Smash Notes
Why Did Andrew Hyde Sell Startup Weekend · Geek at Sea

Geek at Sea

Aviel Ginzburg. Startup founder turned VC and a dad.

Aviel Ginzburg is a Managing Director of the Alexa Accelerator here in Seattle, Partner at Founders Co-op and Co-founder of Simply Measured. We talk about the founding of Simply Measured, what it’s like to be a new dad, and how to survive high-stress work while having a baby. As always with other founders we will talk about his startup story and touch a…

Notes

  1. Aviel Ginzburg, co-founder of Simply Measured and later a partner at Founders' Co-op, says the move was close to accidental. Full answer

  2. Aviel came to a Startup Weekend in Seattle not knowing anybody, and left well connected. How did he do it? Full answer

  3. Aviel 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. Full answer

  4. 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… Full answer

  5. Aviel and team founded their company as "Untitled Startup," raised funding without an idea, and did not have a particular idea of what to build. Full answer

  6. Founders who become VCs often imagine themselves in shoes of the founders who pitch them. Full answer

  7. Aviel 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. Full answer

  8. The 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. Full answer

  9. When you have a kid, some parts of your life remain the same, while other change, fundamentally. Full answer

  10. "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. Full answer

  11. 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. Full answer

  12. Aviel 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. Full answer

  13. Aviel Ginzburg says what he wants most is real conversation with his son. Early on, a baby felt like a drain. Full answer

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