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.

Jack Smith 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

 

 

PODCAST INFO:

Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.com

Watch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobal

Join the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmoves

 

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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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