Small Businesses

VC Theresia Gouw: These are 7 characteristics that successful companies always share

  • 1 min Read
  • May 19, 2021

Author

Escalon

Table of Contents

Entrepreneurs like venture capitalist Theresia Gouw prove there are countless ways for people to start and grow their own businesses. Gouw has been involved in launching, funding and advising a slew of high-growth technology companies across different verticals.

A highly influential venture capitalist, she has supported the founders of some of the world’s most successful companies, investing in a total of more than 150 companies. She has also been named on the Forbes Midas List seven times as one of the most successful investors in the world.

Gouw became the first female investor at Palo Alto, Calif.-based venture capital firm Accel Partners in the 1990s. She went on to become the firm’s first female managing partner and first female mentor.

After leaving Accel in 2014, Gouw co-founded venture firm Aspect Ventures, and five years later she founded a second, Acrew Capital. Both were backed by Melinda Gates through her foundation, and today the two firms are among a growing number of female-led VC firms.

Theresia Gouw’s top 7 attributes that successful business owners use to achieve their goals:<

  1. Different viewpoints

Data shows that organizations do their best when they have ethnic and gender diversity at the executive and board levels. Melody Meckfessel, co-founder of data visualization software company Observable, observes higher creativity, better products and the capability to ship more quickly when supervising diverse teams of software developers and other employees. Meckfessel says that she had the same experience while working 15 years at Google.

  1. Accountability to core principles

Establish core values for your company. They will provide a foundation to the entire organization. After deciding these core principles, you must hold the entire company accountable to following them.

Gusto, a human resources software company, conducts evaluations of candidates based on motivations and values. Co-founder Josh Reeves find that embedding the organization’s values into its evaluation process ensures the company’s dedication to those principles.

  1. Adaptability

Organizations that succeed must be flexible and adaptable enough to meet well changing customer requirements and an evolving marketplace.

HotelTonight co-founder Sam Shank observed that travel websites had been optimized to search on desktop or laptops, and that mobile apps were simply a shrunken-down variant. He developed his product based on customers’ increasing volume of travel bookings on mobile devices After designing HotelTonight for the Android and iPhone from day one, Shank took the bold step of not even having web-booking capability in his first year. Airbnb acquired the company in 2019 for a reported $400 million. 

  1. Experimentation

Companies must not be afraid to try anything new and tend to view “failing fast” as better than not experi­ment­ing with new initiatives.

Tom Chavez, the co-founder of pri­vacy and compliance company Ketch, conducts small experiments demonstrating who Ketch’s customers are and why they choose the company. In recent months, the Ketch team has undertaken five campaigns to find and engage with buyers. Out of five, four initiatives failed, but the single campaign that worked changed the way how people see experimentations, as it actually worked.

  1. Passionate founders 

Successful entrepreneurs form companies because they are passionate about achieving a need that is not presently being addressed and in developing a product or service that fills the gap.

Shlomo Kramer was so passionate about cybersecurity that he built three companies addressing market demand in infra­structure and security. Kramer’s first two companies, Check Point and Imperva, went public. His latest venture is Cato Networks, the first secure enterprise network released as a cloud service.

  1. Inspirational leaders

Rather than just communi­cating a company’s goals and mission, successful leaders encourage team members to join them on their company’s journey.

When other fintech founders were developing products that worked for themselves, the co-founder of Chime, Chris Britt, was building a platform that worked for most Americans. Britt’s fundamental belief in the opportunity was to make a bank that could actually help its members experiences healthier financial lives, which inspired a large team of individuals to help him realize that concept. At present, Chime is the most-valuable consumer financial tech company to offer fee-free mobile banking services in the U.S.

  1. Shared wins

Businesses should be run in a manner that all employees, stakeholders, share­holders and customers share the company’s progress.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Solv Health adapted its on-demand SaaS plat­form and implemented a network of health care providers to enable consumers to register for COVID-19 tests and virtual care. CEO Heather Fernandez says the platform has helped over 5 million Ameri­cans get tested, a shared win for all of Solv’s stakeholders.

 

Your blog post content here…

Talk to our team today to learn how Escalon can help take your company to the next level.

  • Expertise you can trust

    Our team is made up of seasoned professionals who bring years of industry experience to the table. You gain a trusted advisor who understands your business inside out.

  • Quality and consistency

    Say goodbye to the hassles of hiring, training and managing in-house finance teams. You will never have to worry about unexpected leave of absence or retraining new employees.

  • Scalability and Flexibility

    Whether you’re a small business or a global powerhouse, our solutions scale with your needs. We eliminate inefficiencies, reduce costs and help you focus on growing your business.

Contact Us Today!

Tap into the latest insights from experts in your industry

Accounting & Finance

Common Accounting Mistakes That Cost Medium-Sized Businesses Millions 

Accurate accounting is the bedrock of any successful business operation. Yet, medium-sized businesses—those that have grown beyond the small-business stage...

Read More
Taxes

1099 vs. W-2: How to Ensure Compliance and Reduce Risk 

Distinguishing between independent contractors (1099) and employees (W-2) is a pivotal compliance matter for U.S. businesses. Misclassification can result in...

Read More
Accounting & Finance

Capital Raising in Spring: How to Position Your Startup for Investor Interest

Spring symbolizes renewal, making it an apt metaphor for startups aiming to secure fresh capital to fuel their next growth...

Read More
uncategorized

Spring Clean Your Payroll: Essential HR Best Practices for Scaling Startups

Payroll is more than just issuing paychecks—it’s a complex, high-stakes process that can significantly impact employee satisfaction, legal compliance, and...

Read More
Accounting & Finance

How to Leverage Q2 Financial Data to Drive Startup Growth in the Second Half of the Year

For startups seeking sustainable growth, every quarter provides a treasure trove of data—but Q2 data can be particularly revealing. By...

Read More
Accounting & Finance

Q2 Business Planning: Adjusting Your Financial Strategy for the Rest of the Year

By the time Q2 rolls around, many startups have a clearer picture of their performance and market positioning compared to...

Read More
People Management & HR

5 Key HR Challenges to Address Before Summer to Keep Your Team Engaged

For many startups, the summer months can be a dual-edged sword. On one hand, warmer weather and looming vacations can...

Read More
Taxes

How to Maximize Your Tax Deductions: Essential Tips for Startups in Q2

Tax season often triggers stress and complexity—especially for startups laser-focused on building products, acquiring customers, and scaling operations. Yet savvy...

Read More
Startups

Mid-Year Financial Checkup: How to Assess and Adjust Your Startup’s Budget 

The halfway mark of any given year is more than just a date on the calendar; it’s a valuable checkpoint...

Read More