Rock Stars at University Venture Fund Conference
I’m here (written yesterday) at the rock-star-packed University Venture Fund conference in Salt Lake City. I didn’t even know about the conference until late last night when a fellow entrepreneur forwarded to me the conference agenda. As soon as I found out about the list of panelists & speakers, I quickly rearranged my schedule to make sure that I could attend. Here is a list of (my favorite) people that are here speaking:
While I missed the first panel on “What VC’s look for and Industry Trends,” I was able to make it to the entrepreneurship panel “Starting Your Company – Going from an Idea to Your Business.”
Here are a few highlights:
- Almost every entrepreneur on the panel saw a simple need in the market and, after noticing the market potential, pressed on the gas to build the company and penetrate the market.
- Common theme:each entrepreneur is “unemployable.” They are truly afraid of getting a “real job.”
- Almost every panelist had started and sold smaller companies before starting the companies that they are currently running.
- Advice from panelists: build a company that you are completely passionate about, because your passion for the space will drive the success of the business.
Highlights from Brad Feld’s Keynote:
- The most important decision he makes as a VC: do I support the CEO or not? If I do, then I do whatever he asks to build the company. If not, I will find another CEO that I completely support and trust.
- The Foundry Group is very open and transparent. They will take emails from anyone… and he will respond to anyone (within reason). I can personally attest that this is true — Brad is one of the most responsive people that I know.
- 2 Rules for investing: 1) invest in his area of strength (software, internet, etc.) and NOT outside of it. 2) Must believe in/trust the founder.
Overall, it was a fantastic conference and was stoked to attend.
