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Startup Successes: Comparing Zip2 and Paypal

By Elon Musk - Stanford
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Lecture Description

Musk talks about the common themes between zip2 and PayPal. Both companies had software and internet technology at the heart, were in Palo Alto, CA, took similar approach to growing (building small talented teams), and had a typical silicon valley flat structure. These companies did not worry too much about IP and paperwork - they were focused on building a great product. Often it is better to pick a path and do it than to vacillate on which path to follow, Musk notes.

Course Index

  1. Career Development
  2. Founding of Paypal
  3. Success Through Viral Marketing: PayPal
  4. Selling the Company: Paypal to eBay
  5. Opportunities in Space: Mars Oasis
  6. Space Travel Today
  7. Positioning and Competition: Space Travel
  8. Startup Successes: Comparing Zip2 and Paypal
  9. Viral Marketing
  10. Challenges in the Space Industry
  11. Why is Space Travel So Expensive?
  12. Customer Base: Paypal vs. SpaceX
  13. Qualities of an Entrepreneur
  14. History of SpaceX
  15. Career Development: To MBA or Not?
  16. Reducing Company Costs: Paypal and SpaceX
  17. Patents and Paypal
  18. Space Mining vs. Human Space Flight
  19. Government and Space Travel
  20. What is the Right Time to Sell?
  21. History of Zip2
  22. Decreasing Costs in Space Travel
  23. Space Travel is Not for the First-Time Entrepreneur