Published in DataDrivenInvestor·Mar 4The Importance of CultureIf you are starting a business, you will think first about the product you want to create. You will devote most of your resources to building that product. However, that same product will emerge from a startup composed of human beings and driven by some form of energy and passion…Startup4 min read
Published in DataDrivenInvestor·Feb 18Top 5 common mistakes at the early stage of a startupWith 34 elements (www.34elements.com) and my involvement in the startup world, I’ve been working with a lot of entrepreneurs over the past years. I’ve realized there are some common patterns and mistakes that most startups make. …Start4 min read
Published in DataDrivenInvestor·Jan 3A Recipe to improve your Sales SkillsIt’s not in the DNA… Most people think of sales as a character trait. This is completely false. This article will try to give you a recipe that everyone can use to become better at selling. Indeed selling is not magic, it’s a process and it follows very specific rules…Startup6 min read
Published in DataDrivenInvestor·Dec 14, 2021The Importance of Ambition in Creating a StartupA startup is no easy road. If you decide to take this path, you might as well be ambitious. You will spend the same energy, go through the same hardships, but you might give yourself a chance to really change something for real. A startup always starts with an idea…Startup4 min read
Oct 20, 2021Accelerators and 34 ElementsPositioning exercise People often describe 34 elements as a sort of accelerator online. Having run an accelerator/pre-seed fund in the US, I am well positioned to debunk this statement. Selection Criteria Accelerators are looking for VC fundable startups. …Startup Accelerators3 min read
Published in DataDrivenInvestor·Sep 18, 2021Is Pitching a Lie?Everyone agrees convincing investors requires a story and the CEO needs to be the chief storyteller. We look for a central character, the CEO, to drive the story and we want there to be some tension and emotional content to get the audience to empathize. In essence, fundraising is a…Storytelling5 min read
Published in The Startup·Jul 20, 2021Can Silicon Valley Be Recreated Online?Silicon Valley is an $840 billion economy. Replicating it isn’t easy but as we live increasingly online, the digital world now provides an opportunity that wasn’t there before. — I am a citizen of the world. French by birth, I lived 17 years in San Francisco, and the rest in Europe where I managed different companies in 9 countries. This experience gives me a unique perspective on cultural and business differences.Silicon Valley8 min read
Published in The Startup·Jul 9, 2021Are Cohort-Based Courses the Future of E-learning?What we learned with 34 Elements academy — E-learning was supposed to be a revolution. However, completion rates have been dismal. Between 2013 and 2018 completion rates for MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) have declined to reach a concerning 3% to 6% in 2018. Let’s investigate how we ended up in this situation and what lies ahead. Learning…E Learning Courses4 min read
Published in DataDrivenInvestor·Jul 5, 2021Positioning is everythingThis is a very complex topic, no doubt. This is also a critical one. Positioning is helping potential clients understand what you do, how you compare, what you do best, and why they should be intrigued. …Startup5 min read
Published in DataDrivenInvestor·Jun 26, 2021Going-to-Market and RoadmapGoing to the market is often overlooked, although it might be one of the most common reasons why investors pass. I will try to give you a simple, actionable recipe to help create a credible go-to-market strategy. Let’s go. A sound go-to-market strategy involves four elements + one: Product /…Go To Market4 min read
