Like the Titanic, venture failure is nearly always the result of a series of errors that are not obvious—problems that lurk beneath the surface—that are a consequence of navigating uncertainty in the early stages of development. Authors of The Titanic Effect: Successfully Navigating the Uncertainties that Sink Most Startups, speakers and business professors Dr. Todd Saxton and Dr. Kim Saxton will draw on lessons learned from the Titanic, as well as case studies of failed and successful startups, to show your audience similar patterns for entrepreneurial ventures. For instance, they will demonstrate how hidden debts accumulated early in the life of even the most promising startup can subsequently sink them. They will help startups as well as their investors navigate the uncertainties they will face, and improve their odds of success.
Dr. Todd Saxton is an associate professor and Indiana Venture Faculty Fellow at the IU Kelley School of Business and an award-winning professor of strategy and entrepreneurship. Todd has advised, helped launch, and invested in hundreds of startups spanning life sciences, software, sports, consumer products, and services. Todd serves on the board of multiple entrepreneurial ventures, including VisionTech Angel Partners, the largest angel investing group in Indiana; Diagnotes, a venture-funded health IT firm he helped found; and Fight for Life Foundation, a not-for-profit providing social and emotional learning for the deserving but underserved.
Dr. Kim Saxton has over thirty years of marketing and market-research experience, working with large corporations, startups, and medium-sized businesses. Currently, she is a clinical professor of marketing at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. Her teaching success has been recognized through numerous teaching awards, including an across-Indiana-University President’s Award for Teaching Excellence. Kim’s research on market segmentation, branding, promotional strategies, venture success, and venture ecosystems has been published in numerous international academic journals. She also serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Advertising Research. Kim is an active angel investor and advisor to high-potential startups. She is a member of the advisory board for The Startup Ladies, a community-based organization helping women launch their startups through training and access to investors. She has served as an executive mentor for a wide variety of women-founded startups.
