Brian keeps it real.
Shit got down at a panel session on startup growth and scaling during the first day of Echelon 2012.
A very frank Brian Wong, the celebrated wunderkind entrepreneur and co-founder of US-based mobile advertising company Kiip, dished out some rapid thoughts about the early stages of building a company.
His most memorable quip though were his thoughts on first hires.
“During your hypergrowth, hire young people with no kids,” said the 21-year-old, who joined the panel late.
He reasoned that people with families are less able to handle the stress and commitment that comes with being an employee at a startup.
Dropmyemail’s John Fearon, a fellow panel member, sounded on edge when he disagreed with Brian’s sentiments, highlighting the fact that he has a family. However, he took it down a notch and agreed that startup employees have no work-life balance, since they often work into the wee hours of the night.
It’s essential that the wife or partner understands this, said John. He’s had a potential employee who backed out simply because the spouse said no.
Brian later qualified his initial comments by clarifying that startups should hire people “who can work like they don’t have kids.”
“I love people that have kids,” he emphasized.
His brashness and candor during the panel was certainly a breath of fresh air for the audience, although some might find him a little overbearing.
But many agree that he was the most entertaining speaker at Echelon 2012.
Love that @brian_wong is unafraid to field strong opinions; arrogant, perhaps, but makes for a good/provoking panel! 🙂 #Echelon2012
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