Silicon Valley Ed Tech with Nicola Boyd

Belay Ed
Belay Ed
Aug 8, 2017 · 2 min read

In the second of a series of interviews getting to know entrepreneurs, Tenzing’s Glenn Elliott meets Nicola Boyd co-founder at Versame, a Californian ed-tech startup that’s making big waves with Starling — the world’s first wearable for child development.

Nicola Boyd is Co-founder at Versame, the Silicon Valley Ed-tech startup.

Now based in Menlo Park, home of many of Silicon Valley hottest startup and backed by VC’s who specialise in education technology, Nicola’s story is unusual. Her career started in the UK and she spent 9 years on the other side of the table — in private equity. We were keen to find out what Nicola had learned having been on both sides of investing.

  • What was it that made Nicola jump across to the entrepreneur side?
  • What have the hardest lessons been?
  • How does she manage her investor? What tips does she have?
  • How do VC’s compare to private equity? How are their models different? Do they look for different businesses?
  • Having been on both sides, how would Nicola choose an investor now? What would she look for? And how would she get the best terms?

Belay’s Glenn Elliott dropped in on Nicola to find out the answers.

Tenzing’s real expert on education technology is the super-smart Louise Rogers who has forgotten more about this subject than Glenn will ever know. She was in New York whilst Glenn & Nicola were in San Francisco so we had to muddle through with Glenn. Whatever next? Louise Rogers talking employee engagement?

Belay Notes is the independent blog of the Tenzing Entrepreneurs Panel. The Tenzing people are truly lovely and give us all the freedom we need to talk about entrepreneurship in a private equity context. We have editorial freedom so if you don’t like anything here it’s not their fault. More on Tenzing over on their proper website at tenzing.pe.

Belay Notes

Independent thought, advice and problem avoidance for fast growth entrepreneurs. From the Entrepreneurs Panel at Tenzing Private Equity. Views are our own and quite often not Tenzing’s.

Belay Ed

Written by

Belay Ed

Six seasoned entrpreneurs who’ve been through the mill. Now dedicating a bit of time to helping the next generation of entrpreneurs and growth CEO’s.

Belay Notes

Independent thought, advice and problem avoidance for fast growth entrepreneurs. From the Entrepreneurs Panel at Tenzing Private Equity. Views are our own and quite often not Tenzing’s.

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