Lorenzo Thione co-founded the startup Powerset in 2005, raising $2 million plus $10.5 million in venture capital. As Powerset grew to 72 employees, it faced challenges including high technology risk, capital intensity, aggressive growth, public relations issues, and board management challenges, leading to its acquisition in 2008. Thione discusses lessons learned from Powerset and his experience with entrepreneurship, including the creative effort required to take an idea and vision and create a unique set of circumstances to make it a reality, despite facing ambitious ideas with small chances of success that require iterative development, capital, partnerships, complex management and strong branding.