[Josh Coates](http://jcoates.org), founder of [Mozy](http://mozy.com) and current CEO of [Instructure](http://www.instructure.com), once taught a series of classes at BYU on high-tech startups. I jumped at the chance to audit his class.
One of the things Josh covered was what should happen during the first 100 days (14 weeks) of a high-tech startup.
Week 1 — Research and choose business
Week 2 — Build financial model and development plan
Week 3 — Build pitch with screenshots and practice
Week 4 — Interview law firm, staff and advisers
Week 5 — Incorporate and setup shop with office space and equipment
Week 6 — Initial documents, books, hires and cap table
Week 7 — Create website and logo (do a trademark search)
Week 8 — Identify 10 to 20 potential investors and study who else they invest in
Week 9 — Practice the pitch and setup meeting with the least important investor
Week 10 — Interview, build product, pitch again
Week 11 — Interview, build product, pitch again
Week 12 — Interview, build product, pitch again
Week 13 — Interview, build product, pitch again
Week 14 — Interview, build product, pitch again
He recommended interviewing one potential employee every day. Pitching to the least important investor first lets you have a chance to practice in a situation where making a mistake isn’t as damaging.
I first met Josh just after publication of an article he wrote on how many angel investors in Utah were doing it wrong. The article, entitled [“Poison in the Well”](http://jcoates.org/poisoninthewell.pdf), in addition to having a great title, was direct and clear in its criticism. It was one of the reasons I later applied to work at Mozy.
For anyone who knows him, I think “direct and clear criticism” is a good phrase to describe what it’s like to work for Josh. His class was no exception. It was a great chance to learn from someone who’s been there and done it successfully.