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From idea to success: The Pinnacle Systems Story: From start to $350 million and a successful exit. By Ajay Chopra, Venture Consultant - Trinity Ventures and Founder - Pinnacle Systems
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Ajay ChopraTrinity Ventures
3000 Sand Hill RoadMenlo Park CA 94025
www.trinityventures.com
Ten Lessons from the Pinnacle Experience
A brief history of Pinnacle Systems Founded 1986; Series A
Media authoring and delivery tools FCS 1987; Series B 1989 Series C Failed IPO 1992 IPO 1994; Secondary offerings 1995/96 Acquired 20+ entities 1996-2003 Sold to Avid Technology in 2005
$462M cash and stock
Lesson #1:Building a Company is a marathon
Average run to IPO: 7 years Plan to enjoy the “journey” not the
“destination” Success in determined by execution focus,
team and value system
Lesson #2:“What’s the heading, Captain?”
Always know the heading Execution starts with leadership! Focus on leading; hire to manage
Lesson #3:Everybody’s money is not equally green
Find the right investor match Make sure goals are aligned
Lesson #4:Cut your losses!
Do not throw good money after bad Nothing wrong with being frugal! Define unbiased metrics for success and
failure Good enough is usually not!
Lesson #5:Do not let the competition control your profitability
Continue to define your “blue ocean” But do not underestimate your competition
Lesson #6:Technologies can take discontinuous steps but markets evolve slowly
Develop to technology evolution Plan to market evolution
Lesson #7:When the market reaches the inflection point, BE READY!
More start-ups get upstaged by new competition at the market inflection point than anywhere else
Keeping tabs on the “convergence” factors
Lesson #8:The soul of the company is its value system
Intellectual honesty Leading by example Fairness Culture of excellence
Lesson #9:You are known by the company you keep
Investors/Bankers Board members Auditors/Lawyers Customers
Lesson #10:Do not take yourself too seriously!
Remember to make the experience fun Find fulfillment in the journey Keep things simple Choose your battles
Bonus slides!
Matching with the right Venture Fund
Is your space an area of interest for the VC? Does the VC have expertise in the
space your company is focused VCs are well connected – will find an
expert – including another VC
Fund investment preferences
Geographical Deal stage Min-max investment profile Percentage ownership requirements
Fund investment cycle
When was the last fund raised? How many investments have been
made? How much “dry powder” is left?
Portfolio conflict?
Is this portfolio company an active investment?
Was it (or is it) a good investment? Too much concentration – portfolio
diversity? Direct competitor?
Are you in fact ready for VC money?
Only one shot with most VCs Crisp story in 40 minutes – 15 slides Team, Technology and TAM Unfair advantage
And a final quote…..
Entrepreneurship is “converting creativity and mental energy into wealth”- Narayana Murthy