In my years of experience (founded five companies and been on > 20 boards…), I've found that the key to a successful board meeting lies in preparing and structuring, and running a good board meeting.  In preparation, I prefer using a Google Document vs. Deck (Google Slides/PPT)

Startups move fast and if you’re doing it right, you make a ton of progress on everything from customers, product, team, systems, press…very quickly and it’s easy to lose track. And, since most leaders are very focused on the future and what’s next, they forget to

I like to create and invest in data analytics companies. Over the years, it’s become clearer how to think about organizing the product to deliver the most value for customers. I call this organization the “data/value pyramid.”  Essentially, each layer of value builds on the one below and

Starting a company is hard. The variables of selecting the best idea, finding co-founder(s), unknown duration of customer discovery, product/market timing, and financing strategy/timing makes it even harder. And, starting a company takes skills, functional practice, and a little luck. In my experience, a good way to

With my work at PSL in starting new companies, being on boards, and in my own experiences, the CEO of a startup has five jobs; – Set and communicate a clear, compelling, and consistent vision – this comes in the form of presentations, team meetings, town halls, 1:1s, board meetings, investor

Last week I was the featured guest on The Playbook, a series put on by Geekwire focusing on athletes turned entrepreneurs and the lessons they draw from sports. John Cook did a bunch of research about my swimming and sailing past and even dug up some dirt from my brother

I’m a huge fan of Techstars. Brad Feld was one of my investors in Gist back in 2009, about the time that Techstars was getting off the ground and David Cohen and the Techstars fund is an investor in Rival IQ. I’ve mentored Techstars teams in Boulder, New

As entrepreneurs, we all have a story to tell that often includes disparate and seemingly unconnected experiences that lead us to the point where we could start our next companies. Rarely do I see a story told as well as Xiao Wang (founder and CEO of Boundless, a PSL company)

When you talk to experienced investors and founders of startups, they tell you it’s all about “focus”, but how do you make that actionable and structured? As the business changes and evolves, a founder (you) will also get lots of ideas (some good, some bad) from your team, customers,

Raising money from VC’s creates a long-term relationship, so you may as well get a good understanding of each other and set up the foundation for a strong two-way dialog.  The VC needs you as much as you need them, so the discussions should feel balanced where you’re