Cisco: The Founder's Dilemma | Venture Lost | 2

Business Movers

Wondery

History, Business, Entrepreneurship

4.8 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 21 September 2023

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

After two years of running Cisco out of their home, Sandy and Len have finally grown Cisco to a point where it makes modest profits and they can afford an actual office. To reach the next level, they’ll need to step out of their bubble and form a partnership with an investor. But not all matches are made in heaven.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, Prime members, you can listen to business movers add free on Amazon music. Download the app today.
0:23.0	It's late 1986 at the home of Sandy Learner and Len Bozak in Hatherton, California.
0:29.0	In the living room, Sandy seals up a large cardboard box of documents and binders.
0:35.0	They're the records of Cisco Systems, the company Sandy founded with her husband, Len, two years ago.
0:41.0	The couple maxed out their credit cards and remorgaged their house to fund the tech firm in its earliest days.
0:47.0	But their finance plans didn't include an actual office, so for months Cisco has been building and distributing its groundbreaking routers from Sandy and Len's living room.
0:57.0	It's been a cramped working space for the small team of computer engineers and they've all had to put in long hours to get the company off the ground.
1:04.0	But their efforts have paid off. Cisco is growing and now Sandy and Len can finally afford an office.
1:11.0	Today is moving day. A sweaty and red-faced Len appears in the doorway. He nods at the box on the floor.
1:18.0	Is that the last one? The truck's waiting. Yep, this is the last box. Give me a hand. You bet.
1:25.0	Together, they lift the heavy cardboard box off the floor and Len struggles for grip.
1:30.0	God, you packed enough in this one? Why didn't want to make up another box?
1:34.0	They stagger across the room with the box between them. And as they near the door, Sandy shoots Len a smile.
1:40.0	You know, it's going to be strange having our living room back again. We'll be able to sit on the couch. I'll be able to play the piano again.
1:48.0	Well, if we ever get the time.
1:50.0	Sandy stops and looks anxiously at the phone ringing on the sideboard.
1:54.0	Sandy, no. You're not going to pick that up now. Could be a customer. Could be important.
1:59.0	We're holding a heavy box fighting gravity. This is important. Sandy, just let it go.
2:04.0	I can't hold this on my own. Sandy.
2:07.0	As Len totters to the ground with the heavy box, Sandy darts away to the ringing phone.
2:12.0	Cisco systems, you reach Sandy learner. Oh, hey, Jay. No, I can talk. What's the issue?
2:18.0	Len humbles over. Sandy, the truck is waiting. We have to go.
	...

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