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Bo Fishback and 10 Traits to Become an Uber-Founder

Don Francis 2012-08-29T00:00:51+00:00

For this Top Ten on 2sday list, we thought we’d draw out successful attributes of an enigmatic founder.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAWPUfgYtGo&w=560&h=315]

Bo Fishback is the founder of Zaarly and previously part of Kauffman Foundation. He is articulate, connected, and communicative. Within the time he joined us in Silicon Valley, there were more insights than any blog could hold. Below, are ten points from Bo’s life that you can apply to become an über-founder.

Learning by example- Bo’s father was an entrepreneur. He built his own company when Bo was five. The memories of seeing his father’s company grow have stuck with him over time. While many Grinders didn’t grow up in an entrepreneurial home, we can all learn from other’s examples. While a shameless plug for Startup Grind would be perfect right here, successful founders would do well to develop an omnivorous appetite for case studies detailing successes and failures of other startups.


Business school - Sure, Dave McClure was bearish on MBAs, but Bo took it to the limit. After successfully founding multiple startups, Bo went to a top school and developed some impressive connections. It’s not just the skills and classes that make successful MBAs, it's the connections and determination.


Positive networking- Bo’s connections didn’t come merely from his Harvard years, his infectious positivity is readily apparent in his anecdotes and his networking style. From his networking breakfast that turned into a two-day interview schedule with Kauffman, to his tales of collaborating with Ashton Kutcher, Bo doesn’t just have knowledge and experience, but the right blend of approachability and collaboration with the people he interacts.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se5PsHAy4pQ&w=560&h=315]

Tenacious desire to build - After he sold a company at age 25, he decided to be a pro golfer. Nine days in, he hung up the clubs because he was bored. There was nothing being built by pursuing personal celebrity. There were more demands to be addressed.

Keep lists of opportunities - At Angel Weekend, Bo was in Los Angeles to hangout and listen to the pitches, but he drew from one of his pitches he wished someone would make him only to have it take off. Bo obviously takes time to mature his knowledge into wisdom. He watches trends and identifies opportunities outside of what he is working on. If a personal venture doesn’t pan out, you can bet Bo has more ideas lined up to take its place.

Starting from scratch - First company he started was with his brother, picking up garbage in rural Georgia. Proof he wasn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves to build a company.

Align yourself with great people - When Bo was building Zaarly that first weekend, they pitched the best programmer in the room. He went for the top talent. But he also got someone that fit his personality, the venture’s vision, and someone willing to go the distance. The founders of Zaarly all got together with their lists of superstar people they wanted to work with again and who they wanted to work with, but haven’t had the chance.

Keep the founder lineup lean - Bo has found five founders or more is a recipe for disaster. If you are doing a technical venture, you’ll need a programmer to take the developmental helm. But he also dropped a philosophical gem. “A third of all technology companies fail due to founder disputes.” Minimizing the number of founders, minimizes the amount of drama. He recommends just: “Outside guy, inside guy, and product guy.”

Helping others helps you - In the process of his stories, Bo mentions he’s helped LeVar Burton, Ashton Kutcher and others. In every instance, those people came back to help Bo with Zaarly. Ashton was a judge during the competition where Zaarly was pitched. LeVar Tweeted to his millions of followers to give Zaarly a try. The list goes on, but it is clear, these aren’t transactional exchanges. These are examples of helping others coming back to benefit your ventures through positive collaboration.

Clearly articulate your vision - In order to build magic, you have to articulate vision. Bo, like many other founders has learned to pitch simple, succinct ideas. As he said about Zaarly community members, “You sell the vision, then you make it sound believable.”

We could go on and on about the great characteristics of Bo Fishback and his road to success with Zaarly, but we wanted to save something for you to get out of the interview. To watch the whole interview, click here.

About the Author

Don Francis