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What Three Questions Does Aviel Ginzburg Use to Judge a Startup?

Aviel Ginzburg, co-founder of Simply Measured and a partner at Founders' Co-op, says he splits a startup into three questions, in order: can it exist, should it exist, and how does it exist. He raises them while talking about a team that finally has the resources to test whether it can tackle a problem and prove a market. The point of the order is to settle possibility before debating whether anyone ought to build it, and to settle that before arguing about how to build it.

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Aviel Ginzburg. Startup founder turned VC and a dad. ·

Geek at Sea

More from this episode

  1. Why Did Aviel Ginzburg Move to Seattle After College?Aviel Ginzburg, co-founder of Simply Measured and later a partner at Founders' Co-op, says the move was close to accidental.
  2. How Do You Get a Job When You Don't Know Anybody in TechAviel came to a Startup Weekend in Seattle not knowing anybody, and left well connected. How did he do it?
  3. Why Did Andrew Hyde Sell Startup WeekendAviel new both Marc Nager and Clint Nelsen, and he was the one to introduce them to Andrew Hyde and help negotiate the sale of the company.
  4. Why Should You Never Start an Untitled StartupAviel and team founded their company as "Untitled Startup," raised funding without an idea, and did not have a particular idea of what to build.
  5. What Is the Most Common Mistake for Founders Turned VCFounders who become VCs often imagine themselves in shoes of the founders who pitch them.
  6. Is Being a Dad Similar to Being a BossAviel says that is an illusion. A parent is more like an advisor. You can't tell your kid what to do, they have their own agenda. All you can do is guide them.
  7. What Is Aviel's Favorite Memory of His ChildThe first time his kid laughed, unconstrained and magical. That was the point where Aviel realized his baby was really keen on living, on being alive.
  8. How Does a Relationship Changes After Having KidsWhen you have a kid, some parts of your life remain the same, while other change, fundamentally.
  9. What's the Best Way to Manage Work While Having a Brand New Baby"For the 1st 6 months, you're gonna be in reactive mode, like if you're trying to learn a new skill at work. I learned a new muscle.
  10. How Does Aviel Ginzburg Define Working Smarter Rather Than Harder?Aviel Ginzburg, a partner at Founders' Co-op, says much of his work is decisions: which founders to back, and which problems are worth a founder's time.
  11. How Can You Be With Family on a Busy Work Travel ScheduleAviel started taking his family to every one of his work trips. This way he gets to be with his family, and they get to travel.
  12. What Is Aviel Ginzburg Most Looking Forward to as a Father?Aviel Ginzburg says what he wants most is real conversation with his son. Early on, a baby felt like a drain.

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