FF 012: Acquired by Microsoft for $200m with Javier Soltero @ Microsoft

Javier Soltero is Corporate Vice President of Outlook @ Microsoft. This position arose due to Javier’s startup, Acompli, being acquired by Microsoft for $200m in 2014. Prior to Acompli, Javier spent a year at Redpoint Ventures, where he assisted in helping the firm extend their reach into both enterprise and mobile markets. However, Javier’s entrepreneurial career did not start with Acompli, as he co-founded Hyperic, which he bought for $1 and within 5 years turned into a $10m+ revenue generating company.

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In Today’s Episode You Will Learn:

1.) How did Javier start his entrepreneurial career and what were the origins of Acompli?

2.) What was Javier’s biggest takeaway from the failure of his first startup, back by Sequoia?

3.) How did Javier control his burn rate once large amounts of VC money was in his company?

4.) How does Javier approach product market fit?

5.) How did Javier meet his investors for Accompli and how did Javier find the fundraising process?

6.) What were Javier’s reasons for selling Acompli? Was there any conflict with his investors in selling the company?

Items Mentioned In Today’s Episode:

Javier’s Fave Book: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez 

Javier’s Fave Newsletter or Blog: Wait but Why?

As always you can follow Harry, The Twenty Minute VC and Javier right here on Twitter!

If you would like to see a more colourful side to Harry with many a mojito session, you can follow Harry on Instagram here!