Konstantin Othmer on the Valley Advantage

Thanks, Kon made the interview easy. I think we need a preferred provider list, because who to go to for legal? I don't know unless I ask someone who would know. I should be able to find that info online.

This is a fascinating interview for many reasons. Great job again, Russ. I want to comment on the last part of the interview -- about attorneys in Silicon Valley willing to defer payment for legal services to a startup until it raises money. I'm curious what others have experienced in Atlanta, since I haven't needed new legal support yet after relocating here. However, the Ohio-based law firm I use for intellectual-property purposes de facto took the same path. It has always billed full rate (as was mentioned for Silicon Valley firms in the video), and for the beginning years we paid when due. As company resources ran low but patent expenses kept being generated, the law firm agreed to defer payment for ongoing expenses until future funding, except for out-of-pocket costs and at least one payment on account each year. This approach was never discussed, since I never expected the markets for our planned products to take so long to develop. However, like described for startups in Silicon Valley, it has given us a much longer runway while the markets developed and to find the right product-market fit necessary for a successful launch. So my experience, far from Silicon Valley (although not in Atlanta),with law firms was similar to that described in the interview -- except that the option either was "off the menu" or else I didn't know back then to ask to see the "special menu" in the first place. (I did ask whether they would accept equity in lieu of payment, but was told they do not.)

Konstantin's level of sharing and enthusiasm made for a great of interview. Having once worked inside the 'innovation wing' of a Fortune 50 myself, I can attest it was both an invaluable experience and eye-opening to witness the power of policy. There are absolutely folks who care about advancing the product and elevating the customer experience. The problem is they are usually outnumbered 5 to 1 by the policy pushers. What excites me is I'm seeing more and more of the corporate innovators migrating to startups. People who've worked on the world's largest technology platforms and websites are now becoming entrepreneurs in the Atlanta scene. Combining this talent with our excellent graduate community will lead to a boon in the economy. Russell, keep the good stuff flowin'...

Terrific interview! I had the great pleasure of working with Kon at Apple, and it was just as he's describing (if anything, he might even be soft-peddling it a bit... it was intense, and we were all there to change the world, one computer at a time).

Very good interview. It should be requred viewing material by those in government who think they can "save" companies like GM and Chrysler and others "too big to fail" with money, tough talk and aggressive goals.

The large pool of technology obsessed persons that would make great founders and early employees, the excellent service providers, etc.

I should have put that in the post's text. Will do so now.

Konstantin is a member of Seraph Group.

Excellent video. The day I had today felt very much like dealing with the GM union. Also interesting is that the company I'm with is on the anti-portfolio list. So what would you say is the number one thing represented in the discussion that is missing in ATL?