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Outcome By Design

Outcome By Design

Written by: Paul V Weinstein
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About this listen

 Outcome By Design is a series about the untold stories of the tech world, where we unwind the hows and whys of acquisitions, partnerships, and investments in Silicon Valley and beyond.

In each episode, you’ll have a coveted front-row seat to conversations that happened in the boardroom, the hallways, and ultimately in the minds of founders, CEOs, and investors who navigated the twists and turns that led to their ultimate outcome.

We’ll uncover hidden motivations, personalities, and the psychology that underpin the economics and technology behind these results- because it is not simply the numbers driving these decisions. It's much more.Paul V Weinstein Economics Personal Finance
Episodes
  • Learning to Be a Rookie: Insights from LoanSnap CEO, Karl Jacob

    Learning to Be a Rookie: Insights from LoanSnap CEO, Karl Jacob
    Jun 12 2023
    In this episode of "Outcome by Design," I was joined by Karl Jacob, the CEO of LoanSnap and a serial entrepreneur. Karl has some sound advice for entrepreneurs, serial and first-timers:

    • Because every startup is a snowflake, Karl advises serial entrepreneurs to be aware of what they know and don’t know based on experience. Bring a "beginner's mind to each new company," regardless of whether this is your first or fifth startup. Embrace your inner rookie, and stay curious!
    • With a quote from the movie “Top Gun, ” Karl also reminds us that control is an illusion. And instead of clinging to a failed idea, recognize it, fail gracefully, roll with the punches, and use your experience to recover from failure faster.
    • And, of the mythical viral growth loop, true virality is when the use of the product is sharing with others – and if it’s viral, you could turn off marketing and still grow. Viral growth loops are indeed “rare birds.”
    • Karl advises entrepreneurs that “you’ll have more ideas,” so don’t be afraid to sell, merge or move on from your startup. Consider the trade-offs carefully, including the burden of further investment vs. selling and the impact on your employees, partners, and investors.
    • Karl’s #1 rule is to reach profitability as fast as possible. You’ll have more options at a higher valuation.
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    37 mins
  • From Facebook to Philo: Andrew McCollum's Reverse Hero's Journey

    From Facebook to Philo: Andrew McCollum's Reverse Hero's Journey
    May 29 2023
    In this episode of Outcome by Design, Paul Weinstein interviews Andrew McCollum, CEO of Philo and one of the founders of Facebook. In contrast to the usual hero's journey where the protagonist struggles against seemingly insurmountable odds only to triumph in the end, in Andrew's case, the success came first with the enormous success of Facebook when he was still in college, and the struggle later, in his post-Facebook entrepreneurial life. Andrew reflects on which lessons learned from Facebook held true for Philo and which didn't and the importance of keeping a "beginner's mind." They also speak about the pressure to grow quickly and the expectations that come with early success.
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    38 mins
  • Acquisitions, Partnerships and Money: with LinkedIn’s Ben Orthlieb

    Acquisitions, Partnerships and Money: with LinkedIn’s Ben Orthlieb
    May 8 2023
    In this episode, Paul dives deep into the world of high-stakes acquisitions with Ben Orthlieb, LinkedIn’s VP of Corporate Development. They discuss the stages of an acquisition, including how M&A targets are identified, the stakeholders involved, and how a buyer gets to a number to put on a term sheet.. Ben also shares insights into the motivations of the key personnel involved in different types of acquisitions and strategies for getting on the radar of big players. If you’re a startup founder, this episode is packed with a ton of valuable information on the nuances of how big companies think and how to use that to your advantage.
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    38 mins
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