Here is a picture of a real entreprenuerial hero.

Sales Is The Best Funding

Yesterday I tried to tell a crowd of very hungry entrepreneurs that they should go and sell stuff – and not hunt Venture Capital.. Jacob Wolff-Petersen – one of my best friends – he used 10years to build SteelSeries with +50mio€ in revenue – without taking in 1€ in VC money… beat that.

9 MONTHS IN THE LAB

9 months ago I went away from 100% focus on EVRBREAD and TRADESHIFT – they are simply mature – and dont need my pedantic focus anymore (now Im  down to 20h pr week – due to amassing boards & staff in both startups).

I WANT TO CREATE STUFF

So I have been sitting on my top floor for 9 months straight – inventing about 15 new business from scratch (me + my mac + keynote). From Fashion to Payments and POS over Insurance to Wifi products – I have been bouncing ideeas with all my friends (mostly Filip) – testing on investors. I have been 100% dedicated to “sampling” ideas on top of existing technologies – with a touch of social graph (this means Facebook to me). Every project has been tested on people with world class knowledge and dedication – and lots of them are killer & cool. But very few has been good enough to actually attract a Jockey – and all of the ideas have been trough a 3rd and 4th and 5th round of iterations. Ideas are simply nothing – they need oxygen and top top people to kick then in their balls.

INPUT = OUTPUT

After testing a lot – I have been so endlessly fortunate – to attract 25 people who are all working like ants (most of them in highly paid and influencial jobs – working under cover). The rules are simple – everyone have to work 2 months for free – and show the stamina and dedication. Unlike when I was rich – and just blew my money on small ideas and had small ownership. With O Koo and Alex as blood partners – we are creating what I think is the right way of building valuable and profitable disruptive businesses – 100% controle and very majority ownership (mentally and equity).

Today  we are slowly starting to show the world a fling of whats comming out – at www.onlyXO.com (still beta).

HAVING FUN

We will want to have lots of fun at onlyXO – but profit is more important (we have taken a couple of high level investors into out Singapore outfit – from where O Koo will run the show and I will slowly move there)… And just for the record  - Im never ever going to to bankrupt again – it probably looks pretty heroic from the outside – but it sucks harder then you can ever imagine and it takes nerves of titan fiber (checkmark). But then again – if it doesnt kills you… and the optimism is cronic – and damn I feel alive.

Dear Entrepreneurs

The reason that very few people do (and should do) startups – is the insanity when all part are moving 360 / 365… – you simply need to be 1000% impatient while pretending to have a clear strategy – pitching Clients and VCs and New Hires (always 5min from closing down or selling the company for 10bio€) – you have to follow every lead to success. And you never know if the promise – you have from “The Visionary”, “The founder” or “The CTO” is actually true – nor if its mixed in the right way for the market to understand it. Will the world use it – will the clients buy? And as one of the smartest and “the best tech investor in the world” – ( http://bhorowitz.com/ – YOU MUST read every single of his words 2-3 times) - its all about iterations and innovation. And when it comes from Ben – its not just haleluja innovation – it’s about making software solutions that makes sense and can sell.

The Tradeshift

While helping to start Tradeshift from my basement in Copenhagen (no shit) – to now being HQ’ed in Silicon Valley – I have been (am) in the center of a storm – or let me use Ben H & Carl Max’s phrase: The Struggle. And wow – its hard – wow – it takes a lot of interations from the first idea -until the product that suddenly sells and get the exspected uptake.

The Jockey (A Role Model)

With the Jockey I mean : The guy running a startup – the guy/girl who runs a startup (founder(s)/CEO).Off course important its the Key. Goes without saying. And my partner, backer and one of my closest friends – Morten Søndergaard – has been babbling about “The Joskey” – since I met him. Until my bankruptcy – I was always a little less focused on “The Joskey” then the “Idea/Concept” – and that has probably been my main mistake. But since Im way better at Ideas/Concepts and Sparring as a Chairmain – it’s more now obvious then ever that “The Jockey” is everything. The focus and the 24/7 focus on the company – it whats brings the succes. Off course also realizing that conceptualizing and directing – has nothing to do with running a business. In Tradeshift I must say that Mr Lanng has impressed me – more then anyone else.

The Starts and The Moon = The Mix of People

When I talk about luck – it has nothing to do with lotteri in the pure form. I take it for granted that everyone put in ALL THEIR AWAKE HOURS INTO THE STARTUP. But the mix of people who kick of something is off course EVERYTHING. Mostly because software is now easier then ever to launch globally Thanx to the Browser and Amazon – but at the same time its also 100x more complex to find the right balance between perfect and beta… And this is where the mix of people becomes EVERYTHING – and The Jockey really must show strength. Again I have to tip my hat for Mr. Lanng – specially due to crazy deals (I cant talk about) happening in Tradeshift – RIGHT NOW.

Here is what the researchers says about Tradeshift. Business owner – GET ON Tradeshift NOW.

…

Just The Beginning Nothing To Celebrate

Now – some would sit down and celebrate – but at Tradeshift the team seems pumped up and ready to really get started with the effort of building a billion $ company that makes sense. go Go GO… The Press and The Analysts are super important – but its only words – not ORDERS.

23.55

Being in the startup scene – is living with a clock permanently on 23.55 trying to score Cinderella. Only the most agressive, funny and smart (and attractive) guys have a chance.

The Tune

After having stared more then 100 companies – I feel that Im starting to find the right melody – or lets call it tune. (And remember that Im just the musician* – Josephine is my Cinderella – I over scored massively). And the people I have on my dance floor are absolute superstarts. And compared to when I was loaded – its much more fun and much more honest. Everyone knows that I cant pay – so the people who show up (and STAY) – are all 100% focused on performing.

90% of Succes Is: Showing Up

Of course you cannot learn those breakdance moves that will make Cindarella (the market) pick you – in a snap. And therefor its really interesting to grow older. Mostly because my network get older – and more exspirienced. Im a full believer in most of what Malcolm Gladwell preaches in Outliers: 10.000h is minimum needed to be word class at anything (sports, music…). And in maybe you need to put in even more hours if you want to be the winner in online/social business (overnight succes takes about 5years).

I.e. my close friend Chris Bouwer - has the most aggressive – at any dancefloor (litteraly) for the last 20years. He is just allways there – and no fucking wonder he is the most succesfull salesguy in payments in Europe. The guy works harder then the rest. And is a pretty good dancer.. :)

Having A Unique Move

We all know that Cinderella needs an original and innovative pitch - since everyone will give it a try. But since that time is short (about 4.59) one have to be able to have something to say that is understandable. The Samwer Brothers seems to have refined that – by simply admitting to copy – and dont ditch that to hard. We are all using whats out there – and every big artist in every century – has been painting just like his friends. But the most succesfull one’s managed to EXECUTE: get in front of Cinderella and deliver.

The Dress/DNA

Without going into any racial or gender discussion - since that makes no sence AT ALL. It’s obvious that some people just has it – they know by instinct how to dress mentally – for other Cinderella to be interested… To mee it looks like curiosity is very important – mixed with extreme stamina and persistance. And right now I have chosen 18 people whom I believe in – to nail the Cinderella of their sector – I have to mention:
Kim at InsuranceXO - redefining insurance
Ken at posXO – doing a massive take on how we will shop
Claus at payXO – making it easy to accept creditcards without being ripped of…

You Can Do It

Is what I really want to say … just keep trying. Smile and Think positive and dont take No for an answer. And it will all work out.

*I feel like Bob Geldorf – defenetly not the best musician – but I know the right people ;) (thanx to @MikThoboCarlsen for that one).

Darn – Im building something larger then I ever did. Its killing my brain to get into 360 of banking.

Democratizing Money

Creating Peoples Bank with a purpose

A Bank where real people like you and me can do our daily banking and paying online. And bank where we will say THANK YOU for using us – what can we do for you? Did you ever hear that in your bank – or in any bank?

Mixing that with Payments

and making it easy to accept payments online – if you have a small online shop – and your father is not owning a Fortunes500 company.

Fixing the small dying retail stores

to integrate online with offline – and most importantly help the little storeowner to file all the millions of taxes and VAT and crap… And let him/her know how the business is doing – live – not waiting for a half drunk accountant to type in last quarters invoices…

Fixing the problem of invoicing

- remember that if you do a freelance task for a big client – lets say Nike or EON – then you will not get paid unitl 90 days later. YOU WILL end up BEING THE BANK for Nike and EON – the world largest companies (and governments) – are using the so called “financial crisis” to squese the shit out of all the small supliers. (Spend 5min on tradeshift.com – and see how easy it can be done – new cool features are released today). The aveage time it take for big companies and governments – to pay an invoice is up from 14 days in 2002 to 60 days in 2012 – NOW WHO IS SUFFERING? Small business owners and Entrepreneurs.

Rethinking Insurance – now that we are at it.

Its absolutely absurd – the way insurance works. I cant get hold of my insurance company for 11months a year – specially if I need them. But the call my on time to get my payments… Weird. Warren Buffet never misses a chance to admit that his wealth is mainly generated from his early insurance investments. But it’s wrong – no one is using BIG DATA and online as sales channel – its all like 1980′ies.

Unstructured Note to entrepreneurs

and people who believe they can change the world vith ideas and hard work.

Building a Bank – Payments – Invoicing – Insurance – Financing  Is crazy!! No one believes that its possible – and I have 80+ people running around the world executing…. But I have a warning to all entreprenuers (specially in Europe). Please remember to use other companies (startups) web services. I see a clear trend in American startups being way better at leveraging ecothers API and Services (learning from Josh Rockoff). And I think its the only way to keep up the speed. BUT – it requires ONE DARN BIG KAHUNA of a CTO – since the chance of a big ball of APIspagetti explodes. You simple need brain power and focus. (Nothing new).

But I really want to stress the importance of sharing ideas. Lately I have meet to many people who have pretty good ideas – but wont tell them to the public. (Now thats 99% of the time stupid). All ideas need oxygen – and lots of it. 99% of all ideas are first of all crab – and need 3-10 x reshaping.

Pitching

Pitching your idea – makes it become real. So keep on until people start actually listening more then 15 sec – and give the blank stare. Be able to explain it to a medium succes full person over 45.

Boil it down and split it up

Keep boiling down your ideas. Dont panic and write them down – wait until they coma 2-3 times – and then start pitching to your partners and savy business friends.

Be Prepared To Be Looking Like an Idiot

Doing things different – from school to adult life – will make a lot of people laugh at you. Get used to it – or get a job in an old bank … :)

LONG LIVE the Tradeshift founders and my financial backer Mr. Sondergaard – they believed me when I lost my money. Now I hope I wont loose my mind ;)

Changing The World

Its so easy to be foolished by flatter – but its also fuel – when you are doing something never did before… Im in the center of a storm – created by .. MYSELF. Wow – it feel’s good. It’s fairly simple – just use your full energy and your voice – and migic will happen. Its simple… Social media actually connects everyone with acces to a IP device… And the despite all the finacially savvy idiots – now ditching Facebook – THE WORLD HAS CHANGED A BIT. Facebook is the social glue – that will make it harder to cheat and fuck over your best friends.. Mostly because you wil be exposed and no one can live without a pretty clean Facebook presence.

For Analysts Everything Is Short Term

I want to celebrate The Founders of Facebook – I want tell You : do not to believe in the rules. ITS SO IMPORTANT that we challenge the rules – everyday. And the biggest of all rulebreakers has proven to be Mr. Zuckerberg. He runs Facebook with a teenagers drive and a very old mans intellect – despite  whatever you might read. Facebook would have been dead if they would ever have involved someone from the old world. They would have forced Zuckerberg to spray Facebook with old school TV ads – and kill the user exspirirence.. SPAMMED. It would take just about 10 lines of code. But off off course the financial markets have to run like they have always done – looking (starring) at quaterly numbers. And thats good if you run a highly competitive business producing woods or winegums – and your biggest problem is bored employees and internal fraud.

The Long Term Lenses

But when you are the market leader – without competition – then its all about vision. And I can’t celebrate the longterm vision of Facebook hard enough!! I would go (40% of my fortune) short on all media agencies in the world (OMD =OMG)- and buy heavy (40%) up into Facebook stock – and then put 20% in social media management platforms.

What the crab are you babling about:
Well – media brokering is like banking – it’s oldschool and ads no real value – therefor the media agencies have nothing to to in their existing shape – it’s bullshit to use TV/Print without response tracking and understanding “what your users talk about”. But its cranky complicated to actually do it. But when you can use social advertising – everthing else is lame. And since we have now seen that Facebook is longterm – and not selling out to rules of quaterly sub optimising – then we only need tools  like Buddy Media and Falcon Social (to mention 2) to get 100x performance on advertising. But in reality most CMO’s are not smart enough to actually dive into this.

Advertising, post Facebook

Lets admit it. Business is all about advertsing your product – and it would be great for Unilever and Nestle – and specially their marketing people – if they could just keep on beying TV campaigns. But its over – the change is now – the next generation will not do or buy anything without involving social media – checking in, uploading a picture or posting a status. And the same goes for brands and goods – of whatever kind. The internet brought transparrency – no one can hide . And Facebook (twitter and Weibo (the Chinese twitter with more users then twitter and a better userinterface)) – is with us – in our pocket 24/7 – and we use it. The new winners will be the next generation of advertisers – who are 100% data driven and messures the crab out of everything online – AND who are all about supporting their users – live… It sound insanely simple – and it is – but not easy.

A New Agency

Im investing my time – to build a viral service agency. Balder Olrik & Mr Moseholms initial idea of GoViral – was never executed as it should have been. Because the timing was wrong – Jimmy (and Thomas) just did a miracle by turning into something the old world understood (advanced TV buying). Im helping to create SMACKviral (with some pretty good dudes and duderinas) - an agency to create vibrant Facebook streams – simple.

Always do stuff only when you really understand it – or really have the need… Im building a bank + insurance company + a cellphone company + a payment company + an light ERP company = all in one. And  to succeed we need lots of attention = To get attention we need to be more active on Facebook then anyone else = and show the users that we mean it – and that we are longterm. Otherwise no one will trust us with their money + insurance + cellphone subscription.

SMACKviral will create 2-3 content pieces pr day (crazy shit like Dog biting penis..) – so that I (as a business owner) can choose what I want to publish in my Facebook stream. Now that what every boring company (specilly banks) needs – and  this is kicking of next week.

Stay tuned.

PS. I would have mentioned Mr Lanng from Tradeshift – next to Facebook – but even with my shameless instinct of promoting my own stuff – I could not. Tradeshift is Facebook for business – whenever we get the full product launched – but we are not there yet…

PPS. To all the negative bablers out there – who  think they understand Facebook because its now public – lets see the stock in 6months :). And to all of you who own the stock – just stay LONG – Facebook will create insane profit and even do really crazy stuff in China – just wait and wait an wait – and see. The shit is looongterm.

I have lend the blog to a young mann who is the first of 10 guys I have meet in Copenhagen with a pretty cool new religion. This is pretty crazy shit – I have no idea what it means – is it socialism or brainism or just pure logic sense – to adjust your lifestyle to your real dreams – and not be polluted by materialism? Let me note the only SURE TRUTH about startups I learned (from my friend Stephan Ekbergh): “The only thing that can kill a  startup – is running out of cash!”. END.

Aron Allen has the word:

My monthly expenses are as follows:

Aron

You Better Love Change

Im pretty very sure that every single consumer FACING BUSINESS will change. And Im sure that it will happen faster then we can imagine – since the way people behave has changed 100%. Im impressed to see Facebook buying Instagram – and hammering a last seam in Kodak’s coffin.

What Does It Take

Look at hero #1 – Steve Jobs – watch some of his early videos. This guy was never a techie – for real – he was a visionary – who had no problem communicating to both Sales People and Techies. His partner in Apple – W – had a whole blueprint of a motherboard in his head – and he only had one shot at getting it produced. (Mistakes where not an option) – and remember all the crappy electronics we have today are less complicated – then what W had in his head…

The interesting thing is – that we need The SELFCONFIDENT EGO – who has the vision – to actually stand out and stand up – and SELL. THATs THE ONLY WAY FOR PROFIT WILL ARRIVE ONE DAY.

But we also need a Techie – who can understand business and technology and who can bridge all of it – and even do it structured so  that the future is not spagetti code..

Q & A

I got this question from an entreprenuers in spe:

So My Answer Is: NO WAY

 You need to fully understand all sides of the business – specially the tech part. And if you dont have a early partner who is a techie – failure rate is to high. I have to ad that – a CFO or a friend with Legal or Financial background will also bee needed… (And a lot more).

PS. Im talking about building  +$100mio companies. If you wanna sell ads and hustle a bit – by buying the cheaper then selling them – you dont need anything: Just a whitelabel platform and a hypersmootth sales team. (Remember thats how I  started – with Jimmy, Lars and Henrik – in NeatWork ;) – NOTE TO SELF: crap name – do not repeat.

(mostly interesting for Danish & EU citizens )

You can easily be very rich

Very rich – but not have a penny (in cash)…. Im in that situation – but don’t worry about me. Worry about your local society – your country
In Denmark is have seen the most insane example – and I have to say that I have very little hope for democrazy when the people who wants to spend there seems to be lame….

Stupid Fuck Up With Good Intentions

How did ATP (one of the largest pension funds in EU) and PFA (also pension fund) end up turning FIH Erhvervsbank (our only agressive commercial bank – or should I say: The only hope for any growth in GDP) – into a financial disaster when the business case made so much sense?

Entrepreneurs Needs Banks

Specially real entrepreneurs who made revenue and have to finance growth:) – But remember that funding is crucial to banks especially when having a deposit deficit. To get this banks needs a good credit rating which it the case for most major Danish banks. Small banks typically have lower ratings but this is not a big problem as these banks are primary funded via deposits.

This was where FIH was failing a year ago when ATP and PFA took over – lead by the absolute smartest guy I know living in Denmark: Mr Graven (clunky name :). FIH had a major deposit deficit (read not any significant deposits at all) and one of the worst ratings in the Danish banking sector at all. Therefore the bank had no chance of paying back the loans provided by the government. (Thank you Lille Lars & Helle).

Really Responsible People

Then ATP (the motherfu… large pension fund) comes in to the picture as one of the strongest financial institutions in Denmark. They took over FIH, put my hero, Bjarne Graven in to run it and the business case was crystal clear. Sudenly I had a little hope for the furture. Backed by ATP – the FIH would improve its credit rating – giving access to funding and the bank would be back in business. Who would it benefit? Investors in ATP (mening literally everyone in the country) and the entreprenuers and corporates lending money from FIH, which again has a positive spin off effect on the Danish society. That makes sense! I was so happy and proud to see that NOT ONLY DOES ATP – make one of the best returns in the world – they are also taking care of the business climate – despite a 3 year long winther. And Mr Graven – could prob have gone to any international bank and gotten 8-10mio€ a year – but he did a noble choice (prob because the wife and the kids didn’t like to move to NYC/London/Sing)

Then Someone Fucked Up

But what happened? FIH did not get the rating lift and ended up reducing corporate lending in such a brutal way that the Danish government now has intervened to make sure that FIH does not put Danish corporates out of business. That is crazy. What appeared to be a win for everyone (except the other banks fearing the competition) has ended up being a disaster and the government is now paying. Why did this happen – how could the politcal system lets this happen – while picking up the check from a endless number of banks going bust. why Why WHY – when we need it. Someone has to go in here and get it right. Our former primeminister – and a very smart mann (who unfortunately went on an insane crusade against capital fund structures)   – Mr Nyrup should put on his biking hhelmet – and start the bike now!!!

The question is why?

My guess is that once again the Danish financial legislation and bureaucracy shows its ugly face and kills a good initiate and destroys value for everyone! Cooooome on – The result is that ATP has not been able to give FIH the financial backing need for improving the credit rating.

It is time for a change even though I find it hard to see who will drive this!? Could we please redirect the outsourcing from the frozen cartoon figures in EU – to my friends and partners in Singapore?

NOTE TO SELF: Im writing  all this boring stuff - because  Tradeshift & My New Project can help Entreprenuers…

Im Changing Direction – Again

Tradeshift and Everbread are now runnin on their own – I dont have to be there every day. And I see 10 amassing startups every month – I cant stop myself anymore – I need to kick a lot of these guys in their bud – and help them to become global and succesfull. (PLEASE RT THIS TO DESIGN COMMUNITIES).

Im loosing it – in Design Talent

Im getting old – and I have lost my touch with the design community and the hackers – who are doing consulting – but really want to do thier own Agency or even better a Startup.

Keep Your Real Job (Clients)

If you are one of these Dudes/Duderinas – who are not spoiled by money yet – and who dont need anything but a MAC in your life. ( = You dont have very low cost of living). If you also understand that: This requires lots of late night work – since you have to be payed from your real job.

(If you are an existing agency – who wants on this movement – then you just invest X% of your pitching budget – easy peacy).

If You Can Do This Better

If you carry the belief that you can design there even better – make them look even coller then they are ( I love these sites)

Tradeshift.com / ZenDesk.com / Pinterest.com / JetSetter.com / New Vimeo.com

You must a a complete design junkie – or have one on your team. And you MUST BE admire Mint.com and GoodData.com – like you admire your best parrents.

Then Pls Email Me and Get On My New Projects List

And I will send a mail back with the rules. Since I have spend the time – whiiii – to do a pretty specific outline of the rules (and thats hard for me). Email: DesignIsEverything@lund.tv

PS. Three huggers and people who love this model – pls dont email me. I want to make money – its the only way to attrackt the best people. (Charity is something we do later).

PPS. Im also looking for a platform to run all this talent on… (Facebook Developer ?).

PPPS. And yes – am scared of overdoing it again – like when I went bankrupt – shit scared. But I cant help it.

Dear Valued Reader

Special note: To the hundreds of you who have asked to invest in my fund: I’m sorry – the paperwork to get this approved isinsane (it’s not legal to take money from normal people – only rich people are allowed – hmmm…).

Today, just a bit below, I will tell you the fastest way to become a millionaire—no guarantee that its fun, but rich you can become.

(I am so happy to have all of you guys following up on all my weird requests) – My blog and my twitter account simply makes me one of the fastest business developers in the world. And I can’t thank you enough. Crazy Crazy CRAZY things are happening and the next 2-3 months will change my life – again).

BASIC premise for this blog:
To start your own company or work for a really early startup – You must love change. One day you are about to close the company – next day you have the big deal signed and a company pays 27mio$ for a license to your software. Welcome to my world.

A. My Blog and Twitter

When Tradeshift was founded by Lanng and his friend/colleagues Gert and Mikkel, they got 40.000h of code from my twitter followers after my tweets (Note to self: I must find that tweet). Via twitter/Facebook  - because Im using it a lot – I have gotten a piano teacher, cool iPhone Apps, investments, nice restaurants that way…

B. I need Help (Again)

Well what’s help and what recommendations? I think I need a recommendation: Everything will be about DATA-DRIVEN recomendations – EVERYTHING. If you fix that – you will be very succesfull.  Remember when I said how to become rich above?

Anecdote: I went to see Chrix Dixon (we where kind of friends – but his IQ is my IQ-75% and his ego and mine are to alike so he stopped answering my emails). Never mind – he is one of the smartest (FOR REAL 360% SMART) guys in venture today and really cool. Well – I went to see him in 2009 about 12 months before he/they launched Hunch – and he explained how everything would be about recommendations – and how they wanted to build something smarter than 20Q.net where you think of something and 20Q will read your mind by asking a few simple questions (very interesting). I got seduced by his idea – and started researching a bit – but it did not turn me on. I could not see it – I did not really see the use for the comsumer (It’s one for the antiprotfolio)….. 2010 they sold to eBay for 80mio$ – bingo. And of course we can say now,  ”it was a super cool product”, “they got the users”, “they educated eBay/PayPal in their own need.”   BIG RESPECT.

C. Recommendations Is All

We need them. And now I ask you to recommend to me – all the recommendation startups and ideas you know ( ALERT: solid shit only . no dreams without technology- or market- proof behind).

Prefered people, teams, ideas:

1. You are an expert
2. You are deep into a weird niche (with lots of transaction i.e. payments, logistics…)
3. You are a team (can stop doing it)
4. You have 2-5years of real business experience in something boring
5. You hate that the huge company you work at – dont just fix that database – and make an API – so that your job would be 100x easier.
6. YOU ARE LAZY – and automate everything
7. You love alerts – and setup “alerts to self” all the time
8. You think Mark Zuckerberg will be the first Jewish Pope (Note to self: This is shit ass politically incorrect).
9. You are in bed with someone who has big data
10. You fundamentally believe in: It’s simple not easy.

I recommend for you

to do a startup in this recommendation space – NOW – or email me and my team recommend@lund.tv.   Remember when I said above that I’d tell you how to get rich? This is the real one. :-)

I dare to recommend this – because I know 3000% more about business software and enterprise software today (but I still feel like a freshman to the industry) – and I spend 20h a day with the hottest enterprise software startups in the world. And now I FU&#”€! NEED ONE ofr 2 projects – again because its ALL ABOUT Recommendations.

4. mail to recommend@lund.tv

So please let my know if you are into recommendations technology wise, business sector wise (grocery, books, sports.. whatever) -

Note To: Bizz Journalists

Everyone is speculating on Facebook going IPO. I have a very clear opinion on that: “Facebook is worth 2x Apple – any day – buy all the shares you can get – and lend money to buy more when they doubled in 3 months”. Facebook is Apple without hardware production – apples hardware will go to Samsung and the asian sons (Note to self: and daughters)… Apps and Payments  and Advertising and all business processes – from buying grocery, servicing your car to chatting with financial tax advisor – ALL WILL BE ON FACEBOOK in 2-3 years. Facebook is the next platform – we dont need anything else – just a browser. Some are Journalists are JALOUX that Mark Zuckerberg makes a gazzzilion – and some are worried about privacy. BUT FUCK THAT – its free – if you dont like it: GO AWAY – become or stay lonely. Facebook is helping us with democracy - and for me (since I have absolutely nothing to hide) FACEBOOK brings social relations back into play on a global scale. Small villages often has little crime – its stupid to rape someone if you know the parrents – and maybe FACEBOOK can lets us become a global village. (And yes there are lots of problems with bullying and racism- but its nothing compared to the upside). And every quater from now I predict that FACEBOOK will buy a recommendation engine (from me, You…) – :) (Note to self: Did I just use a smiley … thats gay … gay is fine with me – stop thinking about that…).

I have

The Best Enterprice Software deals in the world.

I have Funds and Institutional investors from all over the world – trying to get in. And I get 2-3 emails pr day from private people who wants to invest small’er with the companies Im into.

Before dec 28 2011 – I will let everyone get a try – since thats more fair (this should be for everyone – not only rich peoples funds). And after seing how the banks fuck over many people in their investment advice – I have taken this decision to open up.

So if you want to invest in a mix of startups in Enterprise Software in the cloud – if you understand what I talk about. AND if you are fully 100% aware that you can loose your money faster then you can say “bank transfer”.

To those of you -

Im opening to a minimum 10.000€ pr investor – and all in all 500.000€.

I will not let you know what I invest in upfront – but the money will be put into things where Im VERY ACTIVE (I spend all my awake hours) – and I will mix it into all the new things I’m working on (not Tradeshift – its to expensive for non institutional investors).

In my super risktaking life – this is pretty safe – but dont put more then 2-5% of your fortune into this.

Send an email to MyLawyer@lund.tv – and remember that its very high risk. VERY. And you can never hold me responsible :) – its all up to you.

PS. I will not take y mothers money – thats how risky this is.
PPS. I would put my own money – if I was in the money.

I See & Feel A revolution

Nearly All the people who have been visiting my house over the last decade more then 5 times – seems to be on steroids entrepreneurs . Most of the people I have know for a long time are Danish (and its off course easier to drop by – when you live in Denmark (where my 4 kids live)).

I made a drawing – while bored in a meeting – and my eyes nearly popped out when I starting looking at it – and understanding it. Most of my close friends are doing pretty big stuff – and survive very well – and many are just about to sell for +50mio€. Now thats crazy – specially when I remind myselfs how: 7 out of 10 Startups for sure Die (RIP RIP RIP RIP RIP RIP RIP). But then again – I do nothing but bable about new ideas and changing the world and startups all the time – so pretty obvious conclusion.

But then something else stroke me – they mostly have Scandinavian DNA. And maybe we are actually pretty good at this shit – here in Scandinavia. (Off course – everyone is so hard on each other (in my friends circles) and on the society. BUT BUT BUT – somehow I got proud. A feeling that I not always have about Scandinavia – since we are just loosing so bigtiem to any Asian country in terms of growth – BUT so be it – wellfare can only go to a certain level until it sucks all financial juice out of a country.

Im shit proud of being Scandinavian

- because of the fact that many of these companies play in the Global Superliga – within each of their niches.

ENTREPRENUER NOTES:

Of course it looks super cool from the outside.

For sure – when it works – its heaven.

Yes – some get shit ass rich.

But being an entrepreneur is mentally reverse to the public image. 1-2% are shit lucky and gives that impression. But 98-99% of all entreprenuers and even venture backers – work so insanely hard – behind the scenes – for many many years. Pushing that dream – pushing that grand idea. On top of that -  only 90% of the projects survive.

Its actually fairly lonely – to be working on something that has not ben done before. And despite the very close relations to co founers and teams (those emotions are more like love affairs – really creating a rush – but everyone know that its not gonna last forever. (and in the techworld – you nearly need the gift of being homosexual – to meet a life-partner :).) - you are always alone. You have no clue wether you can pay the next salleries – you have guilt the size of a Pedofile Catholic priest – bacause you are not 100% present to your kids, wife and family – and you have even pushed some supersmart engineers in to this – who had no clue about the stress you feel when there is no money and the wife starts to be flattered by others then you… (Since YOU ARE NOT THERE).

Despite the really crazy mess that it creates – personally, mentally and horizontally - there is nothing like being involved in a StartUp…

I Love Berlin With A Taste of Swiss

I have started to work a lot with a group of 4 people in Berlin. They are not only special – they are a phenomenon – a pure real ones. I cant wait to tell who it is – but not now. This post is just to show off German/Swiss “grundigheit” – and to give You: My Dear  German speaking  readers – this incredible chance.

PDF goes herE -> Stellenausschreibung Personal Assistant

PS. (If someone you know – ends up getting the job because of you – and he/she can confirm – We putting a really nice weekendstay in Berlin on top (including flights – unless you live in Boa Boa).

Mr Lanng – is one of the guys with the fastest and most focused CPU’s in town. He has been so generous – to start as blog today. And It only shows his absolute mastering of communication and transparrency in running a StartUp on speed.

Here is a snippet:

“It scared the shit out of me. Being from a nation where government welfare is the default, a nanny state, I can see how “hygge” can kill any startup. The reality is that Tradeshift is still very much a startup: we might look like a real company, but underneath that very nice and well-marketed exterior is a fragile being in its most dangerous state – “a startup looking like a real company”. read more

And the blog is HERE - http://noisetoclarity.com/

Im pretty happy that I think I have convinced him to work with me – at my new incubator. (more about that after Christmas)

Act Dont Talk

Friday was a huge day in my life. Alexander (my partner) – managed to settle a very very very complex legal fight (article here).

I have never been a fan of lawsuit and stayed out – for as long as in any way possible. But it got nasty – and our counterpart was both hard and smart (unfortunately). The problem was one of those big ones – that you cant wait out… We had no chance to do any business – and the more heat we had – the more of our clients got scared.

I should have listened 18months ago (but I was too self confident & stupid) when a very good and highly respected friend told me to (lets call him Rob Stavis): “Morten – you must freaking settle instantly and get to business – it does not matter if you are right or wrong”. He was so right. To small new players in a giant market should not spend 1min fighting – they must join forces not to get killed by the Hangar-ships send by the existing big “land owners” in the marketplace.

I was to slow – to much thinking about ego, fairness, rules, laws and pride – instead of just doing what took Us 18months.

I have the greatest respect for our competitors – and specially that we have done it gentlemen style – and will for sure have a beer after the fight.

PS. Im a little very proud (mostly proud of Alexander). Unlike the other day at The Europas (I will post about that soon)….

The “What did I Say” pessimists

Avoid lazy negative pessimists in startups.

Im having a blast these days. Its too good to be true – life simply has played the best of all tricks on me. Now that Tradeshift is showing traction – and now that it looks like I will be part of something really disrupting again. A lot of the people who have been: “What did I say – you fucked up” – are starting next wave: “Bravo – Tradeshift is impressive – Will but will it ever make money??? Or is it just a black hole for investors”. My answer: Yes I believe that Tradeshift will be an extremely lucrative business – but it will take a long time and cost a hell of a lot of money. And as always I have to underline once again (dear highly valued readers) – I DONT HAVE A CLUE. This business is THE DEFINITION OF HIGH RISK. The same goes with EVERBREAD – where we have also raised a lot of cash – from people who choose not to buy 60 Ferrari’s - but chose to believe in Assen and Everbreads vision.

But remember that not even if you look at Venture Capital from a lottery perspective is it good business:

7 of 10 fails

in first shot.

Energi

From founders and early employees you need inifinate amounts of ENERGY. When salleries are not paid on time – and when programming seems harder then worst case imagination… ENERGY is what it takes – since every startup company also require 2-4 fundamental strategy changes. Changes so deep that its like starting a company from scratch. (Count on that).

Bankruptcy

is the #1 timekiller  – its a whole startup in it self to get out of Bankruptcy. I have had 4 people fulltime during the whole process – I have been lending money for the process (big money – to pay all creditors). Think about it – who is crazy enough to lend money to a mann who is bankrupt or work for free for me believing in future value . All these people who believed in me and my skills and crazy visions – only supported financially by my ability to do s*#% ass expensive consulting and speaking gigs. I will do a whole blogpost of these people when Im 100% free. Because I have off course  - already been gambling with my salaries and consulting fees – to convert to shares in the startups Im working for. But it also means that Im not fully fully out of the risk of fall back to bankruptcy – only 98% there.

My point here is that it takes many lifetimes to hit a lucky strike – and making one successful startup – here is some back of the envelope math:

x7 StartUps to make a winner
x2 Total REstrategy
leaves x6 potential bankruptcies

Sum: 84 “StartUps” x 4years for each = 346years is what it takes to make one successful Company :)

If you want to find the energy for this 346y gamble – then dont get too involved with people who say: “Look – It failed – What Did I Say”… Act – dont talk – find people with unlimited ENEGERY – and find a lot of them.