David Cummings on Startups

Telling the Startup Story

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David Cummings

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By now, we’ve probably all heard the eBay story that the founder started it because he wanted a way to help his girlfriend find Pez dispensers online. Well, did you know that was made up? That’s right, those PR folks were looking for a good, memorable story and delivered. Politicians do it all the time.

I do believe it is important to have a story for your startup. Why was it founded? Why are you doing what you’re doing? Here are some points to consider:

  • Make it memorable
  • Keep it short
  • Practice it for consistency across co-founders
  • Include emotion and feeling in it

What’s your startup story?

Comments

4 responses to “Telling the Startup Story”

  1. Jamie Bardin Avatar
    Jamie Bardin

    The historian is an important role in any organization, especially in a start-up. Capturing the essence of the moment is critical and hard. Putting those initial ideas on paper, or memorializing them somehow is critical to relate to the team later. The counter to that is, the later folks may simply not care and you have to find a way to be OK with that. There is one mentality early on, another as the business scales, and yet another at exit or operating momentum.

    The story you tell is about the vision, the mission, the impetus to start the venture and it must be told with passion and consistency across the core team.

    My thoughts…cheers, J

    Reply
  2. davidcummings Avatar
    davidcummings

    Thanks Jamie. I agree that the historian is an important role. Keep the great comments coming.

    Reply
  3. John Melonakos Avatar
    John Melonakos

    I’d just add that you should figure out a way to spin something interesting out of truth, rather than base something that visible on an outright lie. And, while I’m on an ethics theme, that story about Facebook’s Mark Z. hacking competitor site’s accounts is downright ugly (if true). IMHO, ends don’t justify the means.

    Reply
    1. davidcummings Avatar
      davidcummings

      Thanks John. I agree that it should be memorable, and truthful.

      Reply

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