Brad Feld Quotes

Powerful Brad Feld for Daily Growth

About Brad Feld

Brad Feld is an accomplished entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author, recognized as a leading figure in the tech startup community. Born in 1965 in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, Feld developed a passion for computers at an early age, which eventually led him to study electrical engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. After graduating, Feld embarked on his entrepreneurial journey and co-founded several successful software companies, including Feld Technologies (1987) and Intensity Ventures (1993). His ventures provided him with firsthand experience in the challenges and opportunities of starting a business. In 2004, Feld shifted his focus to venture capital and co-founded Mobius Venture Capital, now known as Foundry Group. With a fund of $2 billion under management, Foundry Group invests in early-stage tech companies. Feld's writing career began in 2006 with the publication of "Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist," co-authored with Jason Mendelson. The book provides insights into venture capital terms and negotiations, drawing on Feld's extensive experience as an investor and entrepreneur. Feld is also known for his blog "Feld Thoughts," where he shares thoughts on entrepreneurship, startup ecosystems, and technology trends. His other works include "Startup Communities: Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Your City" (2012) and "The Startup Community Way: Evolving an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem" (2015). In addition to his professional endeavors, Feld is actively involved in giving back to the community. He serves as a board member or advisor for various organizations, including Techstars and the National Center for Women & Information Technology. Brad Feld's journey from a young computer enthusiast to a successful entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author has made significant contributions to the tech startup world. His insights continue to inspire and guide entrepreneurs worldwide.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The No. 1 reason startups fail is because they run out of cash, not because they run out of ideas."

This quote emphasizes that one of the primary reasons startups often face failure is due to financial mismanagement rather than a lack of innovative ideas or solutions. Startups need sufficient cash flow to sustain their operations, pay employees, invest in research and development, and navigate through challenging times. If they fail to manage their finances effectively, they may ultimately run out of funds before realizing the potential success of their novel ideas.


"Entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint."

The quote emphasizes that entrepreneurship requires perseverance over an extended period rather than short-term intensity or quick results. It suggests that successful entrepreneurship involves consistent effort, resilience, and strategic planning, much like running a marathon rather than a sprint. This means entrepreneurs should expect challenges, setbacks, and long hours, but they must keep going because the rewards come to those who can endure and adapt in the long run.


"You don't have to be the smartest person in the room, but you do need to be willing to learn faster than anyone else in the room."

This quote emphasizes the importance of eagerness to learn over raw intelligence. While it's advantageous to be intelligent, what truly matters is how quickly one can adapt and grow from new knowledge. In any given setting, if you approach learning with a keen interest and open mind, you have the potential to surpass others who may be more naturally gifted but lack the willingness to expand their horizons. This sentiment underscores the idea that persistence in learning and self-improvement can help one achieve success regardless of initial ability levels.


"Ideas are easy; implementation is hard."

This quote by Brad Feld emphasizes that while coming up with ideas or concepts can be relatively simple, turning those ideas into a reality through successful implementation is often challenging. It underscores the importance of not just focusing on idea generation but also understanding the effort, dedication, resources, and execution skills required to bring an idea to fruition. In other words, while many people can dream up innovative thoughts, only a select few possess the tenacity to turn those ideas into tangible results.


"Every entrepreneur should read 100 books before starting a company."

The quote by Brad Feld emphasizes the importance of knowledge and learning for entrepreneurs. By reading 100 books before starting a company, an entrepreneur can gain a wealth of insights, understand different perspectives, learn from successful and failed ventures, and develop crucial business acumen. This foundation of knowledge equips them to make informed decisions, navigate challenges, and increase their chances of success in the competitive world of entrepreneurship.


I was afraid people wouldn't take me seriously, or would stop respecting me, if I talked about how bad I was feeling. The only people I talked openly about it with was my business partner, Dave Jilk, and my girlfriend - now wife - Amy Batchelor. They were amazingly supportive, but even then, I was deeply ashamed about my weaknesses.

- Brad Feld

Bad, Supportive, Dave, Respecting

I'm a strong believer that you can build great companies in time of both greed and fear. But you have to be paying attention and operating under the right assumptions. You don't have to believe history repeats itself, but you should accept that history rhymes.

- Brad Feld

Strong, Repeats, Rhymes, Believer

While I'd like to be able to simply do all of my financings with a handshake or, possibly, on a napkin written in crayon, I also wish I had a herd of unicorns surrounded by rainbows, a balanced U.S. government budget, and agreement on how to address the debt ceiling issue.

- Brad Feld

Surrounded, Handshake, Had, Debt Ceiling

So many companies talk about increasing the number of prospects at the top of the funnel, but they spend remarkably little time making sure actions are taken - on a daily basis - to make sure these prospects convert into paid users.

- Brad Feld

Prospects, About, Remarkably, Convert

For a long time, I've ranted against naming your startup community 'Silicon Whatever.' Instead, I believe every startup community already has a name. The Boulder startup community is called Boulder. The L.A. startup community is called L.A. The Washington D.C. startup community is called Washington D.C.

- Brad Feld

Against, Boulder, Your, Silicon

I know a lot of companies that have a very well defined post-acquisition process. However, many of them don't take into consideration the dynamics and personalities of the acquiree. Instead, they assume that everyone will happily be assimilated.

- Brad Feld

Very, However, Lot, Assimilated

Governments spend all their time trying to get big companies to relocate their headquarters, and they end up subsidizing the move with tax breaks. And companies that relocate their headquarters are often not meaningful job creators.

- Brad Feld

Big, Creators, Governments, Big Companies

I think 'Shoe Dog' by Phil Knight is the best memoir I've ever read by a business person.

- Brad Feld

Think, Memoir, I Think, Knight

There are two great fictional TV series about technology and the computer industry that each have now had three seasons. The one everyone knows about is 'Silicon Valley.' The lesser-known one is 'Halt and Catch Fire.'

- Brad Feld

Silicon Valley, TV, About, Fictional

Part of the power of having startup communities is it continues to challenge the status quo. So for many of these cities that were once very important and powerful that today are struggling, startup communities are a way for them to rejuvenate themselves.

- Brad Feld

Part, Very, Quo, Status Quo

'Sunspring,' the first known screenplay written by an AI, was produced recently. It is awesome. Awesomely awful. But it's worth watching all ten minutes of it to get a taste of the gap between a great screenplay and something an AI can currently produce.

- Brad Feld

Taste, Awful, Screenplay, AI

While I'm a venture capitalist who invests in early-stage tech companies, I often feel like a professional emailer and conference call maker.

- Brad Feld

Conference, Tech, Capitalist, Tech Companies

I have no idea what the economics of the movie business is, especially with all the new Amazon, Netflix, Showtime, AMC, SyFy, and HBO series. But I am intrigued with what feels like a new type of show - the six-to-eight-hour movie. It's a little too long to watch in one setting, but you can watch it over a three- to five-day period.

- Brad Feld

Movie, Idea, Feels, Intrigued

America's future as the global leader in innovation remains in the balance until our immigration system is fixed. A large portion of a reform package should focus on updating our system to better reflect the business landscape and market realities of the 21st century.

- Brad Feld

Focus, Leader, Portion, Fixed

As I continue to believe that innovation and entrepreneurship are the key drivers to our economic future, it's frustrating to hear such little cogent discussion around it.

- Brad Feld

Innovation, Believe, Entrepreneurship

Some Sundays, I read it quickly - other Sundays, I savor it. I generally spend most of my time in 'The New York Times Book Review,' 'Sunday Business,' 'Sunday Review,' and 'The New York Times Magazine.' I turn all the other pages, only stopping when I find a headline that interests me.

- Brad Feld

Some, Other, Quickly, Savor

Often, entrepreneurs don't build a board until they are forced to by their VCs when they raise their first financing round. This is dumb, as you are missing the opportunity to add at least one person to the team who - as a board member - can help you navigate the early process of building your company and raising that first round.

- Brad Feld

Forced, Entrepreneurs, Least, Financing

I would say my whole universe is probably categorized as guerilla marketing. For a long time, I had a line which was, 'Whenever I hear the word 'marketing,' it makes me throw up a little bit in my mouth.'

- Brad Feld

Line, Had, Whole, Categorized

Both SOPA and PIPA are toxic. My view is that anyone who supports these bills either doesn't understand what they are supporting or is simply no friend of innovation. And, if you are no friend of innovation, I can't support you in any way, as innovation is the lifeblood of our economy, our country, and what I've dedicated my life to.

- Brad Feld

My Life, Country, Our, Supports

I'm usually an excruciatingly happy person.

- Brad Feld

Happy, Person, Happy Person

For those trying to protect the past, it is a way of retaining power, status, money, a way a life, predictability, comfort, control, and a bunch of other things like that. It is a struggle against the inevitability of change.

- Brad Feld

Past, Other, Like, Retaining

It's much easier to get a reception from someone if there is an introduction versus randomly trying to get in front of people.

- Brad Feld

People, Trying, Someone, Versus

I'm not deeply involved in politics, but about 25% of the people I interact with in politics went to law school.

- Brad Feld

Politics, Law, About, Law School

St. Louis is a good example of a vibrant city. Having stayed in a hotel in 2011 overlooking Cardinals stadium when they won the World Series, their fans definitely show up loud and proud.

- Brad Feld

City, Good Example, Show, Stadium

In entrepreneurial circles, it's clear to me that violence, hatred, and discrimination - or whatever you want to label it - is another category where we need to pay attention to disruption before it changes the world in ways we don't want it to.

- Brad Feld

Changes, Another, Before, Category

I talk often about being intrinsically motivated by learning. It's the primary driver of most of my activity.

- Brad Feld

Activity, Motivated, About, Primary

I read a lot of science fiction and biography - these are my two favorite genres. My favorite science fiction writers are Hertling, Suarez, Gibson and Stephenson, but I enjoy many others. I dislike reading business books, although I skim a lot of them.

- Brad Feld

Fiction, Fiction Writers, Science Fiction

I believe that all men and women are created equal, but it took our country until 1920 to acknowledge this for women. And then it took until 1964, the year before I was born, to outlaw discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. And same-sex marriage became the law of the land in 2015.

- Brad Feld

Color, Country, Became, Same-Sex

Think about it for a brief moment. Suspend disbelief. Wind the clock forward 100 years. Do you think, as a species, we will still be struggling with the things that vex us today? Will we still be arguing about the same stuff? We will still be eating Cocoa Puffs? We are at the end of the beginning.

- Brad Feld

Beginning, Arguing, About, Brief Moment

If the crisis lasts moments, rapid action is critical. But if it's simply the beginning of a broader issue, especially one where the root cause isn't known yet, the worst thing a leader can do is act immediately.

- Brad Feld

Leader, Critical, Lasts, Broader

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