Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2022

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. You need to have a technical genius on the team to get your startup product off the ground. Outsourcing your core competency does not work.

Technical Cofounder 309

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Advisory Board Startup 309

View from Seed

JANUARY 27, 2021

We are looking to bring on board a versatile new team member to support the varied internal operations of the firm as well as collaborate with the partners on our external programs and communications with the broader entrepreneurial community. You have an authentic passion for technology, startups, and a deep respect for entrepreneurship.

Operations 227

Operations Hiring Seed Stage Software Review 227

ReadWriteStart

AUGUST 30, 2021

Why should you hire a UI UX Development Partner? Hiring a UI UX designer not only saves your valuable time but also provides you with a highly functional site or app at a very reasonable rate. Some of the other benefits of hiring a UI UX designer are listed below: Well planned and orderly app or site.

Mobile 141

Mobile Partner Developer Technical Review 141

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 29, 2011

A while back I talked about how and where to find a co-founder in “ Ten Steps in Choosing the Right Startup Partner ”. The feedback was good, but some readers asked me to be a bit more specific on attributes that might indicate an ideal startup partner. You may be too independent to be partner material.

Partner 240

Partner Software Review CTO Hire Fractional CTO 240

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 26, 2011

That doesn’t work in a startup. There’s a certain cadence that you can feel when you spend time hanging any well-run startup company. The startup entrepreneur knows that they’re going to be wrong often. There is an old management adage that says, “Hire slowly, fire fast.” Only half of this adage is accurate for startups.

Hiring 335

Hiring Technical Review Startup Framework 335

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

A while back I talked about how and where to find a co-founder in “ For a Startup, Two Heads are Always Better Than One.” The feedback was good, but some readers asked me to be a bit more specific on attributes that might indicate an ideal startup partner. You may be too independent to be partner material.

Partner 258

Partner Software Review CTO Hire Equity 258

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2019

The challenge is to recognize and recruit that ideal partner match early with minimal cost and risk. In fact, I would broaden the definition of partner from co-founder to “business partner.” The reason is that good attributes apply equally well to “external” partners, as they do to internal partners, like a co-founder or CTO.

Cofounder 221

Cofounder Software Review CTO Hire Founder 221

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 22, 2020

Every startup founder loves to prompt for questions from investors and potential key team members about their vision, and the huge opportunity that can be had with their disruptive technology. Early stage burn rates over $50K per month, or a runway of less than six months may indicate an inefficient or desperate startup.

Technical Review 436

Technical Review Due Diligence Sweat Equity Burn Rate 436

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2023

Every startup founder loves to prompt for questions from investors and potential key team members about their vision, and the huge opportunity that can be had with their disruptive technology. Early stage burn rates over $50K per month, or a runway of less than six months may indicate an inefficient or desperate startup.

Sweat Equity 207

Sweat Equity Burn Rate Technical Review Intellectual Property 207

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2022

These have helped them build trust and confidence among team members, and effectively sell their message to partners, investors, vendors and customers. This means hiring the right people, providing training and tools, and improving systems to overcome challenges. This applies to suppliers and business partners as well.

Leadership 317

Leadership Founder Startup Partner 317

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2017

The challenge is to recognize and recruit that ideal partner match early with minimal cost and risk. In fact, I would broaden the definition of partner from co-founder to “business partner.” The reason is that good attributes apply equally well to “external” partners, as they do to internal partners, like a co-founder or CTO.

Partner 140

Partner Software Review CTO Hire Cofounder 140

ReadWriteStart

DECEMBER 15, 2022

Startup studios continue to grow in popularity as incubators for new businesses. Rather than simply launching one startup, the startup studio model creates an organization whose business is launching startups. These can then be repeated and improved on with each successive startup.

Incubator 188

Incubator Startup Software Developers Software Development 188

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2023

Should they go after high-tech nerds for partners, or professional technologists? The right answer for a good business partner today is neither of the above. Startups succeed most often when the founding partners know how to build and run a business, rather than how to build and run technology. Are you there?

Technical Cofounder 260

Technical Cofounder Technology Management Entrepreneur 260

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2020

One of the biggest myths in the business world is that startups are no place for Baby Boomers, that aging generation born between 1945 and 1964. Today people over 55 are almost twice as likely to create successful startups as Gen-Y, age 20 to 34. Yet credible reports on current trends tell us just the opposite.

Advisory Board 312

Advisory Board Startup Dividend Angel Investor 312

Gust

APRIL 13, 2014

A while back I talked about how and where to find a co-founder in “ For a Startup, Two Heads are Always Better Than One ”. The feedback was good, but some readers asked me to be a bit more specific on attributes that might indicate an ideal startup partner. You may be too independent to be partner material.

Partner 179

Partner Software Review CTO Hire Fractional CTO 179

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

DECEMBER 12, 2011

Tweet. --> It’s a big decision to make your first hire, because what you’re really deciding is whether you want to keep a lifestyle business or attempt to “cross the chasm” and maybe even get rich. There’s already a lot of great advice about hiring at little startups. (Powered by LaunchBit ).

Hiring 282

Hiring Employee Ruby Java 282

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 20, 2015

As an advisor to startups, I often get asked what to look for in an ideal co-founder or business partner. After some reflection, I now realize these attributes are necessary but not sufficient to be an ideal business partner. This means every entrepreneur needs partners who are smarter than they are in complementary domains.

Partner 120

Partner Technical Review Due Diligence Startup 120

ReadWriteStart

AUGUST 30, 2021

Why should you hire a UI UX Development Partner? Hiring a UI UX designer not only saves your valuable time but also provides you with a highly functional site or app at a very reasonable rate. Some of the other benefits of hiring a UI UX designer are listed below: Well planned and orderly app or site.

Mobile 78

Mobile Partner Developer Technical Review 78

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2011

The simple answer is to find a business partner, not an “implementer,” who already has the technical experience you need, and is willing and able to run that side of the business. Finding that person is not a hiring challenge, since neither of you really get paid until you both succeed. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 236

Technical Review Partner Entrepreneur Architecture 236

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2010

A week ago I talked about how and where to find a co-founder in “ How to Select an Ideal Startup Co-Founder ”. The feedback was good, but some readers asked me to be a bit more specific on attributes that might indicate an ideal business partner. You may be too independent to be partner material. Does not need to be managed.

Partner 230

Partner Software Review CTO Hire Fractional CTO 230

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 12, 2010

Even if you don’t have “direct&# sales I would tell you that “everything is a sale&# including fund raising, hiring, getting press and doing business development. Evangelical sales – Understanding startup sales people and process. Here is my recommended approach. Reminds me of Eats, Shoots & Leaves.

Hiring 346

Hiring Sales Startup Early Stage 346

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 16, 2022

One of the biggest myths in the business world is that startups are no place for Baby Boomers, that aging generation born between 1945 and 1964. Today people over 55 are almost twice as likely to create successful startups as Gen-Y, age 20 to 34. Yet credible reports on current trends tell us just the opposite.

Advisory Board 368

Advisory Board Dividend Angel Investor Cofounder 368

Up and Running

OCTOBER 1, 2019

It might seem easier to put off thinking about your first essential new hires. Try to do it all and you’ll spend a lot of time learning new skills (that you’ll eventually hire for) when you should be focusing on growing your business. Hire someone who understands Generation Z (or your target demographic). It’s that simple.

Hiring 77

Hiring Technical Review Small Business Forecast 77

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2022

For early-stage startups, the goodwill component can easily exceed the size of all the financial elements together, or can just as easily mark a company with good financials as not investable. For startups, the entrepreneur and founder is almost always the face of the company. Focus on talent and people growth.

Technical Review 323

Technical Review Due Diligence Valuation Leadership 323

YoungUpstarts

DECEMBER 29, 2019

The startup industry is littered with stories of founders being taken for a ride by their app developer. This is also where your own priorities may influence who you are looking to partner with. The post 4 Questions To Ask Before You Hire An App Developer appeared first on Young Upstarts.

Technical Review 147

Technical Review Developer Hiring Software Review 147

The Startup Magazine

JUNE 13, 2023

Recruiting the right candidates is essential for the success and growth of your startup. Since your business is a startup, you may not have built your reputation yet. Since most startups often have limited resources, you may not have a big salary budget to compete with large corporations.

Hiring 135

Hiring Startup Canada Salary 135

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 26, 2021

As an entrepreneur mentor, my mission is to foster the attributes in you as a startup founder that I believe will lead to success. As an example, I worked with Bill Gates early on, but I fear he may have failed without partners Steve Ballmer and Paul Allen. You will find that your team, partners, and vendors feel the same way.

Entrepreneur 341

Entrepreneur Angel Investor Partner Software Developers 341

Up and Running

JULY 5, 2021

Most small businesses, growing startups , and individual entrepreneurs do not have ready access to legal counsel. And hiring an intellectual property attorney may seem like a budget dealbreaker. Applying for a trademark — Do it yourself or hire an attorney? Hiring an attorney. The do-it-yourself approach.

Hiring 133

Hiring Intellectual Property United States Search 133

YoungUpstarts

SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

If you don’t perform a background check on your potential partner before doing business with him, you’re setting yourself up to get duped. Doing a background check on a potential partner or co-founder, while unorthodox, could bring to light small issues that could be resolved with a bit of honest dialogue. Leveraging Your Risks.

Technical Review 219

Technical Review Partner Due Diligence Bankruptcy 219

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

Reading the NY Times article “ Jeffrey Katzenberg Raises $1 Billion for Short-Form Video Venture, ” I realized it was time for a new startup heuristic: the amount of customer discovery and product-market fit you need to find is inversely proportional to the amount and availability of risk capital. He just hired Meg Whitman.

Lean 335

Lean Burn Rate Startup IPO 335

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 28, 2021

For avoiding this issue, it is of pivotal importance to partner with network support and maintenance services that have a robust assessment stratagem in place. For several organizations, the decision to hire network support from independent network support services stems from the necessity of supporting a broad spectrum of products.

Networking 125

Networking Hiring Technical Review Acquisition 125

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 22, 2022

They don’t realize that it takes more to succeed in business or a career – it takes leadership skills to get people to follow you, including peers, a team, business partners, and customers. Luckily, you can learn needed leadership skills. Count on the people around you to help. Celebrate small successes in your leadership efforts.

Leadership 285

Leadership Startup Networking Engineer 285

Mucker Lab

OCTOBER 10, 2023

SDR Strategy & Model Checklist In the intricate world of sales development, finding the balance between art and science is crucial for a startup's success. If there are inbound leads, the situation is different; hiring an AE might be suitable if these leads align with the ideal customer profile.

Early Stage 78

Early Stage Sales Developer Development Team Review 78

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 17, 2020

It seems like every entrepreneur I meet these days is quick to proclaim themselves a visionary, expecting that will give more credibility to their startup idea, and improve their odds with investors. In reality, I’m one of the majority of investors who believe that startup success is more about the execution than the idea.

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Founder Cofounder Bandwidth Matching 329

ReadWriteStart

DECEMBER 16, 2020

Here is how remote startups are changing the game for everyone. In fact, according to Founders Forum’s survey of 400+ startup owners, 94% of the respondents were already working from home before the pandemic. To help them make the transition, a new breed of “remote startups” has emerged. Image Credit: pixaby.

Technical Review 200

Technical Review Startup Belgium Software Review 200

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2023

He was able to identify ten lessons from the common threads to survival in the winning explorer teams, which I believe apply equally well to the survival and success of business startup teams today: Never lose sight of long-term goals, but focus real energy on short-term objectives. Then it extends to the hiring process.

Technical Review 269

Technical Review Kentucky Due Diligence Japan 269

Steve Blank

JANUARY 17, 2023

Three types of organizations – Incubators, Accelerators and Venture Studios – have emerged to reduce the risk of early-stage startup failure by helping teams find product/market fit and raise initial capital. They do the most to de-risk the early stages of a startup. Reducing Startup Risk.

Technical Cofounder 346

Technical Cofounder Intellectual Property Technical Review Incubator 346