About the Hockey Stick Principles

The Hockey Stick Principles is a research project that investigates how good ideas become successful companies. We aren’t searching for a “secret sauce” or a “magic in a bottle” solution because we don’t believe such a thing exists. Instead, we’re trying to discover best practices and dispel myths inadvertently pushed by media and pundits.

We’ve learned that most successful start-up revenue growth curves are shaped like a hockey stick. The implications of this shape are important. While there’s been much talk about the “hockey stick growth effect” in terms of explosive growth, there’s more than meets the eye. Most successful start-ups require years of trial-and-error and bumps in the road before their revenues turn northeast. Hockey stick start-ups have four stages of growth: Tinkering, Blade Years, The Growth Inflection Point, and Surging Growth. Each stage requires different approaches—and that’s what we’re trying to figure out.

Make an appointment with Bobby to share your insight.

Our team is well rounded and open-minded. We are enthusiastic, passionate, inquisitive and intense learners. The Hockey Stick Principles Research Team:

Bobby Martin, Founder – Bobby researches, interviews, and studies successful start-ups all day long. He is an entrepreneur and angel investor.

Emily Loose, Editor – Emily offers writing and editing expertise. She’s been a senior editor at Crown/Random House, Penguin, Simon & Schuster, and John Wiley & Sons. She’s worked with 18 New York Times bestselling authors.

Lisa DiMona, Literary Representation – Lisa DiMona, senior agent at Writers House, is our literary agent. All inquiries related to The Hockey Stick Principles book, forthcoming from Flatiron Books, a division of Macmillan, can be directed to ldimona@writershouse.com.

Karen Burke, Relationship Manager and Researcher – Karen builds relationships with smart people who provide us with insight and research about successful start-ups. She was a star salesperson at I.B.M. and is an active volunteer in Raleigh.

Drake Branson, Researcher – Drake has a knack for uncovering information on the Web and from conversations. He has an M.B.A. from Appalachian State University and was captain of the soccer team there.

Brian Gaines, Statistician – Brian analyzes our Hockey Stick Research Study data such as revenue growth curves, investment timing, and other factors. Brian is third-year Ph.D. student in Statistics at North Carolina State University and was awarded “Outstanding TA Award” there.