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Podcast Summary:

Steinar is a 24 year old Dutch Founding CEO that is proving that you can have a positive world impact, build a great company, and make a great profit. His interesting laser technology helps to remove birds many businesses like farming and aerospace where safety and product may be at risk. But, it’s his very mature thoughts and stories about being a Founding CEO that I know will interest you. He speaks about:

• This quote: “I really took the lean startup approach…I developed a very simple product…sold it to farmers because they were the easiest customers. From the money I earned from that we started to develop more and produce more…so really bootstrapping…”
• This quote: “One trick I discovered….if we had a certain development project…I outsourced to our main contractor…”
• This quote: “I spend my time at hiring, marketing, strategy, and business development…sometimes a little product development.”
• This quote: “The sales funnel is not something that I would not want to manage.”
• Hiring:
  1. “In the beginning what was very difficult for me was to get the right people on board on the team….I actually learned…that you should aim for the best and do not compromise.”
  2. “Just aim for the best.”
  3. “I made…some mistakes hiring people who were not very competent…”
  4. “I gave too much responsibility to people who were not up to the job.”
  5. “Interns can not be…part of your core team…they should have a project to finish…”
• Granting equity:
  1. “When you are successful as a company…people…want a piece of the pie…”
  2. Use it to “commit people to a longer period of time.”
  3. “Do not make the decision too soon.”

Name: Steinar Henskes, Founder & CEO

Company: Bird Control Group

Powerful Promise of Value: Bird Control Group develops products that provide solutions to keep birds at a safe distance, ensuring customers a safer working environment and a highly effective way to prevent damage.

Headquartered In: Delft, The Netherlands

Leadership Struggle:  “In the beginning what was very difficult for me was to get the right people on board on the team….I actually learned…that you should aim for the best and do not compromise.”

Favorite Productivity Software: Trello, Google Mail labels

Daily Habit: Breakfast – Oatmeal

Delegation Technique: Give people trust and responsibility to really take on the job

CEO Question: “What do you think yourself of the results?”

Meeting Advice: Keep the time, prepare and agenda

Favorite Magazine, Book, Podcast, or Blog: Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist (Brad Feld & Jason Mendelson)

Contacts: www.birdcontrolgroup.com, @SteinarFinn (Twitter),  https://nl.linkedin.com/in/steinarhenskes