Outcome By Design is a series about the untold stories of the tech world, where we unwind the hows and whys of acquisitions, partnerships, and investments in Silicon Valley and beyond.
In each episode, you’ll have a coveted front-row seat to conversations that happened in the boardroom, the hallways, and ultimately in the minds of founders, CEOs, and investors who navigated the twists and turns that led to their ultimate outcome.
We’ll uncover hidden motivations, personalities, and the psychology that underpin the economics and technology behind these results- because it is not simply the numbers driving these decisions. It's much more.
Learning to Be a Rookie: Insights from LoanSnap CEO, Karl Jacob
In this episode of "Outcome by Design," I was joined by Karl Jacob, the CEO of LoanSnap and a serial entrepreneur. Karl has some sound advice for entrepreneurs, serial and first-timers:
Because every startup is a snowflake, Karl advises serial entrepreneurs to be aware of what they know and don’t know based on experience. Bring a "beginner's mind to each new company," regardless of whether this is your first or fifth startup. Embrace your inner rookie, and stay curious!
With a quote from the movie “Top Gun, ” Karl also reminds us that control is an illusion. And instead of clinging to a failed idea, recognize it, fail gracefully, roll with the punches, and use your experience to recover from failure faster.
And, of the mythical viral growth loop, true virality is when the use of the product is sharing with others – and if it’s viral, you could turn off marketing and still grow. Viral growth loops are indeed “rare birds.”
Karl advises entrepreneurs that “you’ll have more ideas,” so don’t be afraid to sell, merge or move on from your startup. Consider the trade-offs carefully, including the burden of further investment vs. selling and the impact on your employees, partners, and investors.
Karl’s #1 rule is to reach profitability as fast as possible. You’ll have more options at a higher valuation.
29 May 2023
From Facebook to Philo: Andrew McCollum's Reverse Hero's Journey
In this episode of Outcome by Design, Paul Weinstein interviews Andrew McCollum, CEO of Philo and one of the founders of Facebook. In contrast to the usual hero's journey where the protagonist struggles against seemingly insurmountable odds only to triumph in the end, in Andrew's case, the success came first with the enormous success of Facebook when he was still in college, and the struggle later, in his post-Facebook entrepreneurial life. Andrew reflects on which lessons learned from Facebook held true for Philo and which didn't and the importance of keeping a "beginner's mind." They also speak about the pressure to grow quickly and the expectations that come with early success.
8 May 2023
Acquisitions, Partnerships and Money: with LinkedIn’s Ben Orthlieb
In this episode, Paul dives deep into the world of high-stakes acquisitions with Ben Orthlieb, LinkedIn’s VP of Corporate Development. They discuss the stages of an acquisition, including how M&A targets are identified, the stakeholders involved, and how a buyer gets to a number to put on a term sheet.. Ben also shares insights into the motivations of the key personnel involved in different types of acquisitions and strategies for getting on the radar of big players. If you’re a startup founder, this episode is packed with a ton of valuable information on the nuances of how big companies think and how to use that to your advantage.
24 Apr 2023
From Economic Ashes to Silicon Valley Gold with Square's Jim McKelvey
In this episode of Outcome By Design, Paul sits down with Jim McKelvey, the Co-Founder and Director of Square, for a fascinating conversation about entrepreneurship and innovation. McKelvey shares his personal journey from the economic crash of 2008 to founding Square and achieving great success in Silicon Valley. Tune in to learn more about:
- how to push through the pain and despair of innovation
- strategies for dealing with competition from giants like Amazon
- overcoming confirmation bias and staying focused on the big picture.
If you’d like to take a deeper dive on the concepts Jim mentions, check out his book, “The Innovation Stack” (https://www.amazon.com/Innovation-Stack-Building-Unbeatable-Business/dp/0593086732/ref=asc_df_0593086732?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80745502739832&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584345029982943&psc=1)
Reach out to Paul for any potential guest requests or episode ideas here: info@paulvweinstein.com
Follow Paul - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulvweinstein/
To make sure you never miss an episode of Outcome by Design, subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/outcome-by-design/id1675371665), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2FSX7WzcIwpNSYI15da5mG), or anywhere you listen to your podcasts!
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Outcome by Design in your favorite podcast player.
23 Mar 2023
An innovator’s dilemma: Fitting the Vision to the Market
In this episode, Paul sits down with Jim Marrgraff, an edtech visionary. Jim’s impressive background includes having created game changing educational products like the LeapFrog and LeapPad and founding virtual reality startup Eyefluence, which was later acquired by Google. Currently, he is the CEO of Kinoo, an edtech startup that focuses on early literacy.
In this episode, Jim shares his insights and expertise on a variety of topics, including the challenges that founders face when pitching groundbreaking ideas, how to push the boundaries of human perception, and the secrets to building a strong company culture. He also shares his unique inventor's perspective on the journey of a startup from founding to acquisition.
Reach out to Paul for any potential guest requests or episode ideas here: info@paulvweinstein.com (https://paulvweinstein.com)
Follow Paul - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulvweinstein/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulvweinstein/)
To make sure you never miss an episode of Outcome by Design, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to your podcasts!
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Outcome by Design in your favorite podcast player.
21 Mar 2023
IPO or Acquisition: Rational Rationale in Turbulent Times with Jeff Epstein
Looking for insights on how to run a business in uncertain times? Join host Paul Weinstein in this episode of the podcast as he sits down with Jeff Epstein, Operating Partner at Bessemer Ventures and former CFO of Oracle.
Together, they discuss the importance of building strategic relationships, tracking key indicators of success, and evaluating the probability of an IPO versus an acquisition. With Jeff's deep experience and level-headed approach, he offers valuable insights that are essential for navigating today's challenging fundraising environment.
Tune in to hear about Jeff's experiences in boom times and bust, and learn how to make the process of evaluating your company's potential using math, not hope so decisions are more rational for everyone involved.
Reach out to Paul for any potential guest requests or episode ideas here: info@paulvweinstein.com (https://paulvweinstein.com)
Follow Paul - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulvweinstein/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulvweinstein/)
To make sure you never miss an episode of Outcome by Design, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to your podcasts!
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Outcome by Design in your favorite podcast player.
21 Mar 2023
Series Trailer: Outcome by Design
Are you curious about the secret behind creating something of immense value in the tech industry? How can a small startup with no revenue be valued at billions of dollars, while another with hundreds of employees and millions in revenue is sold for a fraction of that amount?
As an investor, founder, executive or board member, you thrive on the excitement of innovation and the possibility of success in Silicon Valley. But how do you translate that excitement into something tangible and valuable?
I'm Paul Weinstein, your host, and I've spent my career orchestrating game-changing deals and raising hundreds of millions of dollars in capital. I've also played a key role in billion-dollar acquisitions and write about dealmaking for the Harvard Business Review and teach the popular Exit Strategies class at Stanford University.
Join me on "Outcome By Design" as we uncover the patterns and secrets to creating real value in the tech industry. Don't miss out on our upcoming stories - subscribe to "Outcome By Design" wherever you get your podcasts.
Reach out to Paul for any potential guest requests or episode ideas here: info@paulvweinstein.com
Follow Paul - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulvweinstein/
To make sure you never miss an episode of Outcome by Design, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to your podcasts!
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Outcome by Design in your favorite podcast player.
7 Mar 2023
A Perfect Pivot: Also-Ran to Industry Leader
When times get tough in the venture-funded startup world, you must spot the right moment to pivot and consider your options before the clock runs out.
Recognizing the fierce competition and profit challenges facing his on-demand car parking app, today’s guest, Sean Behr (https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanbehr/), CEO of Fountain (https://www.fountain.com/), was able to steer his former company, STRATIM, away from a crowded field of competitive offerings. Sean set a course towards an entirely new category he defined, autonomous vehicle fleet management. Because of this brilliant pivot, Sean sold STRATIM for its maximum strategic value.
Join us as Paul and Sean discuss: when, how, and why to chart a new course, pivot, and create a new category; driving an outcome by design; Building relationships, striking partnerships, and creating buzz; overcoming founders’ outcome biases.
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