VOKA BRYO Keynote Speech

Filip Maertens www.filipmaertens.com STARTING UP SERIES Entrepreneurship in Europe [email protected]

So. You want to start up ?some final words for starting entrepreneurs

Filip Maertens www.filipmaertens.com BRYO Brussels [email protected]

Securax (1999)

Born 28/12/1978University drop-out (sort of)

Two modest exits, one failureLived in U.S., & Middle East

Passionate about technology!

• 1994: Selling “late night video bootlegs” at school• Parents cancelled Filmnet subscription

• 1994: Selling “software CD’s” at school• Apparently, that was illegal. Parents shut me down

• 1995: Had to set up Kreative VOF to sell hosting• Selling hardware and hosting. Friendly MBO in 2005.

• 1998: Set up Securax bvba• Acquired by Ernst & Young / eSO in 2000

• 2005: Bought shares in Uniskill nv• Resold profitable in MBO

• 2007: Bought shares in Attractel (+ VC funds)• Shut down due to trouble at the top

• 2009: VOIP Depot (angel investor)• 2006: Avydian Cyber Defense

• Tradesell to Videre Technologies (Singapore) in 2011• 2011: Argus Labs (ongoing…)


Warning: Bad reasons to do a start-up.

Money ? Get a real job.

Power ? Join the army.

Boredom ? Figure it out first.

Flex time ? LOL.


Some words of advice ?10 years in 10 topics


1 Your company must be your passion

Passion is the only force that will keep you going when the

going gets though.


2 Nobody cares about your idea.

Execution is the only key to success. Disciplined, brutal

and never stopping execution.


3 Find a real problem! And solve it!

Many people are simply in love with their idea and are a solution waiting for a problem


4 Product distribution and scalability !

Great products fail because founders have no idea how to

distribute or scale.


5 Be lean. Iterate fast !

Don’t wait for perfection. Break things and keep

moving!


6 Take on big problem, big market.

Pick a big and growing industry!


7 Failure can happen. Afraid ?

Running a start-up requires total commitment.

Be prepared to dine in hell.


8 VC’s? Get revenue!

Revenue is the cheapest money a company can buy


9 Focus. Focus. Focus.

Build one product really well and make money on one

revenue stream only


10 Be specific about what you do.

No buzzword lingo. Please. Convey a clear message

under one minute!


A guideline adlib

My company, __(insert name of company)__, is developing

__(a defined offering)__ to help __(a defined audience)__

__(solve a problem)__ with __(secret sauce)__.


My latest startup: Argus Labs ?Changing your smart-phone into a smart-agent

VOKA BRYO Keynote Speech

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