Summary:
Sean Parker
- Build personal network early
- Able to predict future = spend years looking for BIG, universal problems
- Focus on problem selection, not rush out an innovation no one wants
- Transform FB side project to real company.
- Design is as vital as engineering — make continuous flow of task in app
- Helped with corporate strategy, financing, dilution, hiring
Drew Houston—Dropbox
- Reverse engineer file system
- 96% freemium users but hit $50 million in revenue, grossed 3x more per employee
- Robust economic model: free users upselll to more storage
Kevin — Instagram
- Habit of building things. Skill of creating based on any idea
- Prioritized features: photo-only, mobile-first. Less social, commenting feature.
- Test the water with cofounder, work together on after work & every weekends
- Early adopters are tech influencers/VC in SV
- Aha feature: Vintage photo filter