Erik J. Heels
About Erik J. Heels
STARTUP WINS: I am a startup enthusiast: about 6 startups as an employee; about 6 startups as a founder/cofounder; hundreds of startup clients advised by Clocktower. Since 2001, over 40 of Clocktower's clients have been acquired with exits valued at over $6 billion. Notable clients include: * KAYAK (acquired by Priceline) * AppNexus (acquired by AT&T) * Right Media (acquired by Yahoo!) * Agile (acquired by Oracle) * Onshape (acquired by PTC) * Layer3 TV (acquired by T-Mobile) * Smarterer (acquired by Pluralsight) * Helium (acquired by RR Donnelley) * Unidesk (acquired by Citrix) * BzzAgent (acquired by Tesco's Dunnhumby) Clocktower helps companies protect their ideas with patents; their brands with trademarks. Because I have startup experience, I understand how intellectual property (IP) works in the real world. I know what it takes to execute, and that's why so many of our clients recommend Clocktower. Contact me at erik@clocktowerlaw.com. NOTABLE FAILURES: I am always seeking the next perfect startup to help, but most startups fail, and here's what I've learned from some of my failures: * FailBlog.com (2007-2008). The importance of timing and LUCK. And irony. * Bitpipe (2000-2001). The importance of TEAM. Not a good team fit for me. * RedStreet (1997-2001). The importance of PRODUCT. Couldn't hone ours in time. * Counsel Connect, CourtTV, Inherent.com (1995-1997). The importance of MARKET. Selling Internet to lawyers in the 1990s sucked because they weren't ready. * My first marriage (1991-2009). The importance of work-life balance. BIO: Erik Heels grew up in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, where he enjoyed pick-up baseball, basketball, football, and ice hockey. He graduated from MIT, served on active duty in the USAF, and then graduated from law school, writing a book that paid for law school. He then worked for 6+ startups as a non-lawyer for 6+ years, including a 4-year stint with Verio, which was sold to NTT for $6 billion in 2000. In his spare time, Erik enjoys baseball, blogging, building (backyard ice hockey rinks, igloo, startups, treehouses), and seeking the perfect Hammond B-3 sound on his keyboard.