Mark Coopersmith

Or, how we teach and practice entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley.

More world-changing startups are launched in Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area than anywhere else. This region is the acknowledged global epicenter of entrepreneurship and innovation. What is it about Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and innovators – and other great entrepreneurs around the world – that sets them apart?

In this interactive and entertaining talk, Mark explains and demystifies entrepreneurship in general, and especially what successful entrepreneurs do, how they do it, and how they think. Mark reiterates the imperative for innovation in a time of rapid change, volatility, and global competition.

We explore a typical startup life cycle, including concepts such as the “valley of death” and “crossing the chasm.” And Mark provides examples and discussion around the toolsets, skillsets, and entrepreneurial mindset that successful entrepreneurs deploy, with practical insights into what separates the best from the rest.

Attendees will gain a better understanding of core concepts around entrepreneurship, secrets of successful entrepreneurs, tools they use, how they think about risk, and how I teach this topic at UC Berkeley and to groups around the world.

Is it possible to operate nimbly and entrepreneurially to pursue new business opportunities, and drive innovation and growth, inside complex large enterprises?

Even in Silicon Valley, many more startups and innovations fail than succeed.

None of us like to fail. But a select few of us have cracked the code, creating a more productive relationship with the other “F” word. Join this exclusive group of successful “failure-savvy” leaders.

The San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley are the global epicenter of entrepreneurship, innovation. Billion-dollar startups bloom, and entire industries are disrupted. Yet, even in Silicon Valley, many more startups and innovations fail than succeed. Mark and his UC Berkeley colleague John Danner have investigated this phenomenon for years. They have taught classes on it, written about it, and given many talks on this topic. This work was ultimately synthesized in their Amazon bestselling book: The Other ‘F’ Word: How Smart Leaders, Teams, and Entrepreneurs Put Failure to Work (Wiley, 2015).

In this provocative and entertaining talk, Mark draws upon this large body of work and current events to provide examples, insights and tools to help leaders turn setbacks and failures from regrets into strategic resources; to help drive greater innovation and growth, and to contribute to a more engaged and collaborative workforce. He introduces the groundbreaking seven-stage Failure Value Cycle, providing a discrete path to becoming a more “failure-savvy” leader. Case studies come from organizations of all sizes, and from CEOs, venture capitalists, the Great Place to Work Institute, entrepreneurs and technology leaders, and even fighter pilots and astronauts.

A five-step approach to managing risk as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist.