In the last 12 months we have met approximately 500 companies, from early stage start-ups to large listed companies. Some of the actions and behaviours of the leadership teams (CEOs, Founders) are sometimes comical, occasionally bizarre and often well though through. Here are our top 10:
Tope 10 comical actions, behaviour & comments from early stage founders:
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1. Mgmt. stays in a 5 Star hotel whilst fund raising and turns up to the investor meeting with coffee cups from The Ritz Carlton Hotel
2. “I have been flying around the world constantly, and it feels like I live in Seat 1A”
3. “I am headed to Macau this weekend to try my luck”
4. “We have a globally distributed team with developers in Estonia, Cuba and Bangalore”
5. “Sorry, what do you mean by ‘tech stack?’”
6. My Neighbour does all our accounting
7. Raising $2mn. CEO takes a salary of $375k
8. I haven’t invested ca$h in the business, other than my time (Founder is wearing a Panerai watch)
9. Pre-revenue company founder has an email sign off with mobile phone contacts in 6 countries
10. We can’t meet without an NDA
Top 10 Positive actions & behaviours from start-up founders:
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1. The company requests investors to interview other C level positions
2. Founder proactively drops into the office when in the CBD
3. The company introduces other companies needing advice or capital
4. The CEO sends you a ticket to a conference
5. The company always follows up with an email after a meeting
6. Turning up on time to meetings
7. The Founder promotes others to talk in meetings
8. Management is willing to share equity with staff
9. The Founders care about business and the welfare, happiness of their colleagues
10. Management asks for help and advice, for good and bad things
