Ben says there is no way to build a new company without a transformational product. What is really important is the product, not the business model, the business plan or hiring MBAs. Innovating and coming up with something way better is key. The big firms have a hard time doing innovation.
Here is Andreeson's other half, Ben Horowitz, taking about how to build a good company. A brief list of Ben's points:
- When a bankrupt Apple got Steve Jobs back as leader, his new strategy was "build a better product" and it worked.
- Skills to win the market are then important. Do you take the market and sell your excellent product?
- Be a good person as CEO. No one wants to work for a CEO who is a jerk.
- The key ingredient really is leadership, not management. Leadership is the ability to get people to follow you, if only out of curiosity.
Ben Horowitz was a co-founder of Opsware (formerly Loudcloud), which was acquired by HP in 2007. Earlier, he was vice president and general manager of America Onlines E-commerce Platform division, where he oversaw development of the companys flagship business.