Session ended
18
Feb
Wed
in-person
WHERE
San Francisco, CAWHEN
12:00 AM - 3:00 AMSPEAKER
David Hersh
You must be Pre-Qualified to Register
The session has already taken place
See upcoming sessionsFounder Blind Spots: The Psychology of Outliers
Founder Blind Spots: The Psychology of Outliers
Why This Matters
You've built something remarkable. You've scaled revenue, hired great teams, and you're approaching or thinking about an exit. But here's what most founders don't talk about: roughly 90% of the critical mistakes made during and after exits aren't about strategy or market dynamics—they're psychological.
Identity crises. Hero complexes. The inability to let go. The shock of sudden wealth. The existential void that comes after the finish line.
These aren't character flaws. They're predictable psychological patterns that derail even the most successful founders—and they're preventable.
What You'll Learn
Join Dave Hersh, founder and former CEO of Jive Software (IPO 2011, $60M+ revenue) and current executive coach and venture investor, as he breaks down:
- The psychological blind spots that cause founders to fumble in the final stretch before exit
- The post-exit identity crisis that catches 70% of founders off guard—and how to navigate it
- The exit wound: why the moment after you "win" is when you're most vulnerable
- Practical frameworks to protect your mental health, your relationships, and your next chapter—whether that's inside or outside your company
Dave has coached dozens of founders through exits and witnessed the patterns firsthand. He's also lived them. After taking Jive public, he spent 10 years in an existential crisis before achieving real clarity. He's here to help you skip that part.
Who Should Attend
- Series A/B founders thinking about or actively preparing for exit
- Founders who've hit product-market fit and are scaling fast
Speaker
“
David Hersh
Founding CEO of Jive Software.
Dave is the author of Reignition (Inc. Originals Press, April 2024), a practical and deeply-researched playbook for helping startups and growth companies get “unstuck” and find their path. He is a general partner at Metamorph Partners, was the founding CEO of Jive Software (NASDAQ IPO in 2011), served as a board partner at Andreessen Horowitz, and has advised hundreds of startups over three decades.
01
all founders,
not just ceo
People inclined to be Founders are a rare breed, and are hard to spot in society. We welcome ALL Founders, regardless of role, and generate proprietary profiles for every member so you can easily find your next team member or co-Founder.
02
current founders
Regardless of where you are on your journey, Founders share a unique set of challenges. Hiring, leadership, managing investors, developing products, handling customer issues, external communications, etc. This community exists to amplify your success.
03
TRANSITIONING FOUNDERS
So you’ve founded at least one company, and now you’re looking to refine your next great idea or find the perfect co-founder. Share and learn from a wide array of talented Founders in your area.
04
CURIOUS FOUNDERS
Congratulations! You’ve found success as a Founder and are now getting curious about doing it again. Now you need to find the right idea and co-founder to excite you. Share your wisdom and passion while forming new bonds within the startup ecosystem in your area.
To Pre-Qualify for participation, please fill out an application
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