Video -Why are ethics important by Frank Levinson, Finisar Corporatiopn October 31,2001

You have to build your company early and trust the loyal employees. Do not compromise on loyalty, if you find a good employee try your best to keep them.

Video - Top 10 must have for a start-up company by Frank Levinson, Finisar Corporation October 31,2001

10. Comfortable, cheap furniture

• The point is … how you look does not matter…function does.

9. A sign

• Are you in business- tell the world!
• Choose an abstract name… ideas you have not even had still find a home made the name
• Tell customers to look for your sign when they visit (I.e. Get customers to visit)

8. Too little money…

• Growth and ideas happen best in lean companies
• Any money in the company is your money regardless of its source.
• You must be driven to innovate instead of spending for success.
• Money sources
• Customers money
• Your own money
• Bank money
• Angel money
• VC's last…

7. Common sense

• Businesses must have:
• Customers
• Products
• Sales
• Profits
• Taxes to pay!
• Businesses need to not have:  (Really? this one is hard to chew up and swallow.)
• CFO's
• VPs (of anything)
• Market studies ??
• Ad Campaigns ??
• Website ??
• Business plan ??
• Forecasts ??

6. The Pride of the fat Baby

• Do whatever it takes to stay in business
• Early Finisar had customers
• Crazy VOD Server led to first modules ( funded by U2)
• Scuba computer led to "smart Module" patent
• Wiring SF-EPA Building led to understanding of test needs
• Pool computer paid bills during a very lean period

-nothing replaces face to face contact

5. A supportive Family (even if they are the Clampetts)

• Have picnics for dinner --Help with homework
• Soccer practice
• A little Christmas Spirit

4. Like surfing real waves…Do not try to make your own

• Too many ventures are started by Entrepreneurs who KNOW what the world wants or needs.
• Real waves are defined in standards bodies, broad groups of customers…if your company finds working with these groups tedious that is a serious flaw.

• What makes the world go is "standards"

3. Confidence that you will have 1000s of great ideas!

• Give away good ideas you have early…partner with first customers with this technique
• Do hold ideas too closely, it prevents you from working on new ones
• Develop a culture where new ideas are expected with regularity…many good ideas every year
• Base all businesses thinking and projections on this assumption

2. Sales (Duh!)

• Always have sales…from the beginning!
• Tough customers are usually the best ones
• Always listen carefully to customers … never discount what they say
• A customer is someone who actually sends checks for products received after placing PO's
• A customer is not someone who likes your idea, talks about huge volumes, needs free samples, wants to do a co-development

1. Get a great Partner

• Choose carefully…a partner is not the same as you but is complimentary
• Make sure they are fanatically ethical
• Be loyal to your partner … no exceptions if ethical
• It helps if he/she is smarter than you