Career

In General

In his career as an entrepreneur, Mouli has been one of the few to have success in biotechnology and high technology. His start-ups have generated well over $3B in shareholder value. In recognition of his ability to generate mega investment in the economy and the creation of thousands of jobs, Mouli was awarded the first-ever "Millionaire Residency" with full citizenship status by President George H. Bush.

With a comfortable capacity for independent thought, Mouli has been able to successfully recognize common sense opportunity. This, combined with a wide circle of competency has produced some exceptional results.

The most significant advances in science and engineering emerge not from within the mainstream of a field but at the boundaries between disciplines. Here the imagination is freed from the tyranny of mediocrity and the path toward extraordinary achievement occurs by nontraditional solutions and unconventional individuals. Voltage Capital has recruited a diverse and motivated group of world class entrepreneurs and scientists and commissioned them with the task of exploring emerging technology in order to discover, harvest and commercialize new products. Voltage’s strength is in its ability to add dimensionality beyond the flat and passive analysis of an invention or business model by actively contributing, building upon or redirecting the seed idea. The advantage of being able to actively collaborate both scientifically and financially places Voltage Capital in a unique and highly independent position. Voltage Capital is thus able to engage in a profoundly richer and broader range of projects generally untenable for standard investment funds. Voltage Capital combines the art of scientific discovery with the creativity of entrepreneurship and the experience of sound investing.  The partnership between science and business savvy confers a special “evolutionary” advantage for Voltage which will likely result in unprecedented investment opportunities. www.voltagecap.com

Take digital entertainment and deliver it through a broadband channel anywhere outside the home. This is the vision behind Ecast, a company established by Mouli Cohen in 1999. Millions of people in the and Europe today can use Ecast powered devices to hear music, watch videos, play games and more in bars, coffee shops and other public leisure venues. All five record labels; BMG, EMI Recorded Music, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal and Warner Music Group, have partnered with Ecast to reach this massive audience through a database of over 100,000 songs. Other strategic content, manufacturing and distribution partnerships include the largest and companies to give Ecast a powerful new franchise in the out-of-home digital entertainment market.

The Ecast model represents all of the factors needed to become the "AOL" of the out-of-home market. Ecast generates a "Network effect" becoming more powerful and compelling as more venues carry Ecast powered consoles. The "Positive feedback" factor also plays an important role in the growth of Ecast. People prefer having their choice of digital content available in a social and entertaining environment. Perhaps the most powerful factor contributing to the success of Ecast is that end-users "lock-in" their expectations of how to enjoy broadband digital content in leisure venues. It is an extremely powerful force when you can listen to virtually any song at your local pub, coffee house, etc. Once that breadth of choice is experienced, people's expectations are forever changed.

As the Ecast network is expanded and filled with additional content, it only gets more compelling. The company is expanding internationally, adding more venues, content and services, creating a franchise that is increasingly efficient at distributing content and reaching consumers.

"Ecast is extending the internet as an out-of-home communications system for broadband digital content," says Mouli. He adds, "The Ecast platform is the key to distributing content that consumers want, through a channel that is unique in delivering profits to venue owners, and content providers." www.ecastinc.com

Business approach

Over the past 15 years, my entrepreneurial spirit and drive has helped me develop a number of successful ventures. Whether in high technology, or biotechnology, nurturing good ideas has a few consistent fundamentals.

In the startup environment, integrity is perhaps, the most valuable resource. To lead, you must have it, and maintain it. Investors, customers, employees and partners deserve it and will reward integrity with stronger relationships and commitment to the success of the venture.

Integrity also has tremendous impact in setting the corporate tone from the start. No matter how complex a business, people make the difference between success and failure. The leader sets the standard by example and should actively reach, and connect with the individuals involved in the business. No matter how large the business, the leader is someone whom everyone, employees, customers and investors should know.

This commitment to a high standard is also instrumental in building a startup's greatest asset: its people. The intellect and passion you bring into an organization can practically guarantee its success if allowed to flourish. Regardless of the industry, one consistent goal is to build an environment where the best from each individual is respected and encouraged. Without the right leaders in the right positions, the best businesses will struggle.

Startups also have no time or tolerance for bureaucracy. The advantage of being small, nimble and able to move fast is a powerful asset to the startup. Good ideas, regardless of the source, must flourish and rapidly move throughout the organization. Sharing corporate learning and expecting everyone to contribute, creates an environment that is constantly searching for ways to become a stronger, more competitive company. This takes self-confident and passionate people who have the courage to welcome, and promote, the open exchange of new ideas. I have found that self-confidence and passion are two factors that every winning organization possesses.

The startup environment is stressful, unpredictable and requires a significant intellectual and emotional commitment. A powerful way to compensate for these factors is to recognize and celebrate even the smallest wins. Life in a startup is, and rightfully should be, fun and productive. It is a simple, yet fundamentally powerful truth that any organization emphasizing a balance of fun and productivity fairs far better than those who raise one at the cost of the other.

Because of the nature of a startup, one of the primary tasks for the entrepreneur is to be the lead communicator. Tone, voice, direction, vision all come from, and should be championed by, the visionary. Embracing the responsibility is a powerful and effective means to keep the company focused on the promise and primary tasks. You are constantly selling, even to the point of oversell, the goals and dream of the company. Whether speaking to employees, investors, customers or press, if the one who created the dream isn't the champion, they have little right to ask anyone else to believe in it.

Communicate well and others will make the dream theirs. Once that happens, you'd better be prepared to let those you've entrusted, run with it. While there are certainly times you must direct and champion the business goals, I've found tremendous value in recognizing the will and commitment to success of others in my organizations, especially when they had far more to offer than I. This is a perfect example of the pragmatism a startup entrepreneur must have; two (or more) heads are better than one. Teams make up companies. Some problems or opportunities that present themselves in a startup must be addressed creatively and quickly. The right people in a room, with the right attitude, can invariably come up with a set of solutions that no single person could have. It is an invaluable benefit of building teams of high caliber, energetic people and one that is a harbinger of a successful startup.

For more information visit Mouli Cohen on LinkedIn or Mouli Cohen on VisualCV.