Dave Hersh, former entrepreneur and founder of Jive Software, shares his insightful journey from bootstrapping to IPO and beyond.
Dave is also the Author of 1 in 10,000, a newsletter on The Future of Competitive Advantage: Case Studies and Strategies for Building Moats in the Age of Commoditized Technology
In this episode, Host Alex Shartsis dives into the unspoken challenges of startup growth with Dave, highlighting the pitfalls of premature scaling, the importance of understanding your company's soul, and the often-overlooked impact of a founder's mental health on business success.
Tune in as Dave discusses:
The systemic flaws in the venture capital model and how to navigate them
Strategies for identifying and capitalizing on your company's unique strengths
The critical distinction between ego-driven and soul-driven decision-making
Practical advice for founders on sustainable growth, funding, and leadership development
Gain valuable perspectives from Dave's experiences and apply them to your own entrepreneurial journey.
Show Notes:
0:00 | Introduction
01:12 | From Bootstrapped to Public: Dave's Journey with Jive Software
12:08 | Restructuring for Success: Leadership Lessons from a Turnaround
14:00 | The CEO's Hidden Struggle: Mental Health, Wellness, and Company Performance
20:02 | The Waste in Venture Capital: Why Premature Scaling Often Fails
28:50 | Investors vs. Customers: The Conflict That Can Sink Your Business
41:47 | The Human Advantage: Investing in Emotional Market Openings and Flourishing
45:25 | From Ego to Empathy: Jesse's Transformation and the Power of Culture Shift
53:04 | Transforming Yourself, Transforming Your Company: The CEO's Intuitive Journey
Guest: Dave Hersh(linkedin.com/in/davehersh)
Host: Alex Shartsis (linkedin.com/in/shartsis)
Audio Engineer & Video Editor - James Fixx (fixxmusic.com)
Music by the Great White Shark (Shark Shartsis)
The Seed to Sequoia podcast is created by Silverwood Advisors to help founders with practical advice on building successful startups.
If you would like to get expert advice for your startup reach out to us on:
Website: silverwood.ai
Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/silverwood-advisors
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