Hello Rodinhooders,
I said a couple of days back that I am interviewing the Founder of “Draper Fisher Juvertson”, the person behind Skype,hotmail,aidu,Overture and a host of other big successes and here it is.
It is said that when you are doing a thing for the first time, somethings are bound to go wrong. And, the thing for me was I broke my specs and had to see through the eyes of Draper without really being confident whether I am seeing!
I have tried to put in all the questions from you as I wanted this not to be me-me affair but an us affair!
A few highlights from the interview:
- Why Silicon Valley produces so many million/billion dollar enterprises?
A great governance at California when Silicon Valley started growing
A solid culture of Educational institutions
A culture where Start-ups and Entrepreneurship have become a way of existence owing to people embracing failure
- Why Sabeer Bhatia made the most famous “Indian Internet Entrepreneur ever”?
Sabeer is an extraordinary individual. He said Free web based email and I said Viral marketing, that is how it happened. One email from Sabeer to India and within 3 weeks we had 100,000 registered users from India!
- Top 3 criteria for rejecting a Start-up?
Want to get money just to get money, or money to drive a business
Business has to be passion and not money!
Trust among the team!
- Biggest mistake entrepreneurs make?
Run out of Money!
- One suggestion for aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere?
Don’t do it!
- How you know whether an Idea is a great one?
It should be something that has high chances of failing, but if it succeeds it will be big!
- What are the sectors aspiring entrepreneurs should look forward to?
Wearables for everything
Flying Drones!
Bitcoins
I would love to put down everything in word for you to run through the interview, but I did this for a reason to bring a smile across your face while being at the valley from a person who is one of the most well known here. There’s a wish for you at the end, go go go watch it 🙂
Thank you to all who sent their questions.
If you found the interview to be useful and insightful in anyway, leave your love by sharing it with people in your social circle.
https://www.facebook.com/jps.prashant
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UPDATE: FEB 22, 2014: And here it is – the much awaited photo of Tim Draper sporting his rodinhood tee!
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Gourav Das
Don’t do it!
When I ponder about it, its a great answer. Its like when everyone asks you to stop doing what you are doing and you go against them to show them they are incorrect,
Alex J V
Thank you Prashant for making this happen. 🙂
Prashant Kumar Sharma
Gourav,
The exact vein in which he said this. “Don’t do it”!
Prashant Kumar Sharma
My Pleasure Alex, if you did like it, please share it. I just have one hope to make this reach out to as many people as possible 🙂
Rishi
Great job Prashant! 🙂
Prashant Kumar Sharma
Thank you Rishi. Did I tell you that I met Abhishek and got Sleeping bags from him, thank you so much 🙂
Please do share it in your circle 🙂
Rishi
Anytime! Don’t come back without visiting places/doing the things I told you to do 🙂
Prashant Kumar Sharma
Not at all!
asha chaudhry
many congrats prashant!
there are so many things i’m happy about when it comes to you!
you going to draper univ and being able to do this rockstar interview is just one of them!!!
stay blessed. and keep rocking! looking fwd to many more stories with love from silicon valley via you!!
Mohul Ghosh
Wow! Awesome interview.. Thank you Prashant for making this happen.. Wishing loads of success!!
One answer which I liked the most.. “What mistake should an Entrepreneur avoid at any cost..”
“Running out of money!”
Prashant Kumar Sharma
Thank you so much Asha.
There are many stories along the way from the Valley and the University! 🙂
Prashant Kumar Sharma
Thank you Mohul, I am glad you liked it 🙂
Yo Gesh Gupta
wow the interview was fantastic!!!!!!!!
hats off to you man for being part of the draper university.
good luck 🙂
Darshan Bhambiru
“Don’t Spend the Money, You Get Funded!!!” Be an ANT not a Grasshopper!
Stay Alive long enough for the Vision to Be Fulfilled.
Don’t – Run out of Money! or Don’t do it!
Wonderfully Covered, Though SPECTACLEless 😉
Straight forward and Exactly what is required as well too!!! Cheers!
Prashant Kumar Sharma
Thank you so much Yogesh, I am so happy to know you liked it! 🙂
Prashant Kumar Sharma
:):)
Prashant Kumar Sharma
Rodinhooders,
Now you have Tim spotting therodinhood tee :):)
Aparna
thanks for being that connection 🙂 Enjoyed the interview!
Nice little touch in the end! 😉
Prashant Kumar Sharma
Thank you so much Aparna, I am glad you liked it.
Love should always be shared shouldn’t it be? 😉