Hardi Meybaum - GrabCAD - Estonia - Stanford Engineering - Jan 23 2012
0 likes1,128 views
This document outlines the lessons learned by the founder of Grabcad over several years starting their company: [1] Don't give up after initial failures and celebrate small victories. [2] Getting customer feedback is important for product development. [3] Surrounding yourself with supportive people like an understanding spouse is crucial for entrepreneurship. [4] Experimentation and learning from others are key parts of the innovation process. The most important lessons are building the right team of people wanting to learn and develop together.
Hardi Meybaum - GrabCAD - Estonia - Stanford Engineering - Jan 23 2012
- 1. story by Hardi Meybaum Stanford Engineering European Entrepreneurship & Innovation 1/23/2012 @hardi_meybaum @grabcad
- 3. 12/2009 - The first order Lesson learned #1: don’t give up after first failure
- 4. 01/2010 - The first $ order
- 5. 01/2010 - The first $ order Lesson learned #2: celebrate victories - earned $25, celebration dinner $60
- 6. 02/2010 How to get more engineers to work on orders?
- 7. 02/2010 Quit a day-job, week before 1st child was born Lesson learned #3: have a very very understanding wife
- 8. 06/2010 Raised a first seed money to build a CAD Library Lesson learned #4: raising the money from Europe is difficult and expensive
- 9. 08/2010 - launched Library grabcad.com/library/bobber-bike-1 Lesson learned #5: build a minimum product
- 10. 09/2010 - Meet Terry grabcad.com/terry.stonehocker Lesson learned #6: talk to customers
- 11. 10/2010 - from static Library to community Lesson learned #7: learn how others innovate
- 12. 10/2010 - moved to Boston booked this room for 3 months but got that one Lesson learned #8: everything is not like it appears Lesson learned #9: you are in or out, no middle choice
- 13. 12/2011- raising money in US ‣ 200 investors, advisors, customers .. in 3 months ‣ 1 investor partner meeting and a no Lesson learned #10: talking to people gives you lot of great feedback Lesson learned #11: raising money in US is difficult
- 14. 02/2011 - what is this?
- 15. 02/2011 - lets through it out there Lesson learned #12: you are not the smartest person out there
- 16. 03/2011 - joined Techstars Lesson learned #13: learn from other entrepreneurs
- 18. 05/2011 - Challenges Lesson learned #14: experiment
- 19. 05/2011 started A/B testing Lesson learned #15: A/B test
- 20. 06/2011 closed Seed Round 7 angels Lesson learned #1: don’t give up after first failure (remember the no from Partner Meeting?)
- 21. 12/2011 - Remember Terry? grabcad.com/terry.stonehocker now works for top customers in mfg industry Lesson learned #6: talk to customers
- 22. 1/2012 - Series A $4M from inside investors Lesson learned #16: read this blog - www.forentrepreneurs.com
- 23. and most important grabcad.com/about Lesson learned #17: the TEAM matters the most Lesson learned #18: find people you enjoy working with Lesson learned #19: find people who want to learn and develop
- 25. story by Hardi Meybaum Stanford Engineering European Entrepreneurship & Innovation 1/23/2012 @hardi_meybaum @grabcad