Ever wonder what it really takes to build a company from scratch, navigate the wild world of startups, and eventually exit with a smile (and probably a pretty hefty bank account)? I had a fascinating conversation with Court Lorenzini, the co-founder of DocuSign (yeah, that DocuSign), on the Startup Project podcast, and let me tell you, it's packed with insights that'll make you rethink your entire approach to entrepreneurship.
Court's journey is anything but ordinary. We're talking multiple engineering degrees, a stint at Cisco during its meteoric rise (apparently everyone cool was at Cisco back then), and then diving headfirst into the nascent internet era to build one of the very first e-commerce engines. And that was just the warm-up act.
Then came DocuSign.
Turns out, the idea wasn't some overnight epiphany. It was a slow, strategic grind, fueled by a patented idea and a killer name. Court shared the inside scoop on those early days – how landing Microsoft as a client (they actually called him!) was a game-changer, and how partnering with the National Association of Realtors catapulted DocuSign into the mainstream.
He even predicted DocuSign's market dominance years in advance. Seriously, this guy knows his stuff.
But here's the thing that really struck me: Court isn't just about the big exits. He’s a serial entrepreneur, driven by the thrill of building something from nothing. He even shared his most spectacular failure – a rocket-ship startup that crashed and burned in just three months.
The story is a rollercoaster.
Now, Court's paying it forward with Founder Nexus, a unique community designed to connect and support experienced founders. It's not your average networking group – think curated forums, rapid-fire knowledge sharing, and a focus on helping founders navigate the startup landscape.
We also touched on some other juicy topics: Court’s approach to angel investing (hint: it involves actively trying to kill his own ideas), his thoughts on the current venture landscape (AI is hot, but valuations are… interesting), and even why he got three master’s degrees.
This conversation is a goldmine for anyone even remotely interested in the startup world.
Court's insights are practical, relatable, and incredibly valuable. I highly recommend giving it a listen.
You can find the full episode of the Startup Project podcast on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you listen to audio.
It’s worth your time.
If you like this episode please subscribe to the podcast for future founder insights.
Nataraj
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