Comments on: Advice For Working With Mentors

By: Paramendra Bhagat

Paramendra Bhagat — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:06:40 +0000

Yes. Helpful.

By: Brad Feld

Brad Feld — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:55:05 +0000

I took a look at http://www.adstruc.com. It’s a neat idea. If you want more substantive feedback, and you send me an exec summary or a presentation – email is best – brad@feld.com

By: ADstruc

ADstruc — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:55:57 +0000

Brad, this was really a great article – thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed the section "Don’t get whiplashed by conflicting advice." I think this is a very important point for startups to keep in mind. Not only can it derail/confuse but it has the potential to shut down one's energy. I would love to discuss my recent startup, ADstruc, http://www.adstruc.com and get your thoughts.

Thanks for your time,

John

By: Brad Feld

Brad Feld — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:39:06 +0000

The two best approaches are (a) get involved in a pre-seed type program like TechStars or (b) get a few angel investors involved that are willing to be active with you. Even though you don’t need the cash, recognize that the active angel investor who knows your tech / market will be worth much more than simply the value of their cash.

By: Justyn Howard

Justyn Howard — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:11:01 +0000

Thanks for the great post Brad. I'm curious if you or your talented cohorts can point to any advice on finding/engaging mentors. We're still pre-funding and have had varying advice on bringing on an equity staked advisor vs. working with an angel who has tons of experience in our space. In the latter scenario, the investment would be more of a carrot for the angel to engage in an advisor role, since we aren't in a position that we necessarily need the cash. Though it could give us some flexibility.

Hoping the question makes sense For what it's worth, we're working on two innovative (I think) projects in the real-time/twitter space. We'd love to work with the Chris Sacca/Ron Conway/Brad Feld's of the world, but it's tough to break-in for first timer's without a track record.

Cheers, and thanks again for the great post!

Justyn Howard
@justyn

By: jakelumetta

jakelumetta — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:09:22 +0000

The links appear to be broken when they are shortened.

By: John

John — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:27:54 +0000

Brad,

All of your comments here are great advice for startups. It is all about owning decisions while carefully balancing outside perspectives. I really enjoyed your view on "Don’t get whiplashed by conflicting advice." I feel this is one of the barriers to entry that can turn people's ideas and most importantly energy, upside down.

I would love to discuss more – as well as – introduce you to our startup, ADstruc. We are the first online marketplace for the buying, selling, and exchange of OOH media space.

Thanks,

John
http://www.adstruc.com

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By: micah

micah — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:10:20 +0000

Tonight, I spent an awesome time with two local Boulder TechStars mentors, Jeffrey Kalmikoff and Eric Marcouiller. The three of us, over games of pool, diet cokes, moving home theater equipment (thanks for nothing Jeffrey!) and a decently good meal with a decently funny waitress, talked a ton about startups and specific Techstar companies.

It was interesting to hear which teams we seemed to find interesting, and which teams we felt needed to kick it into high gear.

Made me think of this additional piece of advice (not to presume I could add to a great post, but given my narcissism, will):

"Dont forget, no matter what, that its YOUR company. Take the advice, head the guidance, but own the decisions.

Mentors have the luxury of walking away at the end of the conversation. You dont."

(ps. no Jewish guilt allowed. Neither you nor David would have come out. pleeeese.)

By: micah

micah — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:08:54 +0000

It was interesting to hear which teams we seemed to find interesting, and which teams we felt needed to kick it into high gear.

Made me think of this additional piece of advice (not to presume I could add to a great post, but given my narcissism, will):

"Dont forget, no matter what, that its YOUR company. Take the advice, head the guidance, but own the decisions.

Mentors have the luxury of walking away at the end of the conversation. You dont."

By: micah

micah — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:08:31 +0000

It was interesting to hear which teams we seemed to find interesting, and which teams we felt needed to kick it into high gear.

Made me think of this additional piece of advice (not to presume I could add to a great post, but given my narcissism, will):

"Dont forget, no matter what, that its YOUR company. Take the advice, head the guidance, but own the decisions.

Mentors have the luxury of walking away at the end of the conversation. You dont."

By: David G. Cohen

David G. Cohen — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:17:41 +0000

I think this link is supposed to be http://www.coloradostartups.com/2007/10/31/tip-2-...

By: David G. Cohen

David G. Cohen — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:17:41 +0000

I think this link is supposed to be http://www.coloradostartups.com/2007/10/31/tip-2-...

By: David G. Cohen

David G. Cohen — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:17:41 +0000

I think this link is supposed to be http://www.coloradostartups.com/2007/10/31/tip-2-...