The unique business environment and cultural dynamics during the economic transition period following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
2 episodes
Mike Blake recounts his chaotic first trip to Russia in 1993 as a 23-year-old hired to run a USAID privatization program. After missing his flight in Frankfurt, he navigated visa complications, outdated Soviet aircraft, and ultimately accepted hospitality from self-proclaimed smugglers who helped reunite him with his contact in Minsk.
Mike Blake, founder of High Score Strategies, discusses business valuation methodology, the changing landscape of patent protection, and his journey from venture capital to founding Atlanta's influential Startup Lounge networking series. He shares insights on when valuations help or hinder startup negotiations, the dramatic weakening of patent value through PTAB proceedings, and his recent relocation to Portugal.
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