Startup Secrets with Activision Co-Founder Howard Marks

04/26/21 • 101 min

Welcome back to another episode of Leveling Up hosted on Clubhouse! Today’s guest is Howard Marks, the legend behind Activision and Acclaim who has recently been pioneering crowdfunded investing with his company StartEngine. We also open up the floor to a bunch of different people in the Clubhouse chat who ask brilliant questions all centered around building a successful startup, from how to land funding to defending yourself from the competition. Tune in today!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:41] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
[02:12] The story of acquiring Activision, moving to LA, and the innovations that followed.
[12:53] Alisa Jacobs from Queens Gaming Collective introduces herself and her company.
[14:48] Further details of Howard’s process of acquiring Activision.
[17:10] Trouble Activision was in and Howard’s process of reinvigorating it.
[21:36] Feeling things out, thinking in decades, and utilizing lawyers and bankruptcy.
[23:48] What drives Howard and why he started StartEngine, and how it has evolved.
[38:53] How StartEngine is innovating in the landscape of raising capital using crowdfunding.
[44:02] The three core pillars of a successful crowdfund.
[45:25] A brief description of how to utilize Clubhouse to connect with new friends.
[48:29] Qualities Howard looks for in founders that make him want to fund them.
[51:47] Howard’s belief in having an impossible mission and how he arrived at it.
[53:59] The mission, values, stated goal, strategy hierarchy.
[57:44] What industries Howard is most fascinated with.
[59:12] Whether StartEngine invests in Latin American companies.
[1:01:45] How to defend yourself against bigger competitors in your industry.
[1:03:20] When to start raising capital and what investors look for in early-stage companies.
[1:07:52] The importance of aligned KPIs and OKRs with your investors
[1:10:25] How the conversation around equity crowdfunding has changed.
[1:14:39] Hear how servicing companies would get funding from StartEngine.
[1:17:04] Howard’s perspectives on startup opportunities in the cloud gaming sphere.
[1:20:47] Creating a minimum viable product and balancing school with entrepreneurship.
[1:23:45] Advice on getting the gaming and tech community to adopt your technology.
[1:25:50] What is preventing StartEngine from funding thousands of companies per month.
[1:27:52] The lack of purpose in pitches by passionate people on Clubhouse.
[1:32:50] When to know whether to take on more funding if it is available.
[1:36:11] Howard’s favorite game of all time.

Resources From The Interview:

Leave Some Feedback:

What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.
Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here
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Startup Secrets with Activision Co-Founder Howard Marks

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:41] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
[02:12] The story of acquiring Activision, moving to LA, and the innovations that followed.
[12:53] Alisa Jacobs from Queens Gaming Collective introduces herself and her company.
[14:48] Further details of Howard’s process of acquiring Activision.
[17:10] Trouble Activision was in and Howard’s process of reinvigorating it.
[21:36] Feeling things out, thinking in decades, and utilizing lawyers and bankruptcy.
[23:48] What drives Howard and why he started StartEngine, and how it has evolved.
[38:53] How StartEngine is innovating in the landscape of raising capital using crowdfunding.
[44:02] The three core pillars of a successful crowdfund.
[45:25] A brief description of how to utilize Clubhouse to connect with new friends.
[48:29] Qualities Howard looks for in founders that make him want to fund them.
[51:47] Howard’s belief in having an impossible mission and how he arrived at it.
[53:59] The mission, values, stated goal, strategy hierarchy.
[57:44] What industries Howard is most fascinated with.
[59:12] Whether StartEngine invests in Latin American companies.
[1:01:45] How to defend yourself against bigger competitors in your industry.
[1:03:20] When to start raising capital and what investors look for in early-stage companies.
[1:07:52] The importance of aligned KPIs and OKRs with your investors
[1:10:25] How the conversation around equity crowdfunding has changed.
[1:14:39] Hear how servicing companies would get funding from StartEngine.
[1:17:04] Howard’s perspectives on startup opportunities in the cloud gaming sphere.
[1:20:47] Creating a minimum viable product and balancing school with entrepreneurship.
[1:23:45] Advice on getting the gaming and tech community to adopt your technology.
[1:25:50] What is preventing StartEngine from funding thousands of companies per month.
[1:27:52] The lack of purpose in pitches by passionate people on Clubhouse.
[1:32:50] When to know whether to take on more funding if it is available.
[1:36:11] Howard’s favorite game of all time.

Resources From The Interview:

Leave Some Feedback:

What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.
Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here
Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes
Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed

Connect with Eric Siu:

Previous Episode

How I Sold $65,000 of Books Using Clubhouse

While Clubhouse might not as big a thing that some have been professing it to be, that does not mean that it has no use to you and your business. In today's episode, Eric explains how he used the Clubhouse app to spark $65,000 worth of book sales and the smart methods he used to up-sell certain customers. Tuning in you will hear about NFTs, what it takes to build Clubhouse credibility, and more!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:11] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
[00:29] The rooms that Eric hosted on Clubhouse to boost his sales of Leveling Up.
[01:31] Time that Eric spent building relationships on Clubhouse in early 2021.
[02:15] How Eric redirected conversations on Clubhouse to the bulk orders page on his website.
[03:50] The possibility of selling NFTs on Clubhouse and the money that is currently being made.
[04:44] Concerns about the future of Clubhouse and why it might not beat out its competitors.
[05:04] We'll see you tomorrow!

Resources From The Interview:

Leave Some Feedback:

What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.
Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here
Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes
Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed

Connect with Eric Siu:

Next Episode

What To Make Of Apple's Podcast Subscriptions

In today’s episode, Eric shares his thoughts on Apple’s new Apple Podcasts Subscriptions and analytics feature called Podcast Connect. He explains how one of its features enables podcasters to add different channels for SEO, email, and paid media, among other things, to group or curate episodes. Eric compares this to the membership platform of Supercast and breaks down the pros and cons of each. To find out whether or not Eric will be making use of Apple’s new features and why, tune in today!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:13] An introduction to Apple’s new Apple Podcasts Subscriptions and analytics feature Podcast Connect.
[01:09] How Apple has enhanced their podcast analytics: Stepping things up because they have been losing ground to Spotify.
[01:29] New feature: You can add different channels for SEO, email, paid media, to group or curate episodes.
[01:45] Eric compares Apple Connect to Supercast and breaks down the pros and cons of each:
Apple doesn’t provide much data, Supercast takes a percentage of revenue but gives you more control.
[03:04] Some of the features offered by Apple Podcasts Subscriptions: Exclusive content, ad-free listening, and access to additional content.
[03:57] Why it may make sense to launch a transcription on both.
[04:57] The earning potential from Apple Podcasts Subscriptions.
[05:40] How much the Market School Podcast makes per month on subscriptions.
[06:02] A recap: It has analytics from Apple, a Podcast Next section, and the ability to add subscriptions.

Resources From The Interview:

Leave Some Feedback:

What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.
Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here
Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes
Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed

Connect with Eric Siu: