Information Sciences and Technology

Heard on Campus: John Kim, founder of Five9 and CEO of DoctorBase

John Kim, co-founder of Five9 and CEO of DoctorBase, gives tips on acquiring venture capital funding during IST Start-up Week at University Park campus. Credit: Emilee Spokus / Penn StateCreative Commons

“When you pitch your idea, a lot of VCs [venture capitalists] will tell you no or simply won’t reply. Don't be a wussy -- don’t take no lying down! You’ve got to keep following up! Sometimes they test you and want to see if you’ll follow up. They want to see if you have the mettle to keep bothering them.”

-- John Sung Kim, 1997 Penn State graduate and founder of Five9 and CEO of DoctorBase, motivating students on how to handle potential rejection when seeking funding for a start-up. Kim’s company Five9 raised more than $80 million in venture capital and is widely recognized as the leading company in that space. 

Kim spoke Wednesday (April 9), giving a talk on “How to raise money for your idea: The language of investors,” as part of IST Start-up Week 2014, a week-long showcase of innovations and entrepreneurship featuring “insider” talks by industry giants, cutting-edge technology demonstrations, and numerous networking opportunities for Penn State students who aspire to be trailblazers in whatever field they choose.

Last Updated April 15, 2014