A VC in Vacationland

Looking for the perfect C-level executive for your startup?  Got some venture money in your pocket and have the urge to hire your new, full time leadership team.  WHOA!

I have seen too many mistakes by early stage entrepreneurs bringing in full time C-level leadership who turn out not to be the right match for the company. Why?  Startups by their very nature are evolving entities.  The guys that looked so good with the original business plan can turn out to be disasters as the company evolves and matures.

As a result, I am not a big fan of having too many full time C-level employees in early stage companies. Many tasks, such as financial management, marketing, HR and perhaps even the CEO, can probably be done by part time executives.  You do not need a lot of expensive overhead around while the product is being developed or in beta. 

Instead, check out sites such as www.interimceo.com to find local, successful, experienced C-level executives who  prefer to work less than five days per week. Network with other local entrepreneurs to see who they have used in the past to help develop marketing programs or manage HR a couple of days a week.  Create projects rather than positions to get specific work done, using local resources to accomplish these tasks.  Note: see my previous Blog on outsourcing to see other sources of part timers and consultants to compete for these projects.

Expensive C-level executives, fancy offices and iPhones will not necessarily win you a lot of customers.  Spend your precious money on customer acquisition, better products and competent employees to get stuff out the door.