VC as Motiviating Coach: GO FOR IT! Vyond a Finalist for Start-Up of the Year

One of the most important characteristics of a successful start-up CEO is the ability to inspire his team, much like the team captain in many sports. But who motivates the motivator? The coach. A successful coach can empower the CEO, inspiring her to be a better captain. A good coach  does not try to replace the team captain, but helps keep her spirits up, pushing her to reach deep down and lead the team as best she can--and sometimes to go beyond what she thinks possible, "winning against the odds."

In my short career as VC, I have found that  my best moments are when I inspire (OK, sometimes more like nudge....) my CEOs to be the best they can be, and more.

To jump into start-up life is not easy--and to be the CEO of an early stage start-up is probably the most stressful position in business life.  VCs, I believe, need to provide  a good  support system,  that sometimes reminds the CEO how much  she should believe in herself -- to  Go For It!

I experience this almost every day, but one pleasant example: TheMarker, Israel's leading business publication, together with Microsoft, are running the annual Most Promising Internet Start-Up (in Israel)competition. With the deadline approaching, I coached/nudged Adi Ashkenazy, CEO of our portfolio company Vyond to enter the competition. Adi, like all start-up CEOs, is juggling many things, under all kinds of pressure...and did not at all think Vyond would win...I coached him through it, reminded him just how cool our product is, and he got the application in. I am proud to say Vyond is one of the three finalists (chosen from hundreds of start-ups), with the overall winner to be chosen/announced at TheMarker annual conference on Sunday. I will be there, very proud of Vyond whether we come in first or not.