GridCure, our venture, was selected The Next 36’s Outstanding Venture at Venture Day 2014. It is an enormous privilege, as there are some truly fantastic businesses in this year’s Next 36 cohort.
For anyone getting started on their own entrepreneurial journey, we offer a few key lessons/tips we picked up along the way:
Persistence is key It is fashionable in the startup world to say things such as “fail fast,” or to throw around statistics such as, “we pivoted three times last month.” Knowing when an idea isn’t viable is important, but too many entrepreneurs hit a snag in their business and stop moving forward with a good idea, rather than sticking with it and finding a solution. People see mountains when there might only be molehills.
Every meeting is an interview Some of the most valuable connections we made came from the most unexpected places. Always introduce yourself to that person beside you on the bus, and always make sure you meet at least a couple of new people each day. The volume of support and advice you’ll gather from seemingly nowhere will surprise you.
Gatekeepers run the world Gatekeepers — secretaries, administrative staff, front-line employees — rule the world. If the person controlling the calendar of the big-shot investor you’re trying to land doesn’t like you, your meeting is going to get deprioritized and moved around, if not outright forgotten. Always treat everyone with respect, but doubly-so the gatekeepers.
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