Startup Lessons Learned

APRIL 25, 2011

Steve Blank called last year’s conference “ Woodstock for entrepreneurs ” and my goal is do even better this year. (If SLLCONF featured incredible entrepreneurs on stage to put those ideas to rest (watch, for example: Aardvark , Grockit , Dropbox , PBworks ). Brad doesn’t meet your typical image of a scrappy entrepreneur.

San Francisco 146

San Francisco Silicon Valley Lean Agile 146

crowdSPRING Blog

OCTOBER 4, 2013

Four Key Lessons For Entrepreneurs And Small Businesses From The World’s Best Brands – crowdspring.co/19UwkHz. Why Founders Can’t Afford to Have Any Weak Links | by Mark Suster – crowdspring.co/18L78oE. Four Key Lessons For Entrepreneurs And Small Businesses From The World’s Best Brands – crowdspring.co/19UwkHz.

Social Media 100

Social Media Small Business Design Media 100

crowdSPRING Blog

APRIL 25, 2014

The Ultimate List of Customer Development Questions – crowdspring.co/1nHT6tS. Salaries Startup Founders Pay Themselves | Business Insider – crowdspring.co/1nHU2OK. The Ultimate List of Customer Development Questions – crowdspring.co/1nHT6tS. Avoiding common data-interpretation errors – crowdspring.co/RNprpc.

Social Media 92

Social Media Small Business Design Media 92

crowdSPRING Blog

AUGUST 22, 2013

Get Out of the Way | Entrepreneur – [link]. Get Out of the Way | Entrepreneur – [link]. A third of all venture backed companies that went public in the last six years had at least one immigrant founder – [link]. Rejected by PR industry for being an ad guy | by Edward Boches – [link].

Social Media 94

Social Media Small Business Design Media 94

crowdSPRING Blog

MAY 9, 2014

Founders with Kids – crowdspring.co/1rW91oS. Surprising Trends in Startup Founder Equity Stakes | by Tomasz Tunguz – crowdspring.co/1njnhbl. Surprising Trends in Startup Founder Equity Stakes | by Tomasz Tunguz – crowdspring.co/1njnhbl. Founders with Kids – crowdspring.co/1rW91oS.

Social Media 93

Social Media Small Business Design Media 93

crowdSPRING Blog

DECEMBER 13, 2013

How to Win as a First-Time Founder – crowdspring.co/1iGhXzt. Legal Contracts for Software Developers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template to use today) – [link]. Entrepreneurship is hard – crowdspring.co/1gJLwvJ. Good business advice from @jasonfried during his @TechCocktail talk – crowdspring.co/1gJN0Wz.

Social Media 93

Social Media Small Business Design Media 93

crowdSPRING Blog

MAY 30, 2014

How much do Y Combinator founders earn? A tech bubble: What Chicago entrepreneurs think | Blue Sky Innovation – crowdspring.co/1lJaw6B. Legal Contracts for Software Developers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template to use today) – [link]. 80,000 Hours – crowdspring.co/1k0NMTU.

Social Media 93

Social Media Small Business Design Media 93

crowdSPRING Blog

JUNE 6, 2014

7 Habits of Highly Effective and Successful Entrepreneurs – crowdspring.co/S8CWPs. 5 Mistakes Every Startup Founder SHOULD Make – crowdspring.co/1pNJ2R1. Legal Contracts for Software Developers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template to use today) – [link]. One-hit wonder – crowdspring.co/RMjYxU.

Social Media 94

Social Media Small Business Design Software Review 94

crowdSPRING Blog

NOVEMBER 21, 2013

Chicago can be better than Silicon Valley (when it comes to promoting women entrepreneurs) | by Sharon Schneider - crowdspring.co/18J09d4. Interesting perspective on lack of women founders - crowdspring.co/1dfjDxu. Legal Contracts for Software Developers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template to use today) – [link].

Social Media 96

Social Media Small Business Design Media 96

crowdSPRING Blog

JUNE 6, 2013

A founder-friendly term sheet – [link]. Legal Contracts for Software Developers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template to use today) – [link]. But sadly, just many puppies – [link]. Four Things To Consider If You Want To Scale Your Startup | Forbes – [link].

Social Media 95

Social Media Small Business Design Media 95

crowdSPRING Blog

NOVEMBER 3, 2010

The 11 Harsh Realities Of Being An Entrepreneur – [link]. Founders Becomes An Overnight Must-attend, As Europe’s Startup Circuit Accelerates – [link]. 25 Funny T-Shirts for Designers and Developers – [link]. Arming & Aiming: How to handle sales objections at a startup – [link].

Social Media 94

Social Media Small Business Design Media 94

crowdSPRING Blog

NOVEMBER 1, 2013

The Strengths and Weaknesses of Your Leadership Style | Entrepreneur by Gwen Moran – crowdspring.co/1ccCc0G. Entrepreneur PSA – Advertising Businesses are Hard | Seth’s Blog - crowdspring.co/1aHHgHS. The Unexpected Compensation Trends of Post-Series A Startup Founder/CEOs – crowdspring.co/1iu3ukT. 1crIrSq. .”-

Social Media 94

Social Media Small Business Design Media 94

crowdSPRING Blog

JULY 10, 2014

The Perils of Founder Fighting – crowdspring.co/1qnNtlJ. The Perils of Founder Fighting – crowdspring.co/1qnNtlJ. Legal Contracts for Software Developers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template to use today) – [link]. Today, Messi is generally considered to be the top soccer player in the world.

Social Media 97

Social Media Small Business Design Silicon Valley 97

crowdSPRING Blog

MARCH 8, 2013

The Skinny on Using Crowdsourcing for Your Business | The Frugal Entrepreneur – [link]. More founders reject VC money | Crain’s New York Business – [link]. Women Entrepreneurs Out Earn Men By 14% | Forbes – [link]. Why entrepreneurs struggle with MBA hires – [link]. Forbes – [link].

Social Media 105

Social Media Small Business Design Media 105

crowdSPRING Blog

SEPTEMBER 22, 2010

Lesser Known Traits of Successful Founders – [link]. Legal Contracts for Software Developers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template tco use today) – [link]. Good short read dispelling productivity myths about employee performance – [link]. Guess What? Programmers can #JFDI it too! – [link].

Social Media 90

Social Media Small Business Design Media 90

crowdSPRING Blog

OCTOBER 20, 2010

Negotiation Tips For Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs and Freelancers – [link]. A Compilation of the Web’s Best Advice for Entrepreneurs – [link]. A Compilation of the Web’s Best Advice for Entrepreneurs – [link]. Are You A Visionary Entrepreneur? The New Funding Landscape – [link].

Social Media 91

Social Media Small Business Design Media 91

crowdSPRING Blog

MAY 3, 2012

Traits of successful founders - [link]. Startup Founders: Don’t Freak Out - [link]. The 11 Harsh Realities Of Being An Entrepreneur - [link]. Legal Contracts for Software Developers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template to use today) – [link]. Free Stone Textures - [link].

Social Media 94

Social Media Small Business Design Media 94

crowdSPRING Blog

NOVEMBER 10, 2010

Business plans for entrepreneurs: the three ‘Rs’ – Part I – [link]. Business plans for entrepreneurs: the three ‘Rs’ – Part I – [link]. Business plans for entrepreneurs: the three ‘Rs’ – Part I – [link]. Important insight – Harsh Realities From 500 Startups Founders – [link].

Social Media 92

Social Media Costa Rica Small Business Design 92

crowdSPRING Blog

MARCH 17, 2010

Legal Contracts for Software Developers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template to use today) – [link]. Startup Founder Agreements - [link]. HOW TO: Set Up a Q&A Website in Minutes – Best Options Reviewed & Compared - [link]. 5 Can’t-Miss Usability Tips for Mobile Website Designs - [link].

Social Media 88

Social Media Small Business Design Media 88

crowdSPRING Blog

MAY 10, 2013

The Start-up Hall of Shame (America’s 10 Worst States for Entrepreneurs) – [link]. Startups: You Should Value Software More | by Wade Foster – [link]. Startup Founders: Don’t Forget to Sell the Dream | by Jason Shen – [link]. Creative product packaging – [link].

Social Media 93

Social Media Small Business Design Media 93

crowdSPRING Blog

DECEMBER 9, 2010

from Entrepreneur) – [link]. Useful reminder about importance of saying “No&# when building software – [link]. How to Find a Technical Co-Founder – [link]. Fundry – Crowdfunding software development – [link]. What it’s like to be the SO of a start-up founder – [link].

Social Media 98

Social Media Small Business Design Media 98

crowdSPRING Blog

JANUARY 19, 2011

Traveling lean: tips for small businesses and entrepreneurs – [link]. Skype Founder, Niklas Zennström – words for young entrepreneurs – [link]. Traveling lean: tips for small businesses and entrepreneurs – [link]. 14 Year Old Develops Top iPhone App; Dethrones Angry Birds – [link].

Social Media 97

Social Media Small Business Design Media 97

crowdSPRING Blog

DECEMBER 7, 2012

Attention founders: Here’s how you respond to an unfair post about your company - [link]. Questions to Ask Potential Cofounders: The Master List | Founder Dating - [link]. 12 Must Watch TED Talks for Entrepreneurs – [link]. Attention founders: Here’s how you respond to an unfair post about your company - [link].

Social Media 104

Social Media Small Business Design Media 104

crowdSPRING Blog

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

Help the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs: Hire One | Small Biz Daily – [link]. Focus On Developers, Data And Big Problems | TechCrunch – [link]. Don’t Hire Entrepreneurs; Hire Entrepreneurial Spirit | HBR – [link]. Evolution of a Founder: Lessons I have learned | Om Malik – [link].

Social Media 106

Social Media Small Business Technical Review Design 106

crowdSPRING Blog

JUNE 1, 2011

Good article by @jasonfried arguing entrepreneurs should not exaggerate size of their companies – [link]. Good post by @micah about the need for startup founders to think about their health/well-being – [link]. HOW TO: Sign Up Users Even Before You Launch Your Startup – [link].

Social Media 87

Social Media Small Business Design Media 87

crowdSPRING Blog

OCTOBER 6, 2011

Important Questions Startup Co-Founders Should Ask Each Other - [link]. Why Aren’t There More Female Entrepreneurs? (by Legal Contracts for Software Developers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template tco use today) – [link]. CrowdSourcing Repetitive Tasks: CrowdFlower Founder Lukas Biewald - [link].

Social Media 98

Social Media Small Business Design Media 98

crowdSPRING Blog

NOVEMBER 23, 2012

3 mistakes I made as a young entrepreneur – [link]. You can do it alone (why it’s not critical to haver a co-founder) – [link]. A co-founder’s guide to Biz Dev | Soundboy – [link]. HomeAway Co-Founder: Why I Hire Failures – [link]. The Blog Post on What It’s Really Like – [link].

Social Media 107

Social Media Small Business Design Cofounder 107

crowdSPRING Blog

FEBRUARY 15, 2013

How do I find good technical co-founders? 13 Entrepreneur Blogs that Educate, Enlighten and Inspire | Mavenlink Blog – [link]. Good (short) video interview with Kevin Willer about the value 1871 Chicago offers entrepreneurs – [link]. Quora – [link]. Venture Math 101 – [link].

Social Media 107

Social Media Small Business Design Media 107

crowdSPRING Blog

OCTOBER 26, 2012

Practical Advice From Female Entrepreneurs Who Stand Out In A Sea Of Dudes | Fast Company – [link]. Why Chicago is One of the Best Cities for Entrepreneurs | @ Technori – [link]. How Much Traffic Do New York Times Links Generate | Entrepreneurs Unpluggd – [link]. Fighting among co-founders is healthy- [link].

Social Media 102

Social Media Small Business Design Media 102

crowdSPRING Blog

MARCH 22, 2013

The #1 Mistake Entrepreneurs Make – [link]. The founder’s empty nest: letting go of every detail. | Legal Contracts for Software Developers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template to use today) – [link]. Innocent Drinks: Don’t be Afraid to Start Small | Startup War Story – [link].

Social Media 105

Social Media Small Business Design Media 105

crowdSPRING Blog

NOVEMBER 30, 2012

The Founders Lie About Comfort Zones – [link]. Investors Need to Lose Their Egos and Founders Need to Gain Some Confidence – [link]. The Anti-Social Era: Lessons Learned from Vimeo Founder Jake Lodwick – [link]. The Anti-Social Era: Lessons Learned from Vimeo Founder Jake Lodwick – [link].

Social Media 100

Social Media Small Business Central African Republic Design 100

crowdSPRING Blog

APRIL 13, 2011

An Interview With Twitter’s Forgotten Founder, Noah Glass – [link]. Legal Contracts for Software Developers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template tco use today) – [link]. The 5 Dangerous Realities of Social Media for Business – [link]. 10 Tips To Improve Email Marketing – [link].

Social Media 91

Social Media Small Business Design Media 91

Startup Lessons Learned

OCTOBER 4, 2008

In 2007, BusinessWeek named Ries one of the Best Young Entrepreneurs of Tech and in 2009 he was honored with a TechFellow award in the category of Engineering Leadership. Thanks to Suns amazing PR blitz, there was tremendous demand for experts on Java, and I did my best to convince people that I was one of that mythical breed.

San Francisco 155

San Francisco Technical Cofounder Fractional CTO CTO 155

crowdSPRING Blog

OCTOBER 19, 2012

Fatherpreneurship: How to be a Successful Father and Entrepreneur - [link]. Avoid the 50/50 co-founder model – here’s why – [link]. 8 Core Beliefs of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs – [link]. Legal Contracts for Software Developers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template to use today) – [link].

Social Media 93

Social Media Small Business Design Media 93

crowdSPRING Blog

AUGUST 24, 2012

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Mediocre Entrepreneurs – [link]. Should You Really Sit on Other Boards When You’re a Startup Founder? Legal Contracts for Software Developers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template to use today) – [link]. Are You Sure You’re Not a Bad Boss? – [link].

Social Media 92

Social Media Small Business Design Media 92

www.readwriteweb.com

OCTOBER 7, 2007

The aim of many entrepreneurs is to take a business idea and convert it into a professional and functioning business on a low budget. But when done well it can really help get a company going fast, professionally and without the founders having to give up much (if any) equity - or bankrupting themselves. Why bootstrap?

Bootstrapping 41

Bootstrapping Offshore Startup EC2 41

Transformify

AUGUST 27, 2017

It is your team that will save you, the entrepreneur, from a disaster. It all starts with the founders. In some cases, the founders may even build the MVP themselves. Outsource the development of your MVP. This could be the right move as the software development companies have well-trained teams which mitigates the risk.

Hiring 64

Hiring Software Review Burn Rate Startup 64