A Series of Irrational Acts - Lessons Learned from Three Silicon Valley Startups

by Alex Bangs | at Minnebar 16 | 3:45 – 4:30 in Minnetonka | View Schedule

Joining a startup is in many ways an irrational act - and yet it can be a very rewarding experience. Alex Bangs has been a founder and CTO/CIO across three Silicon Valley startups. In this session, he’ll discuss lessons learned from the rollercoaster ride of creating and growing startups, and tips for people who are thinking of joining or founding a startup. Topics will include venture funding and burn rates, timing and luck, nurturing a mission-driven culture, learning and the pit of success, scaling yourself, having a life, and engaging with the community.

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Alex Bangs

Alex Bangs recently moved to the Twin Cities after spending over two decades in Silicon Valley. He has been a company founder, and the CTO/CIO for three startups involved in life sciences and healthcare. He has developed systems including a simulation platform for pharmaceutical R&D, an analytics platform for healthcare providers, an app for people living with rheumatoid arthritis, and a data science and modeling organization focused on fighting infectious disease. Before getting into healthcare, he developed software for analytical decision making and robotics, including the world’s first robot bartender. He is currently the Chief Information Officer at Vir Biotechnology and an advisor to multiple startups.