@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
PURPOSE
MISSION
STRATEGY
@nickgrossman
SF
Palo Alto
LA
Detroit
Kansas City
Des Moines
NYC
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Toronto
Tallinn
Eindhoven
London
Paris
Berlin
Dusseldorf
Ljubljana
www.usv.com
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
what is your company’s mission?

(in 10 words or less)
@nickgrossman
Expand human ingenuity to the sky.
@nickgrossman
Help people be more 

free and safe on the internet.
@nickgrossman
Spark a world of community 

where people feel powerful & welcomed.
@nickgrossman
Give people insight to what

is going on in their bodies.
@nickgrossman
Help students learn.
@nickgrossman
Empower lawyers to best fight 

for their clients and our rights.
@nickgrossman
Give people skills that help 

them increase their livelihoods.
@nickgrossman
Make teaching fun and effective.
@nickgrossman
Advocate for the value of artists 

and creativity to society.
@nickgrossman
Give people more time.
@nickgrossman
isn’t this just fluffy nonsense?
@nickgrossman
https://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/12.Is-blue-ocean-strategy-more-or-less-relevant-today.jpg
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
http://dothedude.blogspot.com/2014/03/cluster-fuck-chinese-style.html
https://foundationsofliterarystudies.wordpress.com/2015/01/14/victor-frankenstein-mad-scientist/
@nickgrossman
observation:
the companies with the strongest 

connection between purpose & strategy 

are the best at making tough calls.
@nickgrossman
PURPOSE
MISSION
STRATEGY
@nickgrossman
PURPOSE
MISSION
STRATEGY
why do we exist?
@nickgrossman
PURPOSE
MISSION
STRATEGY
why do we exist?
who do we serve?
@nickgrossman
PURPOSE
MISSION
STRATEGY
why do we exist?
who do we serve?
how do we do it?
@nickgrossman
5 WAYS
to connect purpose, mission and strategy
@nickgrossman
find your true north
(then be flexible)
1
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
1.1B
API calls
per day
@nickgrossman
1.1B
API calls
per day
90% of
revenue
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
mission: bring emotional well-being to everyone.
@nickgrossman
mission: bring emotional well-being to everyone.
@nickgrossman
mission: bring emotional well-being to everyone.
@nickgrossman
mission: bring emotional well-being to everyone.
Koko offers services that

help social networks manage 

crisis, abuse, and bullying.
@nickgrossman
mission: bring emotional well-being to everyone.
Koko offers services that

help social networks manage 

crisis, abuse, and bullying.
product vision: Koko is the empathy layer for products.
@nickgrossman
build a goal hierarchy
2
@nickgrossman
Goal
Goal Goal Goal
Goal Goal Goal Goal Goal Goal
Top-level
Mid-level
Low-level
Angela Duckworth: GRIT
@nickgrossman
Goal
Goal Goal Goal
Goal Goal Goal Goal Goal Goal
Top-level
Mid-level
Low-level
Angela Duckworth: GRIT
X
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
OUR MISSION:
create an open financial system for the world.
@nickgrossman
OUR MISSION:
create an open financial system for the world.
OUR STRATEGY:
be the most trusted, and the easiest to use.
@nickgrossman
OUR MISSION:
create an open financial system for the world.
OUR STRATEGY:
be the most trusted, and the easiest to use.
if you’re working one of those, you’re doing the right thing.
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
IPFS
@nickgrossman
Filecoin
IPFS
@nickgrossman
MISSION
Filecoin
IPFS
@nickgrossman
MISSION
We believe the internet has
become humanity's most
important technology.
Filecoin
IPFS
@nickgrossman
MISSION
We believe the internet has
become humanity's most
important technology.
We build protocols,
systems, and tools to
improve how it works.
Filecoin
IPFS
@nickgrossman
MISSION
We believe the internet has
become humanity's most
important technology.
We build protocols,
systems, and tools to
improve how it works.
Today, we are focused on
how we store, locate, and
move information.
Filecoin
IPFS
@nickgrossman
learn to say no
3
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
is this a network?
@nickgrossman
is this a network?
if yes, proceed
@nickgrossman
is this a network?
if yes, proceed if no, don’t
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
Top goals
⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤
@nickgrossman
Top goals
⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤
@nickgrossman
Top goals
⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤
⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤
@nickgrossman
Top goals
⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤
⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤
AVOID 

at all costs
@nickgrossman
what would you do?
(differently from your competitors)
4
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
make it tangible
5
@nickgrossman
twilio
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
you are never finished
lastly…
@nickgrossman
nick@usv.com
@nickgrossman
www.nickgrossman.is
thanks!
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman
@nickgrossman

Purpose, Mission & Strategy