Sold My Startup for $780M: the Good, Bad, Ugly with Jack Smith, Vungle

This week we went deep on the growing pains of a startup, from PR nightmares to co-founder breakups, the challenge of shifting from a scarcity to growth mindset, and so much more with Jack Smith, serial entrepreneur & investor. @_jacksmith has co-founded multiple startups: Vungle, Coin, Shyp and advised many others. We talk everything from his startup outgrowing him to his lack of focus getting him to the right place & right time.

👊🏻 5 THINGS YOU’LL LEARN:

– How Jack’s curiosity from a tender age carried him through as an entrepreneur

– The value of an incubator – should you join one?

– What it takes to get to product-market fit, and then scale

– What it means to outgrow your startup, and what you can do

– The harsh reality of a startup’s PR nightmare

⏳ TIMESTAMPS

00:00​ – Intro

02:29​ – Jack’s early start in entrepreneurship

05:03​ – Mediaroots evolution into Vungle

08:36​ – Hacking screen record & how that led to San Francisco

10:49​ – Should I join an incubator? Jack’s learning from AngelPad

16:31​ – The crappy engineer, launching to the next few stages

21:33​ – What metrics mattered, that affirmed the Vungle vision?

24:42​ – Jack’s reflection on how the startup outgrew him

28:06 – Micromanaging to enabling others

30:50​ – Handling a PR nightmare, and standing by his co-founder

32:40 – Jack’s reflection on “making it” with the BIG exit

Billion Dollar Moves is THE show for the audacious; featuring the top US-Asia founders, funders and execs. From the growing pains of a unicorn journey to IPO, scaling a venture capital firm, we cover it all in the world of venture & business. Learn from the crème de la crème so YOU too, can make #billiondollarmoves — in venture, in business, in life.

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About Billion Dollar Moves™ Podcast

The Top Global VC Podcast for Founders & Funders

In venture, every move can make—or break—a billion-dollar outcome.
Hosted by Sarah Chen-Spellings, award-winning entrepreneur, investor, and venture insider, Billion Dollar Moves pulls back the curtain on the strategies, stumbles, and breakout moments that define the world’s most iconic companies.

Billion Dollar Moves™ Podcast

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