HOW TO FIND, SELECT, AND BUILD YOUR CO-FOUNDING TEAM
Waltham
MA
Entrepreneurs’ Network – co-sponsored by CNET
ENET Member Rate – Free
CNET Member – Free
MDG Member – $15.00
Non-ENET Member Rate – $20.00
Student – $10.00
PRE-MEETING DINNER at 5:15 PM (sharp) at Bertucci’s, Waltham
Are you a hacker? Or are you a hustler? Success in startups requires both. Some of the most successful founder teams are two-person teams (Wozniak and Jobs among them) where one founder (the hacker) is more technical, and the other (the hustler) is more business-oriented. The hacker is a problem solver who can make the technology work to meet the needs of customers, and do it efficiently. The hustler is a team builder who can orchestrate marketing, sales, and operations. Sometimes teams have three, four or even more founders, but that can get unwieldy, and decisions often gravitate toward two leaders in the group. Most common are single founders, and they too can be successful (Zuckerberg, for example), but it’s important that the single founder quickly build a core team to fill in the gaps that aren’t his strengths.
In this meeting, our expert panel will take up co-founders and core team issues such as:
• How do you find co-founders? How do you recruit a core team?
• As you build and maintain your team, how do you protect your interests? If someone leaves the team, can you get all or most of their stock back? Other issues include relations with past employers, ownership of IP, keeping trade secrets, etc.
• How do you manage the expectations of founders, core team, as well as investors?
Agenda:
6:30-7:30 PM – Registration & networking
7:30-7:40 PM – ENET Chairperson’s announcements
7:40-7:55 PM – eMinute – Up to 3 Startup companies’ presentations
7:55-8:45 PM – 4 expert speakers on the night’s topic
8:45-9:00 PM – Audience / Speakers Q & A
9:00-9:30 PM – Final networking includes meeting presenting speakers
A question and answer session follows the presentation, and panelists will be available afterward for responses to individual questions. As with every ENET meeting, you will also get the chance to network with the panelists and other meeting attendees, both before the start of the meeting and afterward.
Speakers:
James Chilton, Technology Executive, CIO, Startup Advisor
CIO Cengage
Business executive focused on strategy and growth with an extensive background in technology to gain both efficiency and competitive advantage. Uniquely qualified to develop and drive innovation, influence cultural change and deliver Go-To-Market strategies.
Rob Ciampa, CEO & Co-Founder, WePlayed.
Rob came up through the Italian restaurant and wine business in Boston’s historic North End to become an entrepreneur, provocative business speaker, best-selling book author, successful product, sales, and marketing executive, and now CEO of WePlayed, a sports video social platform powered by athletes, fans, and data science. He brought more than eighty products and services to market that generated nearly $2 billion in worldwide revenue. Rob has degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, and business management; holds patents in data transmission, analytics, and visualization; and thinks crafting garage vermouth is much more difficult than programming in Python.
Moderator and Organizer:
Dave Hall, CEO & Co-Founder DLH Tech Advisors, Salesforce& Startup Consultant, Revenue Marketing, and Business Development
Salesforce & Startup CEO, Consultant, Advisor, Connector, Evangelist, and Speaker for technology companies looking to implement and optimize the Salesforce product suite. My other favorite topics: golf, tennis, great coffee, and high-end tequila!
eMinute Presentations will be at the start of the meeting. These very short presentations enable young startup entrepreneurs to gain experience in presenting their summary business plans to expert panels and audiences.
Directions: Constant Contact is adjacent to RT 128 / 95 at Exit 28B.
This meeting is free to ENET members and $20 for non-members. No reservations are needed for the pre-meeting dinner. To expedite sign-in for the meeting, we ask that everyone — members as well as non-members — pre-register online. Pre-registration is available until midnight the day before the meeting. If you cannot pre-register, you are welcome to register at the door. Attendees must arrive before 7:30 pm. Entrance is locked after 7:30 pm.
REFRESHMENTS: Snacks and soft drinks will be served at the meeting
PRE-MEETING DINNER: Join us for a pre-meeting networking dinner (self-pay) at Bertucci’s in Waltham before the start of this meeting. Dinner at 5:15 sharp. No reservations required for the pre-meeting dinner.