How to Manage Lifestyle Change Becoming an Entrepreneur - Dan Street

In Chapter 2 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street shares what getting easier and harder as he builds his company Loku. He focuses on some of the lifestyle challenges that accompany starting a company. This includes finding time for social activity, eating healthy, getting exercise, and perhaps most importantly setting expectations with friends and family. Street is the founder and CEO of Loku, previously known as Borrowed Sugar, which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

Why Entrepreneurs Need Great Cheerleaders - Dan Street

In Chapter 3 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street shares why entrepreneurs need great cheerleaders. He notes entrepreneurship is a perception game. To gain confidence and build that positive perception, Street finds value in both internal company support networks as well as outsider support networks. By being transparent and showing his flaws, the insider and outsider "cheerleaders" find more ways to support him. Street is the founder and CEO of Loku, previously named Borrowed Sugar, which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

Why Patience is Important to Startup Success - Dan Street

In Chapter 4 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street shares why patience is important when measuring success. Street discounts myths that startups become billion dollar companies overnight. He believes patience is about sticking to your vision, developing ideas over time, and finding support to help execute that vision. Street is the founder and CEO of Austin, Texas based Loku, previously named Borrowed Sugar, which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

How to Recruit Talent Based on Vision - Dan Street

In Chapter 5 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street shares how hiring is the most uncomfortable part of starting a company. Street struggles to recruit others based on his vision instead of what he can pay today. He shares how he balances an iterative process shaping his vision with conveying that vision to others in both recruiting and team leadership. Street is the founder and CEO of Loku (previously named Borrowed Sugar) which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

Why to Bootstrap Finance a Startup - Dan Street

In Chapter 6 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street tells host Erik Michielsen why bootstrap financing his company helped position it for growth. Bootstrapping gives his company Borrowed Sugar direction, employees and market fit. Bootstrapping forces the company to attract employees motivated by vision, culture and problem solving rather than money. Additionally the bootstrap approach helps the company focus its product development. Street is the founder and CEO of Loku (previously named Borrowed Sugar) which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

How to Hire Top Software Engineers Outside Silicon Valley - Dan Street

In Chapter 7 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street shares how he has been able to find and hire top quality software engineers outside Silicon Valley. He identifies engineering talent coming out of the University of Texas computer science honors program. By sharing a vision that resonates with young tech talent and being in a great city outside Silicon Valley, Street finds he is able to compete for talent that would typically go to big Silicon Valley firms such as Google, Facebook, or Netflix. Street is the founder and CEO of Loku (previously named Borrowed Sugar) which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

When to Be a Less Controlling Manager - Dan Street

In Chapter 8 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street shares how he has adapted his management style to be less controlling. A self proclaimed "control freak", Street learns the amount of control varies between working on later stage and early stage companies. Working in private equity, Street works with later stage firms where control is welcome. As a startup entrepreneur with Borrowed Sugar, Street learns to be less controlling and call on team members to help him through the transition. Street is the founder and CEO of Loku (previously named Borrowed Sugar) which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

When to Stop Bootstrapping and Raise Convertible Debt - Dan Street

In Chapter 9 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street shares his excitement about raising a $600K convertible debt financing round for his business after funding the business by bootstrapping. Seeing a need to grow and compensate staff, he decides to raise outside capital after building a team up to eight people. Street reflects that bootstrapping was appropriate given his situation, and that it was a fundamental enabler in developing his vision for Loku. Street is the founder and CEO of Loku (previously named Borrowed Sugar) which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

When is Convertible Debt Preferable to Equity Financing a Startup - Dan Street

In Chapter 10 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street shares why he chose to raise convertible debt financing over equity. He shares the pros and cons of each. Convertible debt benefits include structure flexibility and faster time to close. Convertible debt does not provide investor assurance they will own a piece of the company. Street notes the next time he approaches fundraising he would be more open going the equity route. Street is the founder and CEO of Loku (previously named Borrowed Sugar) which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

How to Evaluate Potential Internet and Software Investors - Dan Street

In Chapter 11 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street shares how he evaluated potential investors. First, Street wanted investors passionate about his company mission. Second, he prioritized investors with consumer Internet and software businesses. Third, Street notes the investors had to come via trusted network connections. He shares how different type of investors asked different questions. From beginning of raise until end of raise, the process took six months, with two weeks to close on term sheet details. Street is the founder and CEO of Loku (previously named Borrowed Sugar) which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

How Full Time Commitment to Startup Evolves Ambition - Dan Street

In Chapter 12 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street shares how stopping bootstrapping and committing full-time to his company changed his ambition. The shift allows him to focus less on checklists and more on holistic company aspirations. He broadens the business model to encompass local school relationships that complement efforts at the community and neighborhood level. Street is the founder and CEO of Loku (previously named Borrowed Sugar) which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

What Makes Failures Great Learning Experiences - Dan Street

In Chapter 13 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street shares why failures are more meaningful learning experiences than successes. He notes that when you get something wrong and you set up an experiment the right way, you can identify the root cause why it went wrong. He shares how failure has taught him to identify root causes that, when corrected or modified, improve his startup direct mail marketing. Street is the founder and CEO of Loku (previously named Borrowed Sugar) which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

How to Improve Local Communities and Neighborhoods - Dan Street

In Chapter 14 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street shares ways communities and neighborhoods can improve. He cites the need for local activists, local news reporting and knowledge sharing, and local prioritization. He notes cultural challenges that often direct support to large issues abroad, such as Japan's Tsunami, reporting infrastructure challenges, and limitations of having outsiders report on insider stories. Street is the founder and CEO Loku (previously named Borrowed Sugar) which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

What Role Does Emotion Play in Future Internet Design - Dan Street

In Chapter 15 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street shares how making emotional connections online has been difficult and how solving this represents a next major phase of Internet design. As traditional media evolved from transactional to emotional, Street sees the Internet moving from Google-based transaction to more human or emotional connected experiences. Street is the founder and CEO Loku (previously named Borrowed Sugar) which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

How Private Equity and Management Consulting Prepare Startup CEO - Dan Street

In Chapter 16 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder Dan Street shares how private equity finance and management consulting experiences prepare him to start an Internet software company. Through M&A private equity deals and consulting for Internet software companies, Street learns about the emotional connections that come with founding a company as well as how to run an Internet business. Street is the founder and CEO of Loku (previously named Borrowed Sugar) which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

How to Recruit a Technical Co-Founder - Dan Street

In Chapter 17 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street highlights how he selected his technical co-founder, Shea Sullivan. He found Shea a great complement skill-wise. Street offers three criteria to selecting a good technical co-founder. First, Street believes a technical co-founder should provide both complementary skills and the way you think. Second, believes trust is fundamental to choosing a technical co-founder. Third, he believes mutual commitment is fundamental. Through the startup process, Street learns that he and Sullivan should have considered adding a third person who had venture capital fundraising experience. Street is the founder and CEO of Loku (previously named Borrowed Sugar) which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

How Startup Attracts Top Software Executive Talent - Dan Street

In Chapter 18 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street shares what he is learning about building a software company. The attention to detail and release cycle challenges push Street to seek experienced senior level talent. He finds a veteran software executive who joins via a contract relationship. Over time, the executive becomes CTO, citing how the company team, purpose, and business model align with his life, goals, and experience. Street is the founder and CEO of Loku (previously named Borrowed Sugar) which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

How to Improve Consumer Internet Product Design - Dan Street

In Chapter 19 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street shares what he is learning about building great consumer internet products. Street first focuses on the hardest part - understanding what problem he is trying to solve. Second, after understanding the problem, he tries to simplify how users engage the product. Street is the founder and CEO of Loku (previously named Borrowed Sugar) which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.