Here's what stands out for me and they are lessons repeated time and again:
- The founders had experience and backgrounds.
- The founders were a team. There were two of them.
- The founders worked on several projects that failed. The YC application was for something before they were successful when they were young in the game and basically inexperienced.
- The founders both quit their jobs to get serious on their start-up.
- They were committed to starting something.
- Canada is very difficult to do anything in from a scene/support POV.
- SF is great for a scene/support POV.
- SF didn't work out for them financially but they learned a lot and a return to Canada rescued them through RIM betting heavily on the team (which had seasoned and matured by then).
- They smartly exited to better positions taking the bird in hand (Google).
This tale is a walking, talking start-up lessons learned. Be smart, know when to pivot, be committed, learn from mistakes, and never stop banging on doors because if you do all that someone will eventually let you in.
- The founders had experience and backgrounds. - The founders were a team. There were two of them. - The founders worked on several projects that failed. The YC application was for something before they were successful when they were young in the game and basically inexperienced. - The founders both quit their jobs to get serious on their start-up. - They were committed to starting something. - Canada is very difficult to do anything in from a scene/support POV. - SF is great for a scene/support POV. - SF didn't work out for them financially but they learned a lot and a return to Canada rescued them through RIM betting heavily on the team (which had seasoned and matured by then). - They smartly exited to better positions taking the bird in hand (Google).
This tale is a walking, talking start-up lessons learned. Be smart, know when to pivot, be committed, learn from mistakes, and never stop banging on doors because if you do all that someone will eventually let you in.