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February 16, 2016

The VFA Digest: It’s all in the mindset

In this week’s digest: One founder’s quest to bring renewable energy to the world (through soccer!), why we need more women launching companies, why finding success at a startup might require a whole new mindset, and a case against playing the blame game.
A Founder's Story

Jessica O. Matthews
This founder harnesses the energy of soccer balls.
As an undergrad, Jessica O. Matthews took a trip to Nigeria, a country where soccer is widespread but access to reliable electricity is not. So she invented the SOCCKET, a soccer ball that harnesses energy with every kick—and can provide hours of light. Listen to the #VFApodcast to find out how Jessica took her company, Uncharted Play, from an idea to a rocky Kickstarter campaign to a full-time job, bringing SOCCKETs and more to the communities that need them.

LISTEN HERE:

Interview with Jessica O. Matthews, Founder & CEO of Uncharted Play

Startup Life

Dan Klemmer
Why success at a startup job is all about attitude.
Does it take the same skill set to excel in school and kill it at a startup? According to Dan Klemmer—who spent the last year and a half hustling and grinding on the marketing team at Rhinegeist, a brewery startup in Cincinnati—the answer is: not quite. Find out what it took for Dan to adapt and add value at every turn as Rhinegeist grew from 15 employees to 120+.

READ IT HERE:

“The New Office: 4 Traits You Need To Make It In The Startup World” by Dan Klemmer

Think like an entrepreneur

Moving Past Blame
The best way to learn from mistakes? Move past blame.
When something goes wrong, it can be convenient to place the blame on a single person or team—and a relief to feel like only one party is responsible. But the truth is usually more complicated, and discovering what really happened is the best way to improve things for next time. Where to begin? Create an environment where honesty is rewarded, and blame is passé.

READ IT HERE:

“This is How Effective Leaders Move Beyond Blame” by First Round Review

The Startup Landscape Now

Women Founders
Why we need more women founders.
Any attempt to build the strongest team possible involves a certain amount of luck and guesswork. But according to Andrew Yang, we know at least one thing for sure: gender balance matters. When women are involved at the executive level, companies perform better over time—and that’s just the beginning.

READ IT HERE:

“Why Women Are the Best Opportunity for Businesses” by Andrew Yang

Posted in: News

VFA Has Ceased Operations

Since its first cohort in 2012, Venture For America (VFA) has championed entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic growth across the nation. As of August 6, 2024, VFA has ceased its operations. While this marks the end of an era, it also provides an opportunity to reflect on the extraordinary accomplishments and lasting impact that we have achieved together.

Please click here to read the full update.

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