TVS 054 – Finance to Startups and Entrepreneurship (Head of Expa Labs – Eric Friedman)
Listen now
Description
Today’s episode is with Eric Friedman, who is the head of Expa Labs, as six-month incubator for early-stage startups. This interview is one of the most informative and immediately applicable if you are interested in technology and / or pursuing entrepreneurship coming from a finance background. We dive into some great topics like the 1%, 9%, and 90% rule, how putting your own content out there is so critical, and why startups should not be over-glamorized like they have been in the media. I found this episode extremely rewarding, and the first 16 minutes dive into Eric’s background, and afterwards we dive into the meat of the episode. I hope that you all enjoy listening as much as I did recording! * How did you first get started in entrepreneurship and interested in technology? * How did you first get your job at union square ventures and what led you to work at Four Square? * What does a  Business Development even mean at a company like Four Square? * What were some of the key takeaways that you had after working at Four Square for 6 years? * Why startups are not for everyone (16:30) *  What are your thoughts on non-technical candidates pursuing entrepreneurship / startups and an emphasis on finance candidates specifically? * Why it’s important to ask “what happens here on Tuesday at 2pm?” *   Instead of emailing a cover letter and resume to a startup CEO, maybe send them 3 things they could do * Why applying to a startup is effectively the opposite of applying to an investment bank / consultancy. * In what areas do you see finance candidate skill sets best applied in a startup environment? * Are there tests or ways to see if a finance candidate would succeed in a startup? * The 1% rule, 9% rule, and 90% rule – the challenge to publish * When you mention the name of the people at the company, since everyone has google alerts, they will read it! * How people can get over imposter syndrome when publishing content * Thoughts on transitioning straight into technology / entrepreneurship versus pursuing an MBA first *  Three reasons to go to business school: Network, Direction, Education * Why there is so much turnover for millennials and in early-stage startups? * What is your last piece of advice for my listeners? As always, please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions. Email me directly at alan@the vampiresquid.com or on the contact form. Also, please subscribe to my facebook page for live updates facebook.com/thevampiresquid. Also follow me on Quora at https://www.quora.com/profile/Alan-Li-1. To support us check us out at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thevampiresquid
More Episodes
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! I just got back from a wonderful trip to Japan and Taiwan, extremely jetlagged, as it’s 5am currently in New York. Alas, as this podcast episode name sounds, I am putting the podcast on an indefinite pause due to a combination of work, learning, and side...
Published 01/02/18
Published 01/02/18
Welcome to Episode 56 of The Vampire Squid! Today we have on Bethy Hardeman, Chief Consumer Advocate, at Credit Karma! I wish I had taken a personal finance course in high school / college so I would have a better understanding of why a credit score is important, and the levers that I could pull...
Published 11/07/17