David Rusenko, Founder of Weebly, shares his journey from college dropout to startup success, including challenges of running out of money, being acquired by Square for $365 million, and now focusing on climate change with Leap Forward Ventures.
Cultural exposure shaped David's negotiation skills, pivotal for his startup success.
Financial hardships emphasized strategic planning and resilience in Weebly's journey.
Transitioning from operational roles to coaching, David now focuses on climate tech investments with Leap Forward Ventures.
Deep dives
David shares childhood experiences growing up in Morocco and the impact on his perspective
Growing up in Morocco contributed to David's negotiation skills, living in a foreign country with limited access to US culture. He visited the US intermittently, gaining exposure to American culture through the emerging popularity of the internet, which provided remote access to US content.
David's journey from high school entrepreneurship to college DJing and co-founding Weebly
David's entrepreneurial journey began in high school with a successful email hosting company that helped pay his college tuition. In college, he ventured into the world of DJing professionally, funding his education through DJ gigs and other means. This eclectic mix of experiences led him to co-found Weebly, ultimately applying to Y Combinator with memorable last-minute application shenanigans.
Transitioning from Penn State to San Francisco with Weebly's Y Combinator journey
After being accepted into Y Combinator, David and his cofounders made the pivotal decision to transition their startup, Weebly, from Penn State to the Bay Area. The move marked a significant shift to a new phase as they navigated through the YC experience, including demo day challenges and the subsequent acquisition by Square.
Adversities faced during the financial struggle and strategic decisions at Weebly
Weebly encountered financial challenges, with David recalling a time when their bank account held only $100. Demonstrating calculated resilience, they strategically navigated through tough times, opting for financial prudence and eventually achieving cash flow positivity by optimizing Weebly Pro. This financial hardship underscored the importance of strategic financial planning and perseverance.
David's reflection on the startup journey, transition to investing, and climate fund Leap Forward
Reflecting on Weebly's 16-year entrepreneurial journey, David now embraces a transition from operational roles to coaching startups as an investor. With Leap Forward, a climate tech-focused fund, David collaborates with partners like Jessica Altar, leveraging their collective expertise in technology, go-to-market strategies, and climate solutions to support startups pioneering environmental innovations.
David Rusenko was a college student when he applied, at the last minute, to Y Combinator in 2006. His startup, Weebly, made a web site builder. At one point they came within days of running out of money, but they survived to be acquired by Square in 2018 for $365 million. Now David runs a fund, Leap Forward Ventures, focused on climate change. He has spent his whole career in startups, and has seen close to everything that can happen.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
