March 6th
I need to decide what I am going to do with the CET challenge. The pressure is real, and the stakes are high.
I have an offer, and am moving to Seattle. I will start working in 7-14 days. At the same time, my team and I are selected to be finalists at the prestigious competition in one month, where we have a good shot at winning, and receiving funding. Also it's a big media event in the industry. I need to straighten my energy, and figure out how to navigate it. How to think about it.
My future boss, is okay with me traveling and working on my startup. He will be flexible with me traveling. The plan if we win the competition - 1) go talk to Archie and see if he wants to merge or acquire us. He is likely to like the idea. 2) go to Peter Scarpelli - decision maker at the largest REIT (my customer) and see what exactly we can build to get into his buildings fast.
Points that make me feel uncomfortable. 1) my main data science/algorithm guy left us. We will have to hire a new member, if we get funded. It is a problem, question is - talk about it at the competiton, or no? 2) Shaswhat, my co-founder is not convincing when he talks about the algorithm - and out technology. (because he is a software guy, not statistician) I received feedback, that you can see he is not convincing. Also, I understand that our current team is not ready to deliver the results in the next 6 months, if we won't get money. I don;t know how to communicate it. I don't know how to address these two points in the competition and in front of media.
Other uncomfortable points: 1) media- I don't know how to position myself, now when I am about to start a new job. At the same time, now is the time when we are getting a lot of media attention. And now is the time when I should be communicating with our advisers and supporters regarding our progress. This is the time I was dreaming of. 2) we made little progress in the last 3-4 months.
Scenarios: 1) I resign from CEO role. This choice makes me feel uncomfortable, because I feel as if betraying my team when they most need me. (my co-founders are not good at public speaking, and media communication); 2) stay and pitch, but undersell it, and get not too much media attention, don't put our company in the spotlight. Under-promiss, and over-deliver; (probably won't win with this strategy) 3) stay, and go full force, seize the moment, pitch and win/get funded, don't talk about weaknesses, just talk about strengths, and see what happens then (I don't know where to find energy for this).
Big questions: 1) have a plan for won/"received funding" scenario. 2) sort it out in my mind - a "glaring hole - left scientist" situation, and be clear about how you communicate it. 3) figure out media situation.
Stakeholders:
Ada - CEO (co-founder), 50% of the company
Shashwat - CTO (co-founder), 45% (bad at public speaking), masters engineering
Arturo - CIO, (co-founder)Comed, parttime, 5% (bad at public speaking), masters engineering management
Rose- CMO (new hire), no stock, salary (good at public speaking), MBA