Changing the Perception of What's Possible (wsg Ted Serbinski)

During this episode, You, Me and Your Top Three host, Gregg Garrett, speaks with Ted Serbinski, managing director at Techstars, about the power of pivoting and how it is needed for startups as well as enterprises trying to innovate. He discusses a wide array of topics from becoming a mobility industry luminary to investing in nearly 100 companies to being a xennial and the importance of being a sponge. Ted of course shares his Top Three who include member of the Foundry Group to fellow alumnus who help him stretch his thesis to all the founders in whom he has invested to make mentoring a two-way street. And you have to hear what he has to say about how mobility may be more about what is not moving, rather than what is, especially in a post-COVID world. About Ted Serbinski Ted Serbinski is a venture capitalist and managing director of TechStars with 70 global startup investments across mobility, automotive, logistics, manufacturing, fintech and AI/ML. He focuses on helping entrepreneurs succeed through mentorship and investment and seeks to establish lifelong relationships with the founders he backs. Ted holds a degree in computer engineering from Cornell University and is a dad to four energetic kids. Show Highlights Segment 1: Overview 1:10      “Pivot! Pivot!”: The criticality of change and importance of being brave to achieve it 4:18      Ted Serbinski: His journey began as a coder and has led him across the country to becoming an investor 5:30      Ted’s Mission: “Changing people’s perception of what’s possible” 9:24      Being Brave: A cold email to Dan Gilbert brought him to Michigan and began his venture career 11:53   Success breeding success: “Spreadsheets don’t create, they measure.” Segment 2: The “Top Three” 15:10   Be a sponge: Soak up everything you hear and see around you 16:46   Ted’s “Top Three” starts with Jason Mendelson who challenged his perception of what’s possible being a VC 18:33   A pattern develops: Sending the cold email, making the cold call 22:57   Ted’s “Top Three” expands with Gretchen Knoell, a fellow Cornell alum, who has great experience and provides great wisdom 24:43   Investment Thesis Challenge: “It’s all about make and move” … and what else? 27:12   Ted’s “Top Three” concludes with the group of founders he has invested in due to the depth of knowledge they provide 30:03   Relationship Lens: “Investing in founders is a lifetime commitment” Segment 3: Transformation & Disruption 37:34   Disruption: It’s all about timing and people’s ability to change 40:04   Are innovators seeing the silver lining in this post-COVID market? 41:50   “Building a startup is a lot like a game of chess” 44:48   Pivoting: Where are auto and mobility going? 46:58   “What is mobility?” Ted’s blog on Detroit becoming the Mobility City 51:00   Futurists look at the consumption market and far outside the industry 52:48   Mobility Spectrum: “Not moving is moving too.” 55:54   Drawing Parallels: Being a Xennial and Mobility Segment 4: Wrapping Up 58:55   Ted’s Journey: “Being open to [almost] anything” 1:01:02             Copious Note Taker: What’s the process? 1:04:01             Meditate: “It is a way to defrag your brain” 1:06:36             How to stay in contact with Ted Additional Information Contact Ted Serbinski: Ted’s Email Ted’s LinkedIn Ted’s Twitter Ted’s Website Contact Gregg Garrett: Gregg’s LinkedIn Gregg’s Twitter Gregg’s Bio Contact CGS Advisors: Website LinkedIn Twitter

Om Podcasten

You, Me, and Your Top Three is a podcast focused on exploring leadership in the connecting world. Specifically, the podcast invites leaders to tell stories, reflect, and discuss their views on: - disruptions in industry and society; - how they are leading transformations considering these disruptions - brave leadership to drive transformation. It is this last point where we focus most of the discussion, asking our guests to share their insights into the relationships they have with their “Top 3” closest advisors. It is our observation and experience that as the world connects, the importance of a diverse set of counselors is increasing in value. For some this may be a formal advisor who has been contracted on behalf of the company. For most this will be deep relationships in which they have been invested and nurtured. Through stories and discussion, we strive to celebrate the art of giving and receiving advice. The stories that are told are heartfelt and real. At the root we are exploring the process of knowledge building, relationship building, and perhaps most importantly, confidence building. After all, it takes a brave leader to battle the inertia that exists in industries, our organizations, and in ourselves. It is our hope that as successful leaders open up about around the subjects and the way in which they interact with their closest confidants, that our listeners will, in turn, reflect on their own “virtual board of advisors.” Over time they will then surround themselves with those who help them stretch toward greatness and lead bravely in the connecting world.