For us, everything is optional. Everything and everything we do is optional. Founders don't like being told what to do. They're rule breakers. And so about our perspective is we should be able to communicate the value of it and convince them to join it. But when you have that much power, you can sure exert power over people to make them do things,. which i think is little messed up. Our approach is more like, let's let's build good products and market them well and then create engagements....
StartX & Nexus Events Founder Cameron Teitelman answers questions from founders: how universities with no entrepreneurial culture can mimic Stanford, building flexible & sustainable culture during COVID, scaling Nexus Events rapidly & more!
Join the TWiST Slack: https://launchevents.typeform.com/to/kLq5Bi
Mentioned during the AMA:
Cameron's new startup: https://mixer.nexusevents.io/login_mixer
Cameron's most recent TWiST appearance: https://youtu.be/zsNqOLs-NVI
Questions:
0:37 Cameron intros his AMA and describes his new company: Nexus Events https://mixer.nexusevents.io/login_mixer
1:31 Kevin: Are seed investors investing right now? What have StartX companies been seeing lately from early-stage investors?
2:55 James: How can universities with no entrepreneurial culture mimic the success of Stanford in creating an environment that encourages building and innovation?
4:29 James: How does the accelerator structure change for current students? What are some of the common pitfalls you have seen people make starting their company whilst finishing their degree?
7:18 Presh: Could you share more about your new startup? What are you building and why?
10:15 Ashley: How are you looking at accepting companies to StartX through the COVID lense? Which companies (in your portfolio or not) do you think are particularly well-positioned for the post COVID environment?
12:43 Jean: Regarding mentorship, in what areas do solo founders need the most help with?
14:41 Annette: Will Stanford affiliated applicants get priority over referral applicants? Would consumer startup applicants that are non-COVID related be considered during this time?
17:35 Henry: What are your thoughts in terms of building a flexible but sustainable culture?
19:26 Matt: Do you take a different approach with health tech portfolio companies and educate/manage/support them separately from the rest of the portfolio?
21:21 Laura: Given that companies don't give up equity, and there is no structured program, how do you cultivate high-level engagement with your founders/companies & mentors?
25:27 Luke: Can you talk about how the collaboration between StartX and the Stanford Hospital and Clinics works? How are the grants assessed and awarded?
26:14 Jacqui: Do you see the StartX Med COVID-19 Task Force as a new model to accelerate advances in biotech or to generate solutions for other critical global issues?
27:07 Heidi: How can other med schools around the country partner with you to develop satellite programs?
29:17 Dan: Do you have any war stories about running Nexus Events during COVID and what you’ve learned from it?