The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch 20VC: Are the Best CEOs the Best Fundraisers, Are the Best Founders Insiders or Outsiders to a Problem, Why Ownership Should Not Be a Focus in VC & The Biggest Lessons Scaling MongoDB to $26BN Market Cap with Kevin Ryan, Founder @ AlleyCorp
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Apr 10, 2024 
Kevin Ryan, a serial entrepreneur and founder of AlleyCorp, dives into the essence of leadership and entrepreneurship. He reflects on early signs of successful entrepreneurs, distinguishing luck from skill. Ryan shares valuable lessons from scaling companies like MongoDB and DoubleClick, emphasizing that the best CEOs aren't just fundraisers. He discusses the significance of being an outsider for innovation and explores investment strategies, all while highlighting New York's ascent as a tech powerhouse. Tune in for insights from a tech visionary!
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Gilt Groupe's Challenges
- Kevin Ryan's Gilt Groupe reached $500M revenue in 4 years but faced unforeseen competition.
- Increased discounting by other brands impacted profitability, leading to a sale for $250M instead of the expected $2-3B.
Move Fast and Aggressively
- Move faster than the competition and raise capital aggressively.
- Expand quickly to establish global presence and secure market share, as DoubleClick did.
CEOs and Fundraising
- Great CEOs often possess strong fundraising abilities.
- Raising capital effectively increases a company's chances of success and provides room for error.