Sat.Apr 30, 2011 - Fri.May 06, 2011

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The Right Startup Advisory Board Has A Big Payback

Startup Professionals Musings

Every startup faces a myriad of challenges that are well beyond the scope of any founder, so you need a few guiding lights to illuminate the road ahead. These should be carefully selected, with a proven track record, willing and available to help, and be completely trustworthy. Make sure they are willing to check their egos at the door. Let’s talk specifics.

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Strategy Roundtable For Entrepreneurs: Incubators Are Reaching Out To 1M/1M

ReadWriteStart

After hosting three live roundtables and being on stage for six to seven hours a day last month during my trip to Pune , I almost lost my voice. At the final roundtable, we worked with just two entrepreneurs and then spent the rest of the time on Q&A, which in itself was interesting. First up, Satya Choppadhandi from Bangalore, India, presented Evolutech Networks, a company that manufactures wireless energy monitoring devices for the smart home.

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Flying Software Engineers To Boulder For Startup Week

Feld Thoughts

Boulder is full of software engineers, but we need more. A lot more. So, several local companies pitched in some bucks and the organizers of Boulder Startup Week are buying plane tickets for five people to come out between May 18th and May 22nd. If you don’t know about Boulder Startup Week, take a look at the killer agenda. If you are a software engineer, send ryanwanger at gmail a note containing the following: 1.

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Why Winning Matters (Especially When You’re Young)

OnlyOnce

The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) has long been a leading voice for direct marketing for nearly 100 years – back when direct marketing was really only about postal. It has evolved in that time to include phone, fax (for the nanosecond that was relevant), and then interactive tactics, including email. While the DMA has not always incorporated the new technologies in the most elegant way – the tendency has been to apply previous best practices, even when consumers have demanded a new way of t

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Building Healthy Innovation Ecosystems for Your Projects

Speaker: Nick Noreña, Innovation Coach and Advisor, Kromatic

Every startup and innovation project exists within an ecosystem that either helps or hurts that project. As innovation managers, we need to keep a pulse of that ecosystem and make sure we're helping those innovation projects we're managing every step of the way. In this webinar, Nick Noreña will walk through an Innovation Ecosystem Model that he and his team at Kromatic have developed to help investors, heads of product, teachers, and executives understand how they can best support innovation in

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Your Toughest Competitor May be Your Best Partner

Startup Professionals Musings

Companies today are paranoid, afraid that even their friends will steal their business. Yet a creative collaboration with your biggest competitor may be the best opportunity for revenue and survival. But remember that “dancing with the wolves” can also get you eaten for lunch. You have to take the risk, but keep your wits about you. Your goal is “ coopetition ” - to find a way to partner with your competitor in such a way that both parties can substantially benefit from the other's resources - w

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Innovative Techniques To Simplify Sign-Ups and Log-Ins

www.smashingmagazine.com

Magazine Network Shop Jobs RSS Facebook Twitter Newsletter All categories Coding Design Graphics Inspiration CSS Freebies HTML5 JavaScript Photoshop Typography Usability Wallpapers WordPress Smashing Magazine Innovative Techniques To Simplify Sign-Ups and Log-Ins By Anthony T May 5th, 2011 Design 48 Comments Publishing Policy Advertisement There are many ways to design sign-up and log-in forms.

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What Lenders Look for in a Business Plan

Up and Running

Tweet Your business plan is the foundation of your business. It defines your vision and mission, and serves as a road map as you move forward. It’s one of the most important documents you’ll ever create. It’s also an invaluable tool when it comes time to apply for a business loan. What lenders look for in a business plan may surprise you, but knowing what they want (and how to give it to them) will dramatically improve your chances of getting the money you need to continue to drive your business

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Entrepreneurship and Youth Go Hand-in-Hand

Growthink Blog

Younger workers – the so-called Millenials or those born after 1982 - with all of their creative talent and intellectual savvy, and all of their flightiness and senses of entitlement - offer unique challenges and opportunities for 21st Century managers seeking to build well-functioning teams that work and win together. Here are five best practices: #5.

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The Future of Advertising will be Integrated

Both Sides of the Table

This article originally appeared on TechCrunch. Banner Ads. They first started in 1994 and are therefore almost as old as the Web itself. They were very effective back then, with the original ad garnering a 78% click-through rate (CTR) ! I guess from there we had nowhere to go but down. Nowadays banner ads get on average 0.2% CTR meaning for every 1,000 ads that are served up only 2 people click on them.

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Flying Blind

SVPG

I know this topic is going to sound far-fetched to many of you, but I am finding too many product teams out there that either aren’t instrumenting their product or site to collect analytics, or they do it at such a minor level that they really don’t know what users are doing on their site or how their product is being used. My own teams and most teams I work with have been doing this for so long now that it’s hard to imagine not having this information.

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Jeff Bezos on Why You Should Have a Plan

Up and Running

Tweet I was happy to pick up this quick piece from Jeff Bezos last month on Business Insider. Jeff, founder of Amazon.com, ought to know. In Business Insider’s Instant MBA series, Jeff says Business Plans Are Important and Necessary. He says it’s not about being right and guessing the future correctly. It’s about guiding your business and managing better: “You know the business plan won’t survive its first encounters with reality.

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How Helping Newbies Led To Big Profits And A Closing Down Sale (Discount Price Ends Friday)

Entrepreneurs-Journey.com by Yaro Starak

One the factors I like to hammer home to people when they create any kind of information, whether it’s blog or website content, membership content, or any kind of paid info product, is not to underestimate how much of your audience truly are beginners. Everyone starts as a beginner. If you are teaching something that requires any kind of practice or knowledge to become proficient in it, then you have a market of beginners ready to be helped.

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How to Say Thank You :: Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct.

Duct Tape Marketing

SIMPLE, EFFECTIVE AND AFFORDABLE SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING Home About Consulting Products Programs Workshops Blog Resources Contact Subscribe by RSS Subscribe to Duct Tape Marketing by Email Small Business Week 2011 Our winners! Mon – Justin Severidt Tues – Elizabeth Frederick Wed – Denise Sheehan Thurs – Nicholas Hammernik Fri – Jennifer Nagel Books by John Jantsch Duct Tape Marketing: The World’s Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide – by John J

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Apple and global trade and jobs

deal architect

Soon after I posted on the President having dinner with many of Silicon Valley leaders, I had a conversation where the person said “Sitting next to Steve Jobs, I hope Obama gave him hell for all the jobs in China”.

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Five Legal Traps Every Entrepreneur Should Avoid

Startup Professionals Musings

Although every startup is unique, there are certain common avoidable mistakes that can lead to legal complications which jeopardize the long-term success of the business. I’m not suggesting that every startup needs a lawyer, but you should definitely pay attention, and not be afraid to consult legal counsel if any of these raise qualms for you. Like other environments, most legal issues don’t result from fraud, but from ignorance on specific requirements, or simply never getting around to doing

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A Few Key People Really Can Make a Huge Difference

Both Sides of the Table

This article originally ran on TechCrunch. I’m in Seattle this week. People keep asking me if I’ve “seen anything interesting.&# Of course I have. I’m an entrepreneur at heart so I’m always inspired when I hear stories about innovation. I really liked BigDoor, MediaPiston, OpsCode, BuddyTV, SEOMoz and much more. Can’t list them all.

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The LeanLaunch Pad at Stanford – Class 8: Key Resources, Activities and Expense Model

Steve Blank

The Stanford Lean LaunchPad class was an experiment in a new model of teaching startup entrepreneurship. This post – part eight – was the last formal lecture. Parts one through seven of the lectures are here , Syllabus is here. While this is the last lecture, the teams still have one more week to work on their companies, and then they have their final presentations – for 30% of their grade.

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Telecoms Got Talent

deal architect

The 2009 survey of consumers in 32 countries by the Reputation Institute put telecoms as fourth lowest rated of the 25 industries surveyed — scoring just slightly above tobacco, which was ranked, not surprisingly, the lowest. Defensively, Verizon President and.

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How To Temper Entrepreneur Passion With Reality

Startup Professionals Musings

Every entrepreneur wants to know how they can improve their odds on the road to success, and why some entrepreneurs seem to be able to squeeze success out of even a marginal business case. Most experts agree that is has lot to do with your level of passion, determination, and innovation, modulated by a strong focus on reality, common sense, and street smarts.

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Exclusive Interview with Robert Kiyosaki of “Rich Dad Poor Dad”

Rembrandt Communications

Check out my exclusive interview with the author of “Rich Dad Poor Dad&# and “Unfair Advantage&# at [link] Recently, I attended a book signing for Robert Kiyosaki’s new, best-selling book, “Unfair Advantage – What Schools will NEVER Teach You About Money.” The author of the number one personal finance book of all time, “Rich Dad [.].

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TechStars Beats Y Combinator, Ranked Best Accelerator Program in U.S.

ReadWriteStart

A number of new startup accelerator and incubator programs have popped up lately, a response no doubt to the success of the Y Combinator and TechStars programs and the success of the programs' participants. At some level, many of these programs offer similar features: networking, mentoring, office space, and funding. Many of these new programs are modelled on YC or TechStars, but that doesn't really guarantee their success.

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Introducing a new sponsor: Workday

deal architect

Given the disruption theme of this blog, I am pleased to welcome Workday to the past and present gallery of innovators and disruptors who sponsor this and the New Florence. New Renaissance blog. Workday was founded by Dave Duffield and.

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Primer On Funding Trends for Early-Stage Startups

Startup Professionals Musings

If you are new to the entrepreneurial world of startups, you are likely confused by the terminology of seed-stage, lean startups, micro-VCs, and Super Angels. Don’t be embarrassed, since even professional investors are often confused these days by the new terms, as well as old terms used with new meanings. In any case, it’s time to look again at the options you really have.

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What’s Your Plan?

Rembrandt Communications

Congratulations! You turned your idea into a business, and it’s time for the big launch. Now, you have public relations activities, SEO copywriting, marketing, social media, and other, activities to handle. It can be overwhelming… especially, if you are working with a small team. Well, don’t worry. All you need is some organization and to… [.].

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Quit Sucking At Excel

Feld Thoughts

Microsoft Excel and our brains have a lot in common. We all use them, but only to about 10% capacity. Today I’m offering a solution on Brad Feld’s Amazing Deals from a startup called Excel Everest. These guys can teach you how to use Excel by offering a 20 hour interactive tutorial on the fine points of spreadsheets. Their class is normally $35, but through the magic of daily deals, I’m bringing it to you for only $14 (PC / Windows only).

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Earning eyeballs the old-fashioned way

deal architect

As I talk to potential case studies for my next book, it is easy to show them the last book’s website, FB page, LinkedIn Group, Flickr gallery, my innovation blog. But I need to also point out how much positive.

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May 18: Young Jewish Professionals Private Equity/Hedge Fund Summit

David Teten

On Wednesday May 18th, the YJP, I, and some other colleagues will be hosting our Young Jewish Professionals Private Equity and Hedge Fund Summit. Hundreds of hedge fund and private equity professionals, executives, and investors will be gathering in Chelsea to meet, mingle, and brew the future over the finest whiskey bar southside. Featured Keynote Panel Speakers are: - Dan Schwartz (CIO and Managing Partner, York Capital). - Scott Prince (Managing Parter, SkyBridge Capital). - Orin Kramer (Bost

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The Venture Capital Revival

ReadWriteStart

There have been a number of narratives in circulation over the last year or so: the " we're in a tech bubble " (or "we're not in a tech bubble") narrative, the "venture capital is in decline" narrative (or " venture capital is broken "). So here's a new one to add to the mix: we're in a "venture capital revival.". That's the argument being made by Clearstone Venture Partner 's Managing Director William Quigley.

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Marathon #16: Cincinnati Flying Pig

Feld Thoughts

It wasn’t pretty, but I got it done. Marathon #16 was the Cincinnati Flying Pig and was the first marathon I’ve done in over a year. My march toward a marathon in every state continues. I’m not entirely sure what I’m doing in the photo below, but the medal proves I finished the marathon. I’ve had a good month of training and expected I’d break five hours.

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Turn right at the fountain

deal architect

A neighbor of mine is going to Paris for the first time and asked me for some advice. I copied several pages from a book which catalogs 6 walks around the city and interesting factoids written by George Oakes when.

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May 26- Capital Roundtable Deal Sourcing Conference

David Teten

The Capital Roundtable is holding a MasterClass May 26 on “ Best Practices for Sourcing Quality Deal Flow & Developing New Business for Private Equity Funds “, and I’m honored to be one of the speakers. The conference is being chaired by Bob Fitzsimmons, of High Road Capital Partners. It’s in Midtown Manhattan. Among the other speakers: - Robert P.

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Strategy Roundtable For Entrepreneurs: High-Octane Energy In Pune

ReadWriteStart

On April 17, I was in Pune for a 1M/1M live event. Pune has become a hotbed of product entrepreneurship in India, and I was curious to see what kinds of ventures are cooking there. Well, Persistent Systems and IncuCapital hosted a highly interactive and engaging session. Here are the companies that pitched at the roundtable. First up, Manoj Dharap presented EzeeBank , a core banking solution for credit co-operative societies.

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Post Mortem… literally.

This is going to be BIG.

I wrote this last night as the preamble to my weekly NYC innovation events newsletter: Osama Bin Ladin is dead. I’m not sure what to say. It’s 2AM and I’ve been watching coverage of worldwide reaction. In NYC, there is a lot of cheering, countered by the stark reminders of those who lost loved ones in 9/11 and soldiers halfway across the world that this will not bring anyone back.

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Zach Nelson: Play-by-Play Analyst!

deal architect

I am looking forward to seeing Zach Nelson, CEO of NetSuite at his SuiteWorld event next week. You can talk to Zach for hours about his company, of course.

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Entrepreneurs: How to Delight Your VC [part I]

VC Cafe

After exploring the Entrepreneur’s wish list from VCs and How can VC funds differentiate themseleves , VC Cafe asked European and Israeli VCs for their wish list from entrepreneurs, or in other words, what should entrepreneurs be doing more or less of, to maximize their chances of success. Big thanks to everyone who collaborated on creating this list.

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1M/1M Strategy Roundtable For Entrepreneurs: Ownership Matters

ReadWriteStart

Before I write the recap of today's roundtable, I want to share with you a couple of thoughts that have been playing in my head, and I have given at least four talks on this topic over the last 30 days. One of them is: Ownership Matters. A second is: You WILL get rejected by VCs. That's okay. I have, in fact, recorded a video to address both issues with relevant case studies , and I would appreciate it if you would take 30 minutes to listen to it.

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