Takeaways from the Startup Grind Global Conference 2018
February 19, 2018
With the @startupgrindDYT team in Redwood City for the #startupgrind 2018 Global Conference over the next two days. Will come back with new ideas for #Dayton! pic.twitter.com/IHX6qSAp2J
— Launch Dayton (@LaunchDayton) February 13, 2018
I traveled to Redwood City, California last week with the Startup Grind Dayton team to take in the two-day conference that featured the founders from names like Tesla, Reddit, Pocket, and Booking.com, plus investors from names like Andreesen Horowitz and Sequoia. So what did I learn? Here’s a recap, using our twitter feed:
Inspiration
The conference offered lots in the way of nuggets of inspiration on what it takes to be an entrepreneur. The most inspirational was a 13-year-old entrepreneur from Chicago whose cookie business Beyond the Cookie was founded in 2014 to fund summer coding camps for economically challenged and under-represented communities throughout Chicago.
Irrational persistence is the number one trait of an entrepreneur.
-Joe Kraus #StartupGrind— Raj Patel (@rajmahal15) February 13, 2018
"Why would you want to start a company? Because there are things worth changing." Marc Tarpenning with Shernaz Daver at #StartupGrind. https://t.co/JcLVcDh7JQ pic.twitter.com/oIpqGJDUBl
— Google for Startups (@GoogleStartups) February 13, 2018
“When you think differently, your life changes. You start to do things that matter… Our world will be changed through technology so our whole planet succeeds… It’s humanity first.” @KamranElahian at #StartupGrind Day 2
— JR Sims (@jayaresims) February 14, 2018
“There are so many times when you want to give up. But you can’t give up. So much of this industry is rejection.” – advice on breaking into acting that also applies to entrepreneurship @ashleytisdale #StartupGrind #startupgrind2018 pic.twitter.com/sSxjGVoiSE
— Tiffany Yu (she/her) (@ImTiffanyYu) February 14, 2018
Inspiring to hear from @beyondthecookie, a 13-year old entrepreneur that wants to bring 100 under represented and under resourced Chicago students to Silicon Valley. pic.twitter.com/j5nCS6OR8A
— Launch Dayton (@LaunchDayton) February 15, 2018
Building Your Business
"The more we understood our customers, the more we could understand our product. Engaging with our customers led us to building a stronger business." @mikkelsvane @Zendesk #StartupGrind #designthinking #entrepreneur pic.twitter.com/B9tFhplTuq
— Startup Grind (@StartupGrind) February 14, 2018
“Find the best boardmembers- if you are giving them the power to fire the CEO, be selective” also “position your business in the best light but be able to demonstrate it all the way” @jeff_jordan @a16z @anuhariharan @ycombinator #StartupGrind #StartupGrind2018 pic.twitter.com/n56oM39RsF
— Oakland Startup Network (@OaklandStartup) February 15, 2018
"When you think about your business, think about this: What powers you to achieve the things you want to achieve? Focus on THIS." @wadefoster #StartupGrind
— Startup Grind (@StartupGrind) February 14, 2018
GV's Joe Kraus at #StartupGrind : You don't really learn more from failures than successes (though it might do something for your character). Get a job in a company with a culture of success before starting a company.
— Robert Hof (@robhof) February 13, 2018
“Just because there is a gap in the market does not mean there is a market in the gap” –@TGorny #StartupGrind pic.twitter.com/TKbAvmdYKb
— Launch Dayton (@LaunchDayton) February 13, 2018
#startupgrind pic.twitter.com/c4tKyvrnGT
— Launch Dayton (@LaunchDayton) February 14, 2018
Goals for v1 of your product via @appswithoutcode pic.twitter.com/EbDZVfzGVD
— Launch Dayton (@LaunchDayton) February 14, 2018
— Launch Dayton (@LaunchDayton) February 14, 2018
How to build an app without coding. #StartupGrind pic.twitter.com/jP2LC4gNWn
— Launch Dayton (@LaunchDayton) February 14, 2018
Click here for the toolkit on how to build a technical business if you’re not a techie: toolkit-v3
Leadership
Four steps to being a better leader from @srochet! pic.twitter.com/Yac7MMOJH8
— Launch Dayton (@LaunchDayton) February 14, 2018
"If we can mentally prepare ourselves in the best possible way, we'll be able to overcome the inevitable challenges of business." @richardpierson #StartupGrind
— Startup Grind (@StartupGrind) February 14, 2018
"Leaders are starting to become aware of how important it is to look after the wellness & mindfulness of your employees in order to remain productive." @richardpierson #StartupGrind
— Startup Grind (@StartupGrind) February 14, 2018
"Change needs to come from the top. CEOs need to make diversity one of their top priorities!" @emilychangtv #StartupGrind #Diversity #Women #SiliconValley
— Startup Grind (@StartupGrind) February 14, 2018
Capital
Words of wisdom from @parkjames “avoid raising too much capital up front because it can negatively impact your operational efficiency” #startups #StartupGrind
— The Village Method (@VillageMethod) February 13, 2018
"Interview, ask, reference your VC partner. Interview their portfolio's CEOs." @neil_sequeira, Defy Partners at #StartupGrind
— Google for Startups (@GoogleStartups) February 13, 2018
@StaceyCurry from @scaleventures suggests talking with VCs a year or so before you need funding to start to form the relationship. #startupgrind #femalefounders
— ThinkResults (@Think_Results) February 13, 2018
Our Startup Grind Dayton chapter was well represented with directors Candace Dalmagne-Rouge and Greg Meredith introducing world-class speakers during the event.
.@dgmeredith representing #Dayton and @startupgrindDYT to kick off the How to be a Great Leader session. pic.twitter.com/79rFDH4PwX
— Launch Dayton (@LaunchDayton) February 14, 2018
First @dgmeredith and now @CandaceDRouge! Way to represent @startupgrindDYT and #Dayton at #startupgrind Global Conference 2018! pic.twitter.com/ysS00dSl2n
— Launch Dayton (@LaunchDayton) February 14, 2018
Be sure to join the next Startup Grind Dayton. Check out their schedule here!
