David Sacks shares how PayPal & Trulia Navigated Downturns
The NFX Podcast
We believe creating something of true significance starts with seeing things others do not. NFX is a venture firm exclusively focused on pre-seed & seed stage startups.
James CurrierPete FlintOmri Amirav-DroryMorgan BellerGigi Levy-Weiss
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David Sacks shares how PayPal & Trulia Navigated Downturns

E13 • Apr 7, 2020 • 45 mins

In this episode, Kristin O'Brien, Pete Flint, and David Sacks discuss leading through challenging times, navigating disruption, and the importance of adaptability. They delve into crisis management, the economic impact on startups and VC investments, and the role of paranoia in survival. Insights on wartime CEOs and the response of Silicon Valley to COVID-19 are also shared. The episode concludes with potential long-term pandemic impacts, highlighting the rise of edtech and healthtech.

Key Points

  • David Sachs and Pete Flint share their experiences of leading companies like PayPal, Yammer, and Trulia through economic downturns, emphasizing the opportunities for growth and innovation during these challenging times.
  • They discuss the importance of having a clear understanding of a company's cash position, recommending that startups aim for at least two years of runway to adapt to market disruptions and demonstrate the viability of new business models.
  • The conversation highlights the critical nature of transparent communication with teams, the necessity of quick decision-making in response to changing circumstances, and the need for founders to let go of legacy thinking to successfully navigate a crisis.

Today we’re talking with David Sacks & Pete Flint about how to lead a company through an unforeseen downturn, and what it takes to adapt and survive in an unpredictable economy. David is a general partner at Craft Ventures and previously a Co-Founder of PayPal & Yammer. Both David and Pete founded iconic companies and led them through unstable markets to emerge with high growth and success.

In this episode, we discuss:
- The Founder mindset during a downturn
- The Investor mindset during a downturn
- Tactics/frameworks for founders
- Happy Talk vs Hard Talk
- Silicon Valley during COVID-19

Be on the lookout for new episodes on The NFX Podcast and read more NFX content at - www.nfx.com/essays

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