Best of This Week in Startups: Week of December 7th, 2020

TL;DR

Brad Feld discusses the importance of non-attachment and eliminating the stigma associated with mental health in the entrepreneurial world. Christian Reber highlights the significance of design in his career and working with MetaLab.

Transcript

on episode 1149 brad feld describes how he reconciles the ups and downs of being an early stage investor i don't know that i've reconciled this as a profession um i probably refer people uh to a couple of things one is uh you mentioned him earlier jerry colonna and i've had jerry on the show a few times sure um jerry jerry is one of my closest frie... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤗 Open conversations and support are essential in addressing the stigma of mental health in the entrepreneurial industry.
• 🎨 Partnering with external design firms can help improve product design and user experience.
• ✋ Zoom's pricing power and potential price increases indicate a high level of customer loyalty and perceived value.
• ✋ Pricing strategies of companies like Netflix and Amazon Prime demonstrate the importance of delivering significant value to customers to justify higher costs.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Brad Feld realize the pernicious stigma surrounding mental health in the entrepreneurial industry?

Brad Feld became aware of the stigma surrounding mental health after openly discussing his own experience with depression and receiving messages from entrepreneurs who had not reached out to anyone else about their struggles.

Q: What is the significance of non-attachment according to Brad Feld's Buddhist-inspired philosophy?

Non-attachment for Brad Feld means accepting both success and failure without becoming overly attached or detached. It allows for a focus on the present moment and the pursuit of personal goals, rather than constantly seeking more success or pushing away from failure.

Q: Why did Christian Reber partner with MetaLab for product design at Pitch?

Christian Reber partnered with MetaLab to challenge and enhance their in-house design team's efforts. By seeking external expertise, Pitch aimed to improve its product design and create a more compelling user experience.

Q: How has Zoom's pricing compared to services like Netflix and Amazon Prime?

Zoom's pricing is seen as having the potential to increase its prices due to its strong product-market fit and traction. Similar to Netflix and Amazon Prime, the value it provides may lead users to continue using the service even if the cost increases.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Brad Feld emphasizes the need to address the stigma of mental health in the entrepreneurial industry and shares his experience with depression, encouraging open conversations and support.

• Christian Reber discusses the value of design in his career, partnering with MetaLab to enhance product design at Wunderlist and Pitch.

• Alex Wilhelm and Beth Kindig analyze Zoom's pricing power, comparing it to the pricing strategies of Netflix and Amazon Prime.