Insight
Outlier CEO performance requires innate talent and continuous learning
“I think there's a gene that some people have and some people don't, but I think that, you know, that's the starting place, and I think that the CEOs that achieve outlier performance are the ones who have the gene and develop that gene and really build these in…”
Insight
Naivete is essential for CEOs to achieve outlier performance
“And one time we spent a solid hour talking about naivete, not about you know, craziness, but naivete and how important that ingredient is to successful CEOs achieving outlier performance. And it's, I totally believe him in that regard that if he really knew Ev…”
Insight
A VC's operating background must match the firm's investment stage
“And I think even more important is, is, you know, VCs invest at all stages of companies from very, very early to very, very late. And I think it is important that you have operating experience at whatever stage or stage is you're investing in. I don't think ha…”
Insight
Late-stage corporate experience provides no value for seed startups
“And vice versa, I think, for people who've worked in large private companies and have been with them through the IPO process, to be joining an early stage VC and expect to bring operating value to a seed stage startup is, is not relevant either.”
Opinion
The value of a VC's personal network is highly overrated
“Overrated value of the VC's personal network.”
Insight
Timing important decisions is a CEO's most challenging task
“No, I would say, you know, in impact the most challenging aspect of the, being the CEO is figuring out timing of important decisions.”
Insight
CEOs must trust their instincts and act without hesitation
“I think it really comes down to trusting your instincts. You know, you have instincts, and you, above everyone else in the company, kind of represent the collective wisdom of the company, and knowledge of the company, so you're the most informed overall, and i…”
Insight
Seek mentors through inner circles, not cold LinkedIn outreach
“I would more use the inner circle, more, more you know, people that you have just by happenstance met along the way.”
Insight
Outlier CEOs must possess big egos but check them to learn
“Most of these entrepreneurs, CEOs who are likely to achieve these outlier performances come with big egos, and that, that is an important ingredient, but it's one that the really successful CEOs are capable of kind of checking at the door when it's necessary, …”
Insight
VC board members must keep their nose in and fingers out
“When you flip the table and you become the VC and a board member and a representative of the money you've invested, your fingers really need to stay out. Your nose is in, and you're constantly smelling for things that don't smell right, and you're letting the …”
Insight
VCs must allow CEOs to make mistakes as part of learning
“As a board member, investor representative where you have to watch the CEO and the organization make mistakes, and know that that's part of the learning process.”
Disclosure
Pond Ventures limits portfolio allocation to four or five companies per partner
“Yeah, and we, you know, at Pond you know, we do four or five companies per partner, so we're not in that more traditional Sand Hill Road mode of 10 to 15 companies per partner, where you're not really dug in very deeply on any of those companies.”
Prediction Not checkable as stated
The Internet of Things lacks a near-term killer app for immediate adoption
“Coming, but lacks the immediate near-term killer app, quote unquote, to make it a here and now.”
Insight
The ideal founding team structure is two co-founders: business and tech
“Two. Business and a tech.”
Assertion Partly supported
Steve Jobs' mother worked as an office admin at Varian in 1983
“The first company I ever worked for when I graduated undergrad was a company called Varian Associates down in Palo Alto. And Steve Jobs' mother Was the office admin in our department, and when she retired, the department had a lunch for her, and Steve came alo…”
Insight
A CEO's core function is acting as the chief problem solver
“As a CEO, you know, you deal with all sorts of things. You're basically the chief problem solver, and that's from, you know, solving why the toilets in the bathroom are always clogging to, you know, when is the right time to sell the company and everything in …”
