On the TechTO stage ×1
First seen on the TechTO stage in 2017. Every talk is searchable — ask the archive about Michael ↗
In their words
Startups are hard. Most of the time you're in the suck, where things are not working and it's not a lot of fun and you're running out of cash. So if you are in it, definitely be in it to win it.
Those companies that aimed too low, or not for the actual podium — they all died. Even guys like Sony. In the Kobo case we bought them for a dollar, because they aimed too low.
Even when competing against a Goliath, or many Goliaths as the case was with us, there is a way for a David. You just can't be playing Goliath's game — you have to be looking for the strategy that gives you edge.
Around the web ×1
Quick answers
What is Mike Serbinis known for?
Founding League, and before that founding Kobo and growing it into a global e-reading business acquired by Rakuten. He also founded DocSpace, sold to Critical Path, and was an early employee at Zip2.
What does League do?
It replaces the traditional employer benefits plan with a digital health account employees spend on the services they choose, rather than the ones an insurer picked.
What did Mike Serbinis tell TechTO?
Aim for the podium. He argued the e-book companies that set out to be the best small player in one country all died, and that a startup beating a giant has to find an edge rather than play the giant's game.