YC
VMware Cofounder Diane Greene with Jessica Livingston at the Female Founders Conference
@ Y Combinator
08/05/17
Takeaways
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Diane Greene
08/05/17
@ Y Combinator
I co-founded VMware with my husband, who was a professor at Stanford, after realizing the value of his research and the need to take it to market.
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Diane Greene
08/05/17
@ Y Combinator
In the late 90s, during the dot-com era, we faced skepticism about our software that allowed users to run multiple operating systems on one machine.
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Diane Greene
08/05/17
@ Y Combinator
We raised our initial funding through a friends-and-family round, ensuring that only those who understood our vision could invest.
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Diane Greene
08/05/17
@ Y Combinator
When seeking investors, it's crucial to find those who deeply understand your business and can provide valuable insights.
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Diane Greene
08/05/17
@ Y Combinator
I initially thought it was selfish not to sell VMware when others wanted to, but in hindsight, I'm glad I didn't, as it allowed me to spend valuable time with my kids.
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Diane Greene
08/05/17
@ Y Combinator
Joining the board of Google after leaving VMware was a significant step, and I was one of the few women on that board, which made a difference in discussions.
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Diane Greene
08/05/17
@ Y Combinator
In 2012, I started a new venture in stealth mode because of the ambitious nature of the project and the high interest in my work.
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Diane Greene
08/05/17
@ Y Combinator
I believed there was a need for a company focused on building applications for enterprises, as it involves more complexity with multiple users and access.
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Diane Greene
08/05/17
@ Y Combinator
I realized that if you combine Google's technology, AI, and machine learning with what Bebop was doing, it would be pretty special.
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Diane Greene
08/05/17
@ Y Combinator
The cloud is a giant revolution, and everything in the enterprise is moving so fast; we will likely end up with just a few major cloud providers.
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Diane Greene
08/05/17
@ Y Combinator
You need to ensure your operating system in the cloud is constantly updated and monitored for security, similar to how Gmail operates with over 1.2 billion users.
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Diane Greene
08/05/17
@ Y Combinator
When selecting a board of directors, aim for individuals who can help you rather than those you have to manage; I chose board members with unique expertise that aligned with my needs at VMware.
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Diane Greene
08/05/17
@ Y Combinator
I approached Larry Sonsini to join my board because I needed someone experienced in structuring deals with major companies like Intel and Microsoft.
DG
Diane Greene
08/05/17
@ Y Combinator
When I asked Larry Sonsini to join my board, I explained why I needed him and how his unique skills matched my goals, which ultimately led him to agree.