1 00:00:05,110 --> 00:00:13,870 In this lesson, we are going to talk about how you can find future startup team members in the alumni 2 00:00:13,870 --> 00:00:15,040 network. 3 00:00:18,150 --> 00:00:21,330 So I will tell you another personal story. 4 00:00:22,350 --> 00:00:27,630 After working ten years in Silicon Valley, I founded a tech startup. 5 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:33,750 It was ranked the 36th most innovative startup nationally. 6 00:00:34,260 --> 00:00:40,950 I personally closed five investment rounds and form an international team. 7 00:00:40,950 --> 00:00:42,690 Excellent international team. 8 00:00:42,690 --> 00:00:46,170 It was a very interesting story to live. 9 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:47,940 If you ask me. 10 00:00:47,940 --> 00:00:55,350 What are the most important things in order to create a tech startup, I would tell you these four things. 11 00:00:55,500 --> 00:01:01,680 First, to adopt a trial and error attitude. 12 00:01:02,250 --> 00:01:05,670 Second, to focus on providing value. 13 00:01:05,670 --> 00:01:08,220 This is in my opinion, this is the key. 14 00:01:08,220 --> 00:01:15,570 If you want to be successful as an entrepreneur or as a startup member, you need to focus on providing 15 00:01:15,570 --> 00:01:15,930 value. 16 00:01:15,930 --> 00:01:24,000 Because when you when you are in that space, in the space of startups, you know, incubators, accelerators, 17 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:30,840 investors, business, angels, venture capital, etc., it is easy to get distracted with other things. 18 00:01:30,900 --> 00:01:35,520 My advice is focus on providing value. 19 00:01:35,940 --> 00:01:37,650 Focus on your product. 20 00:01:37,650 --> 00:01:39,150 On your service. 21 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:40,350 Uh. 22 00:01:40,350 --> 00:01:44,280 Your customers must love what you do for them. 23 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:48,540 That's the key of success of any business and any startup. 24 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:54,120 My third advice would be build a solid initial team. 25 00:01:54,570 --> 00:01:56,850 And this is very difficult. 26 00:01:56,850 --> 00:01:58,380 This is not easy. 27 00:01:58,380 --> 00:02:08,850 And, uh, this is one of the occasions in your life where you need to take your time and you need to, 28 00:02:08,850 --> 00:02:10,770 uh, try first. 29 00:02:10,770 --> 00:02:19,410 So this trial and error attitude is especially especially recommendable, advisable when you are building 30 00:02:19,410 --> 00:02:21,030 your startup team. 31 00:02:21,450 --> 00:02:32,220 It is important I would recommend you to start working with your potential team members before you incorporate 32 00:02:32,220 --> 00:02:33,540 any company. 33 00:02:33,660 --> 00:02:35,760 So just try first. 34 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:44,070 It's like you know, when you when you, when you, when you are, uh, into a relationship, you know, 35 00:02:44,070 --> 00:02:51,390 so you, you don't get married, uh, the first day you start taking your time to know the other person 36 00:02:51,390 --> 00:02:58,410 and, and, you know, uh, live with this person in different situations and environment in order to 37 00:02:58,410 --> 00:03:00,840 see if this person is the right person for you. 38 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:08,040 So with your startup team members, I would advise to behave in the same manner. 39 00:03:08,650 --> 00:03:10,600 Do not get rash. 40 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:11,890 Do not run. 41 00:03:11,890 --> 00:03:13,660 So take your time. 42 00:03:13,660 --> 00:03:14,800 Try first. 43 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:23,890 That's why I think it is very interesting to find a environments like the alumni network, where you 44 00:03:23,890 --> 00:03:31,630 can know other people you know that share the same interest than you do, that they are interested in 45 00:03:31,630 --> 00:03:37,900 generative AI, they may be interested in startups as you are, and this is a possibility to start doing 46 00:03:37,900 --> 00:03:38,590 things. 47 00:03:38,590 --> 00:03:43,150 It years ago, you know, geography was a problem. 48 00:03:43,270 --> 00:03:51,070 If these people are not in your city, then you cannot think about forming a startup with them today. 49 00:03:51,070 --> 00:03:55,420 That doesn't that doesn't work that way. 50 00:03:55,720 --> 00:04:03,970 You can start working on a startup or in a pre startup, you know, from everywhere and with people 51 00:04:03,970 --> 00:04:05,080 from everywhere. 52 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:07,210 So geography is not important. 53 00:04:07,210 --> 00:04:12,520 If you do things right, if you organize yourself properly, eh. 54 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:18,339 So I think the alumni network is a good opportunity to meet these people. 55 00:04:18,339 --> 00:04:22,870 That can be your future startup partners, startup co-founders. 56 00:04:22,870 --> 00:04:26,680 So I think this is a good opportunity. 57 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:37,810 The the, the fourth advice I would give you is do not rush into seed capital once you, uh, get investment, 58 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:43,630 eh, uh, your reality is going to change dramatically. 59 00:04:43,930 --> 00:04:52,480 Uh, once you have money in the bank and the pressure from the investors, uh, the reading of your, 60 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:57,130 uh, activity and your priorities are going to change dramatically. 61 00:04:57,130 --> 00:05:01,480 So my advice to you is take your time. 62 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:06,430 Take your time to cook your startup. 63 00:05:08,300 --> 00:05:09,950 Well, slowly, you know. 64 00:05:09,950 --> 00:05:10,910 So no fast food. 65 00:05:10,910 --> 00:05:12,350 This is a slow food. 66 00:05:12,380 --> 00:05:13,790 Take your time. 67 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:19,160 And I think that the alumni network can be a good environment for you. 68 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:26,000 And here you are going to find a possible future startup team members. 69 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:33,530 And also if you if you think it can be a good help for you, you can also find premium coaching from 70 00:05:33,530 --> 00:05:42,020 people that have been, you know, a in startups before in the tech startup field that have been, uh, 71 00:05:42,020 --> 00:05:48,860 experiencing, you know, closing investment rounds in, in dealing with business angels, venture capital 72 00:05:48,860 --> 00:05:51,410 firms, etc. that can be valuable as well. 73 00:05:51,410 --> 00:05:58,130 But in the initial stages, the advice is also very important and can be very valuable. 74 00:05:58,130 --> 00:06:02,630 So this you can find in the alumni network as well. 75 00:06:04,170 --> 00:06:11,280 In the next lesson we will talk about the structure of this program myself.