It should not surprise anyone knowing that I have a plan. Since my childhood I would have loved to build something, and the more I grew old, the more I knew I would have done it. Do not judge me wrong, please. I think I know my limits and I know what I can or I cannot do, but my personal motto is: learn every day!
In the last months I have analysed different possible “ideas 2.0″ to kickstart, but I have not been really in love with any of them, but the last one. Yes, this one is something that hit me like a lightning bolt, and I am working hard to analyse/criticise/improve. It is called theClef.com and in our mind it will be a hit for every unsigned artist. Clearly I cannot leave my day-to-day job right now because I have responsibilities to carry on, but I am working hard in any minute I have to reach a critical point. In the horizon there can be ideas for external funding (Angels, Venture Capitalists or whoever) so it is obvious that I am following trusted advices. One of the most important was “The Art of the Start“, a spectacular book by Guy Kawasaki.
I follow Guy’s blog with much interest, but today I am not sure on how to read his latest post: “In search of inexperience“. From one point of view I can joy from the power I can get from his post, the triumph of the new generations of Brin & Page, the call for new ideas to come from new entrepreneurs… but there is the other side of the coin.In particular I have been hit by a passage of his post where he says:
Amen, baby! I vote for two guys or gals in a garage who are an unproven team, unproven technology, and unproven market.
Great, but what does he say on the guidelines of his own VC company (yes, because he is a Venture Capitalist)? The guidelines of Garage are clear, expecially in the section “Critical Factors for Obtaining Venture Funding“:
You may have a great idea, but if you don’t have a strong core team, investors aren’t going to be willing to bet on your company…
…the founders have to have the credibility to launch the company…
This is a different point of view, isn’t it? I know it seems I am looking at the small details (?), but find a VC ready to believe in your idea is not easy. Please,try not to offend me: I know their job is to make money, and they can do it selecting only those ideas who can really make the market explode. I know this, nevertheless working hard, knowing that looking for funding will be the hardest part of your dream is not so easy.
I have an idea, and I think it is Great. I have a team, brilliant brains that works well together. I have a Dream.
I know I can be repetitive, but this video is the one I watch every time the times are dark and the problems seem to be impossible to overcome.
See you soon, Guy.