Your Name?
Your Phone Numbers?
Your Email address?
Today’s Date?BASIC QUESTIONS:
Position is can be located anywhere in the United States. Where do you currently live?
Are you flexible to relocate? Are there any places in particular that you are definitely interested in or NOT interested in?
When would you be available to start?
Are you currently employed?
Why did you leave or why are you considering leaving your most recent position?
Why did you leave the position you were in before your most recent position?
Board is willing to put together the right package for the right candidate. Compensation package will include a base salary, bonus and stock options plus a full benefits package. What are you looking for in terms of compensation? (Please break it down between base, bonus, and equity. I want to know your minimum and your ideal. What is important to you? If you are flexible, then just say that you are flexible. But, I need to know some type of a range or at least know what ballpark we are in. Thanks! Also, Client would really like to know your comp history—W2s over the last couple of years.)
Need a CEO who can just roll up his/her sleeves and get the job done. Must be very, very good at creating AND executing a strategic plan. Must be able to organize and lead the team while maximizing resources, technology and relationships. Does this describe you? If yes, then please explain. Make sure to give a specific example or two.
The right candidate must be a leader and manager, able to recruit first-rate talentand tightly coordinate their efforts. But, need someone who can build a strong executive team within a timely basis. Do you meet these requirements? If yes, then please explain. (Please provide at least one example of a team you built and/or rebuilt. Make sure to mention if you already have some key executives that you could bring on board with you.)
POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
Must have successful experience as a CEO at a VC-backed or PE-funded technology company at least once during your career. Do you meet this requirement? If no, then please do not complete this form. If yes, then please answer the following questions:
1)What was the name of the company? url?
2)Briefly describe your elevator pitch.
3)Briefly describe your company’s target market.
4)Who were your investors?
5)How much money did you raise for this company?
6)What were your employment dates? (month/year started v. month/year left position)
7)What was your title?
8)How many people were employed by your company when you started v. when you left? Number of direct reports?
9)How did your company generate revenues?
10)What were the approximate company revenues when you started with the company?
11)What were the approximate company revenues when you left the company? (or currently)
12)What was the greatest lesson that you learned while in this position?
13)What was your greatest achievement while in this position?
14)What was the exit strategy? Did it succeed? / PLEASE TYPE YOUR ANSWER TO EACH QUESTION NEXT TO THE CORRESPONDING NUMBER. THANK YOU.
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Our clients are looking for CEOs that fall into one of the following categories: 1)building company from Zero to at least $5M in revenues 2)building company from under $10M to over $20M in revenues (or similar) 3)turnaround situations 4)successfully creating and executing the company’s exit strategy. Do you meet this requirement? If no, then please do not complete this form. If yes, then please answer the following questions:
1)Which category describes you best?
2)How many times have you achieved this in your past? (e.g. 3 times I have built a company from Zero to over $5M, etc.)
3)Please outline at least one specific example that demonstrates your success in this category. Make sure to give specific numbers, not just percentages.
What career path did you follow to become a successful CEO? (E.g. came up through sales, marketing, engineering, product development, technology, etc. Please outline your experience, such as: 15 years in sales & marketing, 5 years as CEO, etc.)
What type of companies do you have a history of success building? (e.g. Software, SaaS, Internet, eCommerce, Social Networking, Web 2.0, Cleantech, Life Sciences, Non-profit, Wireless, Security, Infrastructure, Networking, Telecom, Media, Online Advertising, Hardware, CRM, Professional Services, etc.)
What verticals do you have experience selling a product and/or solution into? (e.g. #1 we sold software or consulting services, or SaaS, etc into Fortune 500, Fortune 1000, Global 2000, Advertising & Marketing, Aerospace, Automotive, Construction, Consumer Products, Education, Electronics, Energy, Entertainment, Financial Services, Government, Health Care, Hospitality, Insurance, Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment, Publishing, Real Estate, Retail, Technology, Telecommunications, Transportation, Utilities, etc. or e.g. #2 we built consumer facing website that targeted 18-35 year old men, etc.)
Candidates must have some equity fund raising experience in the venture capital arena including investor relations.Must have experience packaging and presenting financial and company information to board members and potential investors. Do you meet this requirement? If yes, then please answer the following questions:
1)Please outline 1-3 examples of specific rounds of funding that you have helped raise. Make sure to name the round (Series A, B, etc.), the total amount of the round, the investors involved and explain your involvement in closing the round.
2)What VC firms and/or PE firms do you have or have you had relationships with?
3)How many years of experience do you have in total raising capital?
4)How many years of investor relations experience do you have in total?
5)What companies have you worked for that were VC-backed?
6)How many years of experience do you have in total working for VC-backed tech companies?
7)How many years of experience do you have in total as a CEO? / PLEASE TYPE YOUR ANSWER TO EACH QUESTION NEXT TO THE CORRESPONDING NUMBER. THANK YOU.
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Candidates must be able to evaluate a business plan, do thedue diligence for investors, create and execute an action plan and exit strategy, then ideally lead the company as CEO. Do you meet this requirement? If no, then please do not complete this form. If yes, then please explain. Why are you capable of doing this? If you have previously done it, then please make sure to give a specific example or two.
Candidates that already have specific companies in mind to purchase and/or invest in may get immediate introductions to potential investors. Do you meet this requirement? If no, then please do not complete this form. If yes, then please answer the following questions:
1)Do you have one company in mind to purchase or invest in?
2)What is the industry?
3)Briefly describe the company and target market.
4)Is the company generating revenues? Please explain.
5)Why do you want to buy this company or invest in it?
6)Why do you want to lead this company as CEO?
7)Do you already have a possible exit strategy in mind? If yes, then please explain. / PLEASE TYPE YOUR ANSWER TO EACH QUESTION NEXT TO THE CORRESPONDING NUMBER. THANK YOU.
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Prefer candidates with some acquisition experience and/or experience building significant partnerships. Do you meet this requirement? If yes, then please explain. Make sure to outline a specific example or two.
Candidates with any international experience are a plus. Do you meet this requirement? If yes, then please explain. Make sure to outline a specific example or two. This would be a great place to mention your experience working and traveling outside the United States. Also, mention if you speak any other languages besides English.
PERSONAL SUMMARY:
Must have experience answering to a Board with institutional investors. Focus is on results and ROI. Plan to have a successful exit within a few years. Is this appealing to you? Why? Please describe your management style and work ethics. What do you envision your next big win to be?
Please list for me in order of importance the factors that are going to determine which position you accept next.
What work accomplishment are you most proud of?
What was the greatest lesson that you learned as a CEO?
Tell me about someone who has been in the news within the last decade that you admire. Why do you admire this person?
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