Workshop: Failure... stepping up to succeed There's lots to be learned from projects and businesses that have not succeeded and there's no reason why you couldn't be a serial entrepreneur stepping up from failure to succeed the next time. This session will offer testimonials who have not been blown away by a couple of set-backs and have stepped up to succeed in the end. They will share their experiences and lessons learned so you can hopefully avoid their mistakes and when you make your own ones, know how to handle that.

1. “Failure?...” stepping up to succeed
Startups.be – April 19th 2012
Caveat auditor:
• Statistic n=1
• Strategy is romanticized hindsight!?

2. Who We Are
Nomadesk offers the easiest and
most secure way to share files for
professionals.
► What our customers are saying:
– “Zero thought, in-the-flow file sharing and data security.”
– Nomadesk at Kirsten Realty
– Nomadesk at CEO Collaborative Forum
This document is strictly confidential and must not be given to any third party, or be reprinted or copied in whole or in part without the prior consent of the author.
© 2012 Nomadesk, Inc.

3. The 5 Magical Things
When you place a file in your drive, Nomadesk
automatically…
encrypted and stored mobilized and made accessible
locally on your computer; via any smartphone, tablet
offline availability
backed-up to a secure
data center; compliant
with EU privacy laws shared with other people you
have invited to view your drive
synchronized to
your other devices
This document is strictly confidential and must not be given to any third party, or be reprinted or copied in whole or in part without the prior consent of the author.
© 2012 Nomadesk, Inc.

4. Company History
2012:
• $3M – $4M Revenue
2011: • C-round
• …
• 350% Revenue Growth
(YoY)
• Nomadesk Inc.
2009 – 2010: • Seasoned CEO (US)
• “The Firm”
• Flemish Parliament
• $5M B-round
(Gimv, BAMS Angels Fund)
2004 – 2007:
• Johnson & Johnson
• $500K seed round
(Angels, Founders)
• $4.5M A-round
(Gimv, founders, angel
s)
This document is strictly confidential and must not be given to any third party, or be reprinted or copied in whole or in part without the prior consent of the author.
© 2012 Nomadesk, Inc.

5. “I have not failed.
I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work”
Thomas Edison (1847 – 1931)
Mea culpa: Culpam (blame “them”):
► Product: ► “Damn
– Vision not sufficiently vetted you, Europaaaahh!”
by customers ► Consumer Market:
– Over-engineered, “featuritis” – Fragmented
► Marketing: – Conservative
– “Build it and they will ► Start-up Ecosystem:
come” syndrome – Investment supply-chain:
o #
► Funding: o Profile
– VC money with an o Exit opportunities
“unproven” model – HR supply:
– Money follows success, not o “Appetite for disruption”
vice-versa! o Risk averse
– PR gap
This document is strictly confidential and must not be given to any third party, or be reprinted or copied in whole or in part without the prior consent of the author.
© 2012 Nomadesk, Inc.

6. The Secret Sauce…
When the going gets tough, the tough get going
► “Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that
there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity
and are able to turn both to their advantage”
o Niccolo Machiavelli (1469 – 1527)
Look no further…
this man said it!
This document is strictly confidential and must not be given to any third party, or be reprinted or copied in whole or in part without the prior consent of the author.
© 2012 Nomadesk, Inc.

7. “I have not failed.
I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work”
Thomas Edison (1847 – 1931)
Mea culpa: Culpam (blame “them”):
► Product: ► “Damn
– Vision not sufficiently vetted you, Europaaaahh!”
by customers ► Consumer Market:
– Over-engineered, “featuritis” – Fragmented
► STOP whining!
Marketing: – Conservative
STOP whining!
► Start-up Ecosystem:
Learn“Build it and they will
– and move on! Take advantage!
– Investment supply-chain:
“reculer poursyndrome
come” mieux sauter!”
o # Pivot!
► Prioritize & focus!
Funding: o Profile Move?!
– VC money with an o Exit opportunities
“unproven” model – HR supply:
– Money follows success, not o “Appetite for disruption”
vice-versa! o Risk averse
– PR gap
This document is strictly confidential and must not be given to any third party, or be reprinted or copied in whole or in part without the prior consent of the author.
© 2012 Nomadesk, Inc.

8. Darwin rules, like never before!
1/ Survival of the fittest: 2/ Survival of the beautiful:
► “My dear,” said Michael ► “The peacock's tail,” said
Porter, “I believe there Charles Darwin, “makes
are five forces.” me sick.”
► Adapt or die! ► Be liked and thrive!
► Companies that strive to ► Companies without a
make economic sense. significant revenue
► Here’s where we all go model.
SWOTty! ► Here’s where we all go
WTF!
This document is strictly confidential and must not be given to any third party, or be reprinted or copied in whole or in part without the prior consent of the author.
© 2012 Nomadesk, Inc.

9. This document is strictly confidential and must not be given to any third party, or be reprinted or copied in whole or in part without the prior consent of the author.
© 2012 Nomadesk, Inc.

10. Contact
Filip TACK
filip.tack@nomadesk.com
twitter.com/ftack
About.me/FilipTack
www.slideshare.net/filiptack1
DOWNLOAD A TWO WEEK FREE TRIAL
This document is strictly confidential and must not be given to any third party, or be reprinted or copied in whole or in part without the prior consent of the author.
© 2012 Nomadesk, Inc.