Maria Pennanen

How to f*ck up your startup Maria Pennanen

During the ICO boom, it seemed any startup - no matter how ridiculous the idea or inexperienced the team - could get funding. A few of these companies succeeded, but most were scams that served as cover for greedy, narcissistic founders who just wanted to get rich quick. In How to F*ck Up Your Startup: Learnings from ICOs, leadership failures and egocentric founders, angel investor Maria Pennanen recounts a harrowing experience working for one such ICO project. She attempts to overcome internal workplace drama, incompetent management, and an indecisive, conflict-avoidant CEO to help a startup succeed. Along the way, she learns many valuable lessons about herself, about trust, and about what it really takes to win in business. Through personal testimony and more formalised lessons, Maria shares her wisdom and presents vital information for anyone working in the fast-paced, ever-changing startup world.