by Rob Weber | at Minnebar spring 2020 (canceled)
I will share key management lessons for anyone involved in the leadership of a high-growth startup, and take you through 3 practical exercises with the goal of improving your readiness to lead and manage a high-growth startup.
Topics Covered: Skills, Culture, and Coaching, with specific attention on Building a Company to Scale and The Importance of Creating a Silicon Valley Mindset.
3 Practical Exercises include: 1. Using an Onboarding Checklist to set-up your new hires for success 2. Using the 9-Box to coach and develop your team based on performance and potential 3. The Field Goal Post- a method for creating an organization which promotes managerial AND technical growth
These lessons come from my experience as a founder and operator, were refined in my experience as a mentor and investor, and distilled into talks I have given at various conferences around the country, including recently Revolution's Rise of the Rest annual conference.
I spent 15+ years bootstrapping a publishing and advertising technology company from 2000 to 2015 as founder and CEO. NativeX was headquartered in Minnesota, and had a significant operating office in San Francisco, plus remote workers around the world. It peaked at $70 million in revenue in 2012, with 175 employees. We had multiple exits, the last of which was in early 2016.
I've been a "super angel" in Minnesota and across the Upper Midwest, with 25 early-stage investments from 2005 to 2017. I am currently a founding partner at Great North Labs, which invests in early-stage startups throughout the Upper Midwest.
Rob Weber is Managing Partner of Great North Labs, an early stage venture fund focused on helping founders launch and scale companies in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest region of America. Prior to Great North Labs, Rob co-founded NativeX (formerly named W3i/Freeze.com) in 2000. Rob has been a successful entrepreneur since the age of 16 when he, along with his brothers, launched their first e-marketing business. By the age of 20 the Weber brothers had turned their basement endeavors into a multi-million dollar business, and Rob became CEO.
In 2006, Rob shared the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award with his twin brother, and business partner, Ryan Weber. Rob was also named to the 2007 Inc. 5,000 CEO’s Under 30 list.
Rob received his B.S. in Entrepreneurship from St. Cloud State University. Rob has been one of the most active regional angel investors since 2005 when he co-founded the 32 Degrees angel fund. Rob previously served on the Board of Directors for Minne*, the 20,000+ member community of Minnesota tech enthusiasts.
