Chris Shipley, Guidewire Group, on the state of venture capital and entrepreners:
“Today revenue is the new venture capital.”
“Even the state department now believes that world peace will come from entrepreneurs. So you guys are ambassadors of peace.”
“Social media feels like our summer of love. Twitter is our Woodstock.”On brands and social media:
“Brands are going to have to think like media … Just checking in on the wall is not enough.”
Jesper Anderson started his business, freerisk.com from anger over the financial meltdown, the lack of information and wanted to do something about it.
“When you live in San Francisco, you’re obligated to try.”
Alan Martin, Campus Book Rentals, on why his company did not need social media to succeed:
“Luckily we had an angry audience. College students are angry about the college textbook deals. We had an audience that was angry and ready.”
Matt Chasen, uShip, on starting a new business:
“Go into a business where everyone attending the conference is over 70 and doesn’t own an iPhone.”
Paul Graham: Y Combinator, on picking the best seed accelerator group:
“It’s like picking a girl friend or a surgeon. With a girl friend you pick the one that’s right for you. With a surgeon, you pick the one that’s best. I’d pick one like I’d pick a surgeon
Naval Ravikant, Venture Hacks:
To be successful in a start-up you have to have high intelligence, high integrity and high energy. Inteligence and energy are easier to mesure. Integrity is the most important factor
David Cohen, TechStars: “If everytime you talk with the founders you get more excited. That’s a company I want to work with.”