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ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE –
Angel or Demon
How (not to ?) Choose your Co-Founders
Huy Nguyen Trieu
19 November 2014
ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE –
FROM POLYTECHNIQUE TO ENTREPRENEUR TO
BANKER IN LOVE WITH STARTUPS
INNOVER ET ENTREPRENDRE
ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE –
MY BACKGROUND
3
•  Education: Polytechnique (X93) + Ponts et
Chaussees + MIT
•  Entrepreneur: Co-Founder and CEO Ukibi
(NY / Paris)
•  Finance: Managing Director at Citi (London).
Previously RBS and Socgen
•  Startups: Mentor startups (StartupBootCamp /
Level 39). Author of blog Disruptive Finance.
Advisory board of Trusting Social and Fintech
Connect. Godfather TheFamily. Citi Mobile
Challenge
INNOVER ET
ENTREPRENDRE
The views expressed are solely those of the author in his private capacity
ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE –
UKIBI
4
•  Created 1998 in the Silicon Alley
•  Concept of self-updating address books: using
social networks 5 years too early!
•  3 co-founders
•  Raised 3 rounds of funding : Mars Capital /
Europ@Web / Viventures for total of $15m
•  50 people in NY and Paris
•  Board members : Alexandre Mars (CEO Mars
Capital) / JL Gassee (ex CMO Apple) / Patrick
Leleu (ex CEO Bouygues Telecom) / JD
Chamboredon (CTO Viventures)
INNOVER ET
ENTREPRENDRE
ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE –
WHAT CAN GO WRONG WITH CO-FOUNDERS?
5
•  ‘ He’s too lazy. I spend 16 hours at the office and
he goes home at 9!’
•  ‘For her, it’s all about work. She’s a dictator!’
•  ‘He doesn’t understand we need to develop
much faster. He’s too theoretical’
•  ‘He has absolutely no human skills. He will ruin
our relationship with our investors’
•  ‘He doesn’t understand the product, he’s just a
sales man who would sell anything!’
•  Etc, etc.
INNOVER ET
ENTREPRENDRE
Why ? Different objectives. Incompatible personalities.
ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE –
WHICH CO-FOUNDER WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
6
•  You: a bright PhD in computer science. No clue
about sales or marketing
•  Your project: a revolutionary big data system
•  3 choices of c0-founders. Whom do you choose?
INNOVER ET
ENTREPRENDRE
Alex
•  28 years old
•  Stanford PhD in CS
•  Launched one
unsuccessful startup
Sophie
•  35 years old
•  Marketing director of
IPO-ed startup
•  Speaks 6 languages
Phil
•  38 years old
•  Has launched 6
startups
•  5 failed, one still
running
ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE –
CHOOSING CO-FOUNDERS BASED ON THEIR CV…
7
•  ... is like using Tinder to find your wife /
husband!
•  Impressive skills or expertise say nothing about
objectives, ethics or compatible personalities
INNOVER ET
ENTREPRENDRE
Why commit to a co-founder faster than on Tinder?
ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE –
TYPICAL PROCESS THAT LEADS TO WRONG CO-FOUNDERS
8
•  You want to launch a startup
•  While talking to 2 friends, you discuss about
several ideas. You find the next Google!
•  You’re very excited, you’ve found an idea, and 2
friends to launch a startup!
•  You start working on a prototype and the
business plan
•  You need to discuss percentages. A bit tricky
with friends, why not do 33%/33%/33% ?
•  Etc, etc.
INNOVER ET
ENTREPRENDRE
Danger! Choosing a co-founder cannot be a passive process
ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE –
IS THERE A SECRET RECIPE TO CHOOSE YOUR CO-FOUNDER?
9
•  Apple : Steve Jobs + Steve Wozniak +Ronald
Wayne (left after 1 year)
•  Google : Sergey Brin + Larry Page
•  Microsoft : Bill Gates + Paul Allen
•  Oracle : Larry Ellisson + Ed Oates + Bob Miner
•  Amazon : Jeff Bezos
•  Alibaba : Jack Ma
INNOVER ET
ENTREPRENDRE
2 founders is powerful. 1 is possible. 3 too. More not really…
Mix of technical and sales skills works well
ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE –
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT CO-FOUNDER ?
10
•  Who would marry someone based on Tinder?
•  The single most important decision in your
startup – don’t take it lightly
•  Share and challenge your respective objectives
– including personal objectives
•  Be wary of things you don’t know: how do you
choose a marketer when you’re an engineer?
•  Think twice before taking a super specialized
co-founder
•  Take things slowly and let a way out: vesting
and clear communication
•  Get advice from mentors/advisors, even VCs
INNOVER ET
ENTREPRENDRE
ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE –
DO YOU ALWAYS NEED TO AGREE WITH YOUR CO-FOUNDER?
11
•  YES :
•  Need same long-term objectives and vision
•  Need same ethics
•  NO :
•  Different views of the world lead to better
outcome
•  Healthy skepticism prevent big mistakes
INNOVER ET
ENTREPRENDRE
ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE –
WHAT ELSE TO CONSIDER?
12
•  If you lack a specific skill, do you really need a
co-founder or can you hire someone?
•  Can an advisory board bring some of the skills
you lack? An advisory board should not be for
‘prestige’
•  If you have a doubt, don’t take the plunge. Try
part-time collaboration first.
•  What do you do if you chose the wrong co-
founder? Act now! Solve the situation in one
way or another
INNOVER ET
ENTREPRENDRE
ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE –
CONCLUSION FOR BRIGHT YOUNG ENGINEERS
13
•  Launching a startup right after (during) school
is great. Do it!
•  You have: brains, knowledge, energy, no
commitment, low burn rate
•  You lack: experience. And communication
skills! Learn them!
•  Choosing a co-founder is an active process
•  Sharing the same objectives and ethics is key.
Don’t understimate personality clashes
•  Advice is available, leverage on it:
Polytechnique / alumni /accelerators, etc.
INNOVER ET
ENTREPRENDRE
ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE –
THANK YOU!
14
www.disruptivefinance.co.uk
INNOVER ET
ENTREPRENDRE
My blog on the tech revolution in finance:
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/huynguyentrieu
ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE –

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Startups: how to choose your co-founders ?

  • 1. ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE – Angel or Demon How (not to ?) Choose your Co-Founders Huy Nguyen Trieu 19 November 2014
  • 2. ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE – FROM POLYTECHNIQUE TO ENTREPRENEUR TO BANKER IN LOVE WITH STARTUPS INNOVER ET ENTREPRENDRE
  • 3. ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE – MY BACKGROUND 3 •  Education: Polytechnique (X93) + Ponts et Chaussees + MIT •  Entrepreneur: Co-Founder and CEO Ukibi (NY / Paris) •  Finance: Managing Director at Citi (London). Previously RBS and Socgen •  Startups: Mentor startups (StartupBootCamp / Level 39). Author of blog Disruptive Finance. Advisory board of Trusting Social and Fintech Connect. Godfather TheFamily. Citi Mobile Challenge INNOVER ET ENTREPRENDRE The views expressed are solely those of the author in his private capacity
  • 4. ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE – UKIBI 4 •  Created 1998 in the Silicon Alley •  Concept of self-updating address books: using social networks 5 years too early! •  3 co-founders •  Raised 3 rounds of funding : Mars Capital / Europ@Web / Viventures for total of $15m •  50 people in NY and Paris •  Board members : Alexandre Mars (CEO Mars Capital) / JL Gassee (ex CMO Apple) / Patrick Leleu (ex CEO Bouygues Telecom) / JD Chamboredon (CTO Viventures) INNOVER ET ENTREPRENDRE
  • 5. ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE – WHAT CAN GO WRONG WITH CO-FOUNDERS? 5 •  ‘ He’s too lazy. I spend 16 hours at the office and he goes home at 9!’ •  ‘For her, it’s all about work. She’s a dictator!’ •  ‘He doesn’t understand we need to develop much faster. He’s too theoretical’ •  ‘He has absolutely no human skills. He will ruin our relationship with our investors’ •  ‘He doesn’t understand the product, he’s just a sales man who would sell anything!’ •  Etc, etc. INNOVER ET ENTREPRENDRE Why ? Different objectives. Incompatible personalities.
  • 6. ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE – WHICH CO-FOUNDER WOULD YOU CHOOSE? 6 •  You: a bright PhD in computer science. No clue about sales or marketing •  Your project: a revolutionary big data system •  3 choices of c0-founders. Whom do you choose? INNOVER ET ENTREPRENDRE Alex •  28 years old •  Stanford PhD in CS •  Launched one unsuccessful startup Sophie •  35 years old •  Marketing director of IPO-ed startup •  Speaks 6 languages Phil •  38 years old •  Has launched 6 startups •  5 failed, one still running
  • 7. ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE – CHOOSING CO-FOUNDERS BASED ON THEIR CV… 7 •  ... is like using Tinder to find your wife / husband! •  Impressive skills or expertise say nothing about objectives, ethics or compatible personalities INNOVER ET ENTREPRENDRE Why commit to a co-founder faster than on Tinder?
  • 8. ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE – TYPICAL PROCESS THAT LEADS TO WRONG CO-FOUNDERS 8 •  You want to launch a startup •  While talking to 2 friends, you discuss about several ideas. You find the next Google! •  You’re very excited, you’ve found an idea, and 2 friends to launch a startup! •  You start working on a prototype and the business plan •  You need to discuss percentages. A bit tricky with friends, why not do 33%/33%/33% ? •  Etc, etc. INNOVER ET ENTREPRENDRE Danger! Choosing a co-founder cannot be a passive process
  • 9. ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE – IS THERE A SECRET RECIPE TO CHOOSE YOUR CO-FOUNDER? 9 •  Apple : Steve Jobs + Steve Wozniak +Ronald Wayne (left after 1 year) •  Google : Sergey Brin + Larry Page •  Microsoft : Bill Gates + Paul Allen •  Oracle : Larry Ellisson + Ed Oates + Bob Miner •  Amazon : Jeff Bezos •  Alibaba : Jack Ma INNOVER ET ENTREPRENDRE 2 founders is powerful. 1 is possible. 3 too. More not really… Mix of technical and sales skills works well
  • 10. ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE – HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT CO-FOUNDER ? 10 •  Who would marry someone based on Tinder? •  The single most important decision in your startup – don’t take it lightly •  Share and challenge your respective objectives – including personal objectives •  Be wary of things you don’t know: how do you choose a marketer when you’re an engineer? •  Think twice before taking a super specialized co-founder •  Take things slowly and let a way out: vesting and clear communication •  Get advice from mentors/advisors, even VCs INNOVER ET ENTREPRENDRE
  • 11. ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE – DO YOU ALWAYS NEED TO AGREE WITH YOUR CO-FOUNDER? 11 •  YES : •  Need same long-term objectives and vision •  Need same ethics •  NO : •  Different views of the world lead to better outcome •  Healthy skepticism prevent big mistakes INNOVER ET ENTREPRENDRE
  • 12. ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE – WHAT ELSE TO CONSIDER? 12 •  If you lack a specific skill, do you really need a co-founder or can you hire someone? •  Can an advisory board bring some of the skills you lack? An advisory board should not be for ‘prestige’ •  If you have a doubt, don’t take the plunge. Try part-time collaboration first. •  What do you do if you chose the wrong co- founder? Act now! Solve the situation in one way or another INNOVER ET ENTREPRENDRE
  • 13. ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE – CONCLUSION FOR BRIGHT YOUNG ENGINEERS 13 •  Launching a startup right after (during) school is great. Do it! •  You have: brains, knowledge, energy, no commitment, low burn rate •  You lack: experience. And communication skills! Learn them! •  Choosing a co-founder is an active process •  Sharing the same objectives and ethics is key. Don’t understimate personality clashes •  Advice is available, leverage on it: Polytechnique / alumni /accelerators, etc. INNOVER ET ENTREPRENDRE
  • 14. ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE – THANK YOU! 14 www.disruptivefinance.co.uk INNOVER ET ENTREPRENDRE My blog on the tech revolution in finance: Twitter: www.twitter.com/huynguyentrieu