Segway (FD, Tuesday, Week 7)
founders-dilemmasyear-twoRich vs. King challenges: there are very few founders who stay CEO and build massively successful firms. But they are the people everyone knows/emulates: Jobs, Gates, Ellison, Phil Knight, a few others.
Usually, it is hard for founders to develop management skillset to build a huge business fast enough to exploit the opportunity.
Options: founders stay in charge and accept lower potential, founders cash out and accept lower control over business.
Segway: 9 CEOs, raised $176mn in outside funding, sold for $10mn in late 2009.