Disqus - Latest Comments for cdevore

Re: Techstars Seattle 2018 Diversity Update: Getting Better, With Your Help

Chris DeVore — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 17:35:43 -0000

Thanks Cassie + agree - it's a hard pattern to break out of but hopeful that a small change now will lead to progressively bigger improvements over time, as long as we do right by those who took the early leap of faith.

Re: Techstars Seattle 2018 Diversity Update: Getting Better, With Your Help

Chris DeVore — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 16:49:29 -0000

Thanks, Cassie - the most interesting / surprising learning for me was how many people from our most under-represented communities were actively choosing not to apply because they didn't see themselves in our brand, leadership or alumni. That was hard to hear, but it started a real conversation about our efforts and intentions that started to build trust, to the point that those leaders were willing to refer us into their networks as people worthy of trust (at least until proven otherwise).

Re: Techstars Seattle 2018 Diversity Update: Getting Better, With Your Help

Chris DeVore — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 16:46:33 -0000

Thank you, Farrah!

Re: For fundraising success, forget the firm + focus on founder / partner fit

Chris DeVore — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 09:34:17 -0000

Thanks Hunter!

Re: Techstars Seattle Diversity Update: Failing, Frustrated + Asking for Help

Chris DeVore — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 16:55:13 -0000

Liz - thanks for the detailed roadmap + those are awesome results. I've definitely been aware of the blind screen as an approach but haven't tried it yet; will review with the Techstars pipeline team to see if we can apply that in our process (even if just an A/B to start) to see how it impacts our top-of-funnel metrics. Huge thanks for the smart ideas + examples!

Re: Techstars Seattle Diversity Update: Failing, Frustrated + Asking for Help

Chris DeVore — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 19:08:37 -0000

Thanks for the note + encouragement, Lisa - will read + circle back

Re: Techstars Seattle Diversity Update: Failing, Frustrated + Asking for Help

Chris DeVore — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 14:01:04 -0000

Hi Steven - thanks for the note and I completely understand your perspective; the truth is that entrepreneurship isn't the right choice for most people, no matter their gender, ethnicity or cultural background. Our goal isn't to turn people into founders who don't want to be, but to be sure our doors and hearts are open to founders from any background to pursue their dreams as part of our network. Where we're failing right now is in reaching founders from under-represented communities and making them feel welcomed in our community. My only request of you is to share that intent with anyone you know who might want that life for themselves - Latino or otherwise - so they understand how serious we are about building an open and inclusive community of founders from all backgrounds.

Re: Techstars Seattle Diversity Update: Failing, Frustrated + Asking for Help

Chris DeVore — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 13:43:33 -0000

Thanks Laure - we don't explicitly track age data, and often have to fight the perception that we're focused on recent college grads. Most of the founders in our program are actually experienced founders or business leaders, not kids right out of school. I think we need to work harder to communicate that not just to women, but to applicants from all communities - more to do on that front!

Re: Techstars Seattle Diversity Update: Failing, Frustrated + Asking for Help

Chris DeVore — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 19:18:23 -0000

Thanks for the note of support - I know it's long game but Techstars' motto is "Do More Faster" and I'd like that to be true on our diversity efforts just as much as with our startups!

Re: Techstars Seattle Diversity Update: Failing, Frustrated + Asking for Help

Chris DeVore — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 21:25:57 -0000

This is awesome - thanks Megan!

Re: Techstars Seattle Diversity Update: Failing, Frustrated + Asking for Help

Chris DeVore — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 19:30:51 -0000

Thanks Rand - Techstars is built on mentorship and accountability, and I need mentorship and people to hold me accountable just as much (or more than) the teams who participate. Making a public commitment is a useful beginning, but I know it's the least part of the work.

Re: Techstars Seattle Diversity Update: Failing, Frustrated + Asking for Help

Chris DeVore — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 19:09:51 -0000

Thanks for the great suggestions and support, Bob - I'd welcome intros to any leaders of the orgs you mention (I don't know Nellie, for example) so we can engage + find ways to work together well in advance of our next recruiting cycle. This is definitely bigger than just Seattle and I know there are folks throughout the region that we don't know and should who are working in the same direction.

Re: Pacific Northwest Investment and Exit Report

Chris DeVore — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 12:03:41 -0000

This was such a great analysis - thanks for doing it + wondering if you have any plans to update it in 2017?

Re: Surplus > Volume

Chris DeVore — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 12:31:29 -0000

Great question and no crisp answer - the nuance here (that didn't make sense in the context of the post but is a real consideration for strong founders) is that there are opportunities that have small (or nonexistent) current TAM and unknowable margins, and those might be the most interesting opportunities of all. Think social networking in 2000, or ecommerce in 1995, or OTT messaging in 2010. Those may be the most exciting - and least well understood - of all opportunities, but it's the rare founding team that can spot them + make them happen.

Re: Commentary: Want Seattle to be more like S.F.? Neither do I, so please read this and vote!

Chris DeVore — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 20:03:24 -0000

Good question, Aaron -- I meant it when I said that we're a diverse group and I'm sure there are some in the community who think her approach makes sense. My goal isn't so much to tell people who to vote for as to make sure they take the time to think about the candidates and get their ballots in on time

Re: Welcoming Transpose to the Founders’ Co-op Family

Chris DeVore — Mon, 11 May 2015 13:32:31 -0000

Thanks for the note, Hakon -- early days for sure but we're very excited about the potential here and glad to know you see what we see in Hussein + team.

Re: Relentlessly resourceful = Outreach.io

Chris DeVore — Mon, 04 May 2015 12:50:55 -0000

The journey is at least as important as the outcome, and it's been a great adventure so far -- excited to see you guys with fresh legs, fresh capital and another big mountain to climb. Thanks to you, Gordon, Wes and Andrew for including me in your partnership + friendship.

Re: The spice must flow: unblocking capital formation for regional innovation and economic development

Chris DeVore — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 14:23:25 -0000

Thanks for the note, Burt - would love to discuss

Re: The spice must flow: unblocking capital formation for regional innovation and economic development

Chris DeVore — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 12:59:50 -0000

Thanks for reading / commenting, Jay -- if it's an issue in Seattle (which it is) I know it must be even more so in markets with less depth and scale than we have. The money's (almost always) there, the challenge is activating it and making sure it gets placed in a way that gets investors coming back for more.

Re: bijan sabet — Opportunities lost in a sea of growth rounds

Chris DeVore — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 11:30:00 -0000

And / or they do their work outside the Valley and have both founders + investors who understand reversion to the mean

Re: 20 million new reasons to bet big on the Pacific Northwest

Chris DeVore — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 10:22:50 -0000

Thanks Mandy -- you and Clay are exactly the kind of people Seattle needs - so glad you chose to come and stay and play your own important roles in the life of the city.

Re: 20 million new reasons to bet big on the Pacific Northwest

Chris DeVore — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 10:21:36 -0000

Thanks RP -- you were there at the very beginning and have gone on to do great things (no thanks to us, BTW). We're all in this together + hope we have a chance to work together again someday.

Re: 20 million new reasons to bet big on the Pacific Northwest

Chris DeVore — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 15:03:36 -0000

Thanks iseff -- you've been along for almost the entire journey so you know how humble our beginning really was. It's been great to be a part of your story as well, and I have big expectations for the role that you and the entire Tune crew will play in raising the bar for Seattle once again.

Re: Techstars Seattle 2015 is Open for Business — New Fund, New Faces, Even More Awesome

Chris DeVore — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 09:47:29 -0000

Thanks Alex!

Re: Techstars Seattle 2015 is Open for Business — New Fund, New Faces, Even More Awesome

Chris DeVore — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 14:44:36 -0000

So glad to have you in the family, Mike -- this is going to be fun!