Suggestions
David Cummings
Entrepreneur
David Cummings is a prominent entrepreneur and investor based in Atlanta, Georgia. He is known for founding multiple successful technology companies and being an active investor in the startup ecosystem. Here are some key details about David Cummings:
Professional Experience
David Cummings has an extensive background in founding and investing in technology companies:
- He is the CEO and Founder of Atlanta Ventures, a venture capital firm he started in October 2012.1
- Cummings is an Investor, Co-Founder, and Board Member of Terminus Software, a position he has held since April 2014.1
- He founded the Atlanta Tech Village in December 2012, which is a startup hub and community in Atlanta.1
- Cummings is also an Investor and Board Member of Calendly, a role he has occupied since February 2014.1
Other Notable Ventures
- He co-founded and invested in SalesLoft, serving on its board since September 2011.1
- Cummings founded Pardot LLC in March 2007 and served as its CEO until October 2012.1
- He is the Founder and Chairman of Hannon Hill Corporation, a position he has held since December 2000.1
Education
David Cummings received his BS degree from Duke University, graduating in 2002.1
Entrepreneurial Approach
Cummings is known for his focus on corporate culture and core values in startups. He emphasizes the importance of aligning interview questions with a company's core values during the hiring process.2 His approach to entrepreneurship often involves creating positive work environments and fostering growth in the tech community.
David Cummings' LinkedIn username is indeed "davidcummings", which aligns with his professional profile and extensive involvement in the tech and startup world in Atlanta.
Highlights
Entrepreneurs should consider the example of event attendance yields when comparing free versus paid events. Paid events, as expected, have a higher yield, which implies a greater level of commitment—even if the amount paid is minimal. Similarly, when entrepreneurs charge for a product, the customer's seriousness is much greater, resulting in higher-quality feedback. Feedback is the lifeblood of products, and the most valuable feedback comes from customers who are invested, even if minimally.
This idea of a negative roadmap is complementary to the normal roadmap. It's a way to document things that are not going to happen in the product or things that are going to be removed from the product. Roadmaps are critically important, and as organizations grow, getting everyone on the same page becomes harder. Adding a negative roadmap to the mix is another exercise in aligning the team around what is not going to happen.
Entrepreneurs should consider adding a negative roadmap to their collection of documents and best practices that they use to run their startup.
