risky, but easier to enter and to advance in

●Culture. Values. Team. And how you feel working there.

●Company needs vs. Innate capabilities and existing skills

*first time, can't be too picky