Will Herman
Will Herman is an entrepreneur who has founded or held senior roles in several tech companies. He was most recently CEO of Innoveda, Inc, a supplier of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software tools and services. He also co-founded Viewlogic Systems in 1984, which, after a roundabout series of IPOs and buyouts resulted in the founding of Innoveda. (We know… it’s confusing.) He also has held senior management positions at Scopus Technology, Silerity and Digital Equipment Corp. Beyond Viewlogic, he was involved in two other software startup operations, Dataware Logic, which he founded, and Health Care Computer Systems. He currently is a director of five private companies and a mentor at TechStars. His blog can be found at www.2-speed.com.
Recent Posts
5 things to ask yourself when hiring
(Editor’s note: Will Herman is an entrepreneur who has founded or held senior roles in several tech companies.This story originally appeared on his blog.)
I’ll take a great team over a great idea in business any day of the week (of course, having both is even better). Ideas, you see, are often fleeting – markets change, technology evolves, competition is a moving target and customers are, sometimes, fickle. Great teams can adapt and continually innovate. … Continue Reading
How much should you look for in your seed round?
(Editor’s note: Will Herman is an entrepreneur who has founded or held senior roles in several tech companies.This story originally appeared on his blog.)
I often run across early stage companies in a real quandary about how much money to take in their first round of funding. That is, the round just beyond the Ramen noodle eating/avoid starvation round that is usually funded out of their own pocket (or, if you prefer, the round that … Continue Reading
Guidelines for potential angel investors
(Editor’s note: Will Herman is an entrepreneur who has founded or held senior roles in several tech companies.This story originally appeared on his blog.)
I did my first angel investment in 1994 and I’m now in the process of wrapping up my 31st (individually, that is, not as part of a fund). It’s also my third in the past six months. I’ve probably done about 30 more as a limited partner in seed funds and … Continue Reading
Startup Visa: It’s time to wake up, America…
(Editor’s note: Will Herman is an entrepreneur who has founded or held senior roles in several tech companies. This story originally appeared on his blog.)
Don’t even get me started about the sorry state of American technological and economic competitiveness and our complete ignorance of what really made the U.S. a great and growing country since its inception.
We are so caught up with balancing what is politically correct, what is politically achievable and … Continue Reading
Get a board of directors – even if you’re not funded
(Editor’s note: Will Herman is an entrepreneur who has founded or held senior roles at several tech companies. This column originally appeared on his blog.)
Every company needs a board of directors – even startups.
Well, OK, maybe not every company. Raw startups – two people in a garage kinda thing – shouldn’t waste their time with anything formal. But young companies – those that are established and on their way, regardless of their … Continue Reading
Why do entrepreneurs flock to loudmouths as mentors?
(Editor’s note: Will Herman is an entrepreneur who has founded or held senior roles at several tech companies. This column originally appeared on his blog.)
I’m fortunate that I get to work with many startups, both independently and with TechStars where I’m a mentor. There is no better way to learn than through teaching (learning is the most fun you can have, at least for a sustained period) and there are few better students … Continue Reading
Auto racing and start-ups aren’t that different, really
(Editor’s note: Will Herman is an entrepreneur who has founded or held senior roles at several tech companies. This column originally appeared on his blog.)
When beginners attend auto racing or high performance driving school, they learn that drivers tend to go where they’re looking - and where they look is usually only 10-15 feet in front of their vehicle.
I see this all the time as I’m riding my bike. While cycling on … Continue Reading
Want to avoid ugly layoffs? Prune and upgrade as you go
(Editor’s note: Will Herman is an entrepreneur who has founded or held senior roles at several tech companies. This column originally appeared on his blog.)
An investor and board member of one of my early companies used to say: “any day, any time, you can fire a canon through the company’s building and not miss the employees taken out in the blast.”
I wish I could definitively say that he phrased it that way just … Continue Reading
