Very detailed notes of Peter Thiel's startup class at Stanford

I came across a blog with very specific notes on the class Peter Thiel is currently teaching at Stanford. I've been going through a class lecture a day when I get some down time in the office. Here are some takeaways I thought we're good from the first 3 lessons. (Some of these are little obvious, but still hold true)

Lesson 1:
Progress comes in two flavors: horizontal/extensive and vertical/intensive.

  1. Horizontal or extensive progress basically means copying things that work. In one word, it means simply “globalization.”
  2. Vertical or intensive progress, by contrast, means doing new things. The single word for this is “technology.” Intensive progress involves going from 0 to 1 (not simply the 1 to n of globalization)

Lesson 2
“To understand businesses and startups in 2012, you have to do the truly contrarian thing: you have to think for yourself. The question of what is valuable is a much better question than debating bubble or no bubble.

Lesson 3
Maybe making the world a smaller place is exactly what you want to do. Maybe you don’t want to work in big markets. Maybe it’s much better to find or make a small market, excel, and own it.

And yet, the single business idea that you hear most often is: the bigger the market, the better. That is utterly, totally wrong. The restaurant business is a huge market. It is also not a very good way to make money.

http://blakemasters.tumblr.com/

*This is not my blog, and I don't go to Stanford.

 
Best Response

I've been going through a class lecture a day when I get some down time in the office. Here are some takeaways I thought we're good from the first 3 lessons. (Some of these are little obvious, but still hold true)

Lesson 1: Progress comes in two flavors: horizontal/extensive and vertical/intensive.

  1. Horizontal or extensive progress basically means copying things that work. In one word, it means simply “globalization.”
  2. Vertical or intensive progress, by contrast, means doing new things. The single word for this is “technology.” Intensive progress involves going from 0 to 1 (not simply the 1 to n of globalization)

Lesson 2 “To understand businesses and startups in 2012, you have to do the truly contrarian thing: you have to think for yourself. The question of what is valuable is a much better question than debating bubble or no bubble.

Lesson 3 Maybe making the world a smaller place is exactly what you want to do. Maybe you don’t want to work in big markets. Maybe it’s much better to find or make a small market, excel, and own it.

And yet, the single business idea that you hear most often is: the bigger the market, the better. That is utterly, totally wrong. The restaurant business is a huge market. It is also not a very good way to make money.

 
frgna:
Did you happen to run across this on distressed-debt-investing.com? :)

I think I got it from either Ritholtz's blog, or the reformed broker's morning links.I scan through 8-10 blogs every morning on Google reader so can't say for sure. Although I really enjoy DDI, liked today's notes on Oaktree's first quarterly call.

ST Monkey:
met him a couple of times, but I must say, Thiel is a bit strange and kinda off the way with his behavior.

The dude is trying to form a private country off the coast of San Francisco, I'd imagine he might be a little different. You can't deny the guy has great insights.

Not sure if you read Founder's Fund Manifesto, but that's definitely worth checking out... actually he didn't write it, but he definitely had a strong influence.

 

Very interesting, thanks for sharing. I just finished reading "The Lean Startup" (which was recommended to me by someone on WSO). If anyone is interested in learning more about building a successful startup, I suggest you give this book a read (~300 pages).

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

@CompBanker Was it me who recommended Ries's book to you? I don't remember. If so, you should definitely check out Steve Blanks new book The Startup Owner's Manual: The Step-By-Step Guide for Building a Great Company. And it kinda goes hand in hand with Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers. Both great resources. You might be familiar with the Business Model Canvas put together by Osterwalder (it's kinda what he's famous for).

 

Ipsa eum assumenda ea rerum qui adipisci ut. Officia velit voluptatem consequuntur quae consequatur ut natus. Maxime repellat et recusandae dolorum iusto. Corporis non vel dolor quia a. Veniam explicabo itaque et ut quam voluptatem a. Excepturi ipsam nobis voluptatibus. Culpa aut alias magnam dolorem quo non voluptas eos.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”