Thought Leadership Threads
Frank Rotman
@fintechjunkie
The allure of the Startup world is undeniable. The potential for explosive growth, the thrill of innovation, and the chance to change the world fuel Founders.
However, the road from a bright idea to a sustainable business is riddled with complexities. Getting a startup to "work" isn't simply about doing one thing well. Most startups are extremely complex and require many interconnected parts to all function in concert.
Frank Rotman
@fintechjunkieLanding The Plane: A Necessary Choice For Many Startups
How many Founders does it take to land a plane? None, they'll just pivot to a helicopter ride-sharing service.
Frank Rotman
@fintechjunkieThe past few years in the VC space have been brutal. Darwin has returned from vacation and the frothy gold rush of the 2018-2021 startup ecosystem has vanished.
The ZIRP environment caused valuations to soar and VCs threw money at any startup with a pulse. The money was put to work by Founders quickly, many of whom chased shiny objects and undisciplined growth because their bank accounts were flush with cash.
Frank Rotman
@fintechjunkieThere’s a saying that first time Founders focus on product and repeat Founders focus on distribution.
The lesson that’s been learned by repeat Founders is simple:
The top reason startups fail is due to an inability to scale efficiently.
Frank Rotman
@fintechjunkieIt's been a tough funding environment for the past 2 years, but even in this brutal environment great startups have been able to successfully raise the capital they need.
And even for the best startups, the fundraising process proves to be exhausting and time consuming. So once a raise is "done and dusted" there's always an amazing feeling of relief.
But what happens "Day 1" after a raise? Here are a few thoughts for Founders and VCs about shifting from a “need to raise” to a “need to prove” mindset.
It's been a tough funding environment for the past 2 years, but even in this brutal environment great startups have been able to successfully raise the capital they need.
And even for the best startups, the fundraising process proves to be exhausting and time consuming. So once a raise is "done and dusted" there's always an amazing feeling of relief.
Frank Rotman
@fintechjunkieImagine a world where AI makes our jobs easier, frees us from mundane tasks, and effectively democratizes superintelligence.
In that same world, AI tools might whisper in your ear to recommend the job you never knew existed, the perfect partner based on complex compatibility algorithms, and even the news you "should" read.
This future is part utopian and part dystopian with it being unclear what the “net impact” will be on society.
Frank Rotman
@fintechjunkieImagine a world where AI makes our jobs easier, frees us from mundane tasks, and effectively democratizes superintelligence.
In that same world, AI tools might whisper in your ear to recommend the job you never knew existed, the perfect partner based on complex compatibility algorithms, and even the news you "should" read.
This future is part utopian and part dystopian with it being unclear what the “net impact” will be on society.
Frank Rotman
@fintechjunkieHaving been an Operator, an Entrepreneur and an Investor, I get asked the question all the time why big companies continuously fail to innovate.
If I gave a lecture on the topic it would be called: "How to make bad decisions and not get fired."