StartUp Weekend: The $970 Million Story of Rover
Wondering if you should sign up for Startup Weekend Monterey Bay February 5-7, 2021? Here is a $970 Million reason why!
Rover, the pet-sitting juggernaut, has humbly come a long way from being a small startup to a billion dollar company. After an unpleasant experience his dog underwent at the kennel, Seattle-based VC Greg Gottesman took it upon himself to create an apt system that aids pet parents like himself to find quality care for their animals. Limited or subpar opportunities for reliable pet care have been a longstanding problem, which Greg was determined to solve.
Techstars Startup Weekend was the perfect opportunity to test, develop, and build his solution with a passionate team. In 2011, on the first day of the weekend long event, Greg gave a one-minute pitch of his idea — “to create a customer-centric company that serves as matchmaker between pet parents and dog sitters, walkers and caregivers. His relatable, authentic pitch scored him a diverse, super-smart 10-person team.”
With the goal to build a thriving company, the team got down to business for the next 54 hours. Over the course of the event, they experienced the rollercoaster known as startup life: “learning from local mentors, finding customers, building the product, and finally presenting the brand new company to a panel of local startup leaders.” The pressure was all worth it when the team was awarded 1st place for their design and hard work.
Greg’s story is an inspiration for startups to have that go-getter mentality and bring their ideas into existence. Check out his top five tips below:
Make your pitch personal - Be authentic!
Look for passionate team members - Base your choice on the individual themselves.
Create a customer centric culture - Find and focus in on the customer.
Don’t hold on too tight - If someone wants to run with a company, be open to equity splits.
Start with the story - Share a personal story that incorporates why the problem is worth solving.
Techstars Startup Weekend Monterey Bay will be taking place from February 5-7, 2021. Take this opportunity to get one step closer to your company’s success!