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Declaration of Independents

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Bryce Roberts

In April 1775, nearly a decade after heavy taxes were imposed on the 13 American colonies, representatives from the colonies gathered and declared independence from Britain, enumerating 30 grievances against King George III. They pledged their lives, fortunes, and honor to supporting this Declaration of Independence. Similarly today, some are declaring independence from existing systems. Services are becoming independent of governments, currencies are decoupling from countries, and entrepreneurs are pursuing work independently through new models like crowdfunding and peer-to-peer services. Just as the American revolutionaries wanted freedom from British rule, today's "Declaration of Independents" wants more options than just traditional venture capital funding or bootstrapping to build sustainable companies,

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Wednesday, August 21, 13 What do these revolutionaries
Wednesday, August 21, 13 and these revolutionaries have in common?
1775 Wednesday, August 21, 13 April 1775, a year into the American Revolutionary War and nearly a decade after heavy taxes were laid on the 13 colonies. American desired to be free of King George the III and enumerated 30 grievances. The systems that were established to protect and elevate them was failing them.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a ?rm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. Wednesday, August 21, 13 Wanted to be Free and Independent. Play by their own rules. But wanted rules none the less.
Wednesday, August 21, 13 56 signers in total. A small, yet committed group of individuals bonded by ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
2013 Wednesday, August 21, 13 Today¡¯s systems are failing us too.
Wednesday, August 21, 13 Unemployment is on the rise. Govt failing to transition self and citizens to digital realities.
Wednesday, August 21, 13 Employers failing to pass pro?ts to employees- working harder, doing more while wages decrease. Low skill jobs being automated, while skills not getting upgraded.
Wednesday, August 21, 13 Even venture capital is failing us. The system that is supposed to be fueling innovation and change languishes at the bottom of the asset class- over last 10 years you¡¯d be better off with Nasdaq or S&P index funds and with the added bene?t fo liquidity.
Rise of The Independents Wednesday, August 21, 13 Similar to Americans declaring independence from Britain, we¡¯re seeing a rise of net natives declaring independence.
Wednesday, August 21, 13 Services becoming nation states and rising up against existing govts attempts to reign them in.
Wednesday, August 21, 13 Currencies decoupling from countries.
Wednesday, August 21, 13 Entrepreneurship as a career track Work getting reimagined kickstarter= swarm economies Small businesses getting smaller- borrow bikes, drills, hammers, even
Wednesday, August 21, 13 Which brings us back to this guy. This is Ben Haggerty, known by his stage name as Macklemore ¡°Thrift Shop¡± spent 4 weeks at top of billboard charts- only the 2nd unsigned artist to hit #1 No label, no marketing team, no budget- totally independent
Wednesday, August 21, 13 Historically, startups have had two paths. Bootstrap.
Wednesday, August 21, 13 Which generally takes this attitude towards venture capital.
Wednesday, August 21, 13 Or, get on the cycle of successive rounds of venture capital. And build for an IPO or M&A event. Note- each milestone of the VC track involves money as end, not means.
Wednesday, August 21, 13 75% of Yelp Shares held by investors prior to IPO. 14% of yelp shares owned by employees @ IPO Despite changes in the funding landscape like, YC. YC companies have raised nearly $2B. They¡¯ve not changed the market per se, they¡¯ve simply ?ooded it.
Declaration of Independents Wednesday, August 21, 13 The majority of the world is not online. We need to be establishing the ideals of what this next wave of entrepreneurship should look like. There should be more than two tracks to building companies and the funded path can¡¯t simply be tied to VC¡¯s business model.

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Declaration of Independents

  • 1. Wednesday, August 21, 13 What do these revolutionaries
  • 2. Wednesday, August 21, 13 and these revolutionaries have in common?
  • 3. 1775 Wednesday, August 21, 13 April 1775, a year into the American Revolutionary War and nearly a decade after heavy taxes were laid on the 13 colonies. American desired to be free of King George the III and enumerated 30 grievances. The systems that were established to protect and elevate them was failing them.
  • 4. We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a ?rm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. Wednesday, August 21, 13 Wanted to be Free and Independent. Play by their own rules. But wanted rules none the less.
  • 5. Wednesday, August 21, 13 56 signers in total. A small, yet committed group of individuals bonded by ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
  • 6. 2013 Wednesday, August 21, 13 Today¡¯s systems are failing us too.
  • 7. Wednesday, August 21, 13 Unemployment is on the rise. Govt failing to transition self and citizens to digital realities.
  • 8. Wednesday, August 21, 13 Employers failing to pass pro?ts to employees- working harder, doing more while wages decrease. Low skill jobs being automated, while skills not getting upgraded.
  • 9. Wednesday, August 21, 13 Even venture capital is failing us. The system that is supposed to be fueling innovation and change languishes at the bottom of the asset class- over last 10 years you¡¯d be better off with Nasdaq or S&P index funds and with the added bene?t fo liquidity.
  • 10. Rise of The Independents Wednesday, August 21, 13 Similar to Americans declaring independence from Britain, we¡¯re seeing a rise of net natives declaring independence.
  • 11. Wednesday, August 21, 13 Services becoming nation states and rising up against existing govts attempts to reign them in.
  • 12. Wednesday, August 21, 13 Currencies decoupling from countries.
  • 13. Wednesday, August 21, 13 Entrepreneurship as a career track Work getting reimagined kickstarter= swarm economies Small businesses getting smaller- borrow bikes, drills, hammers, even
  • 14. Wednesday, August 21, 13 Which brings us back to this guy. This is Ben Haggerty, known by his stage name as Macklemore ¡°Thrift Shop¡± spent 4 weeks at top of billboard charts- only the 2nd unsigned artist to hit #1 No label, no marketing team, no budget- totally independent
  • 15. Wednesday, August 21, 13 Historically, startups have had two paths. Bootstrap.
  • 16. Wednesday, August 21, 13 Which generally takes this attitude towards venture capital.
  • 17. Wednesday, August 21, 13 Or, get on the cycle of successive rounds of venture capital. And build for an IPO or M&A event. Note- each milestone of the VC track involves money as end, not means.
  • 18. Wednesday, August 21, 13 75% of Yelp Shares held by investors prior to IPO. 14% of yelp shares owned by employees @ IPO Despite changes in the funding landscape like, YC. YC companies have raised nearly $2B. They¡¯ve not changed the market per se, they¡¯ve simply ?ooded it.
  • 19. Declaration of Independents Wednesday, August 21, 13 The majority of the world is not online. We need to be establishing the ideals of what this next wave of entrepreneurship should look like. There should be more than two tracks to building companies and the funded path can¡¯t simply be tied to VC¡¯s business model.