Movies, Startups & Magic

The Startup jungle is fierce…and you may believe you are the Lion but don’t forget that the hyenas circle close and are ready to pounce on any show of weakness.

Here are a few quotes that sum up the startup ethos.

And may the odds be ever in your favor — Hunger Games

The odds are stacked against us. Experts predict that 90% of startups will shut down and less than 1% of startups will get funded. Even the VCs bank on adverse data as they expect 3 out of the 4 newbies to fail. Like Katniss finds herself facing 23 adversaries in the Arena, each startup is ridden with the burden of survival…and only a handful few shall make it!

I have no memory of this place — Lord of the Rings

Gandalf was responsible for leading the way for the Fellowship, and then he got lost. True for the entrepreneur who will do so many things for the first time…for in his previous avatar he was an expert of few and is now forced to be a master of all…So at the time when all is lost, sit and ponder like Gandalf and choose the path where the air is not as stale!

It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies but a great deal more to stand up to your friends — Harry Potter

Recall poor Neville, the stuttering boy who had to stop Harry from breaking the school rules. Entrepreneurship is often lonely…and you wont make many friends along the way. Be ready to walk the solitary path …for you may need to be unfair to your friends, treat them harshly and in difficult times even fire them.

Why Fight? When you can Negotiate — Pirates of the Caribbean

Captain Jack Sparrow was a perfect entrepreneur…He did whatever it took to recover his ship, got eaten by the Kraken and even survived the Flying Duchman. Quick on his feet, lying through his teeth, making enemies fast, creating soldiers that last…each technique shall be used to keep the startup boat afloat!

Winter is coming — Game of thrones

This is the sigil for House ‘Startup’ like it was for the Starks in Game of Thrones. Every entrepreneur is elated when the funding round happens…and then feels the stress as the leaves turn and the bank balance dwindles…For us the summer isn’t as long as it was in Westeros…And winter is coming…