Startup Lessons Learned

OCTOBER 4, 2008

He previously co-founded and served as Chief Technology Officer of IMVU. He is the co-author of several books including The Black Art of Java Game Programming (Waite Group Press, 1996). While an undergraduate at Yale Unviersity, he co-founded Catalyst Recruiting. So much for timing. October 13, 2008 6:47 PM Luke G said.

San Francisco 155

San Francisco Technical Cofounder Fractional CTO CTO 155

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 11, 2009

Lessons Learned by Eric Ries Friday, September 11, 2009 The cardinal sin of community management Once you have a product launched, you will the face the joys – and the despair – of a community that grows up around it. Nothing worked, until we finally had one of our community managers start talking to real customers on the phone.

Community 158

Community Management Lean Software Review 158

ReadWriteStart

JANUARY 28, 2011

It gathered 120 hackers from Finland, Estonia and Latvia under the same roof and challenged them to go from zero to demo in 48 hours. Together with Osma Ahvelampi (CTO, Sulake ) and Teemu Kurppa (co-founder, Jaiku ), I was a mentor to those teams. Don't Ignore Project Management.

Latvia 158

Latvia Estonia Coder Finland 158

Startup Lessons Learned

APRIL 4, 2010

► August (2) SXSW Case Study: SlideShare goes freemium ► July (4) Case Study: kaChing, Anatomy of a Pivot Some IPO speculation Founder personalities and the “first-class man&# th. Amazing lean startup resources Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science? No departments The Five Whys for Startups (for Harvard Business R.

Agile 99

Agile Software Review San Francisco Continuous Deployment 99

Startup Lessons Learned

JUNE 2, 2010

As start-ups scale, this agility will be lost unless the founders maintain a consistent investment in that discipline. You can view previous essays in this series here: Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science? As start-ups scale, this agility will be lost unless the founders maintain a consistent investment in that discipline.

Technical Review 132

Technical Review San Francisco Lean Continuous Deployment 132

Startup Lessons Learned

AUGUST 3, 2009

We have to manage to learn something from our first product iteration. I do this as a core part of the Product Management process I use at all startups. Amazing lean startup resources Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science? In fact, MVP is quite annoying, because it imposes extra overhead. Great Post - could not agree more.

San Francisco 168

San Francisco Product Lean Continuous Deployment 168

Startup Lessons Learned

JULY 28, 2010

To shed some light, I talked with kaChing , a destination that enables individual investors to find outstanding money managers to manage their money. kaChing launched a virtual portfolio management game on Facebook in January 2008 and a similar version shortly thereafter on kaChing.com.

San Francisco 158

San Francisco Lean Continuous Deployment SEC 158

Startup Lessons Learned

AUGUST 2, 2008

Its to everyones advantage to let the world think the founders thought of everything. I say this as a founder: the contribution of founders is always overestimated. The danger here is that new founders, looking at existing founders, will think that theyre supermen that one couldnt possibly equal oneself.

San Francisco 125

San Francisco Software Review Technical Review Continuous Deployment 125

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 15, 2008

Very useful perspective - as a first-time CEO managing a small startup, these ideas are timely and thought-provoking. Mark Montgomery Founder Kyield Initium VC September 12, 2009 4:21 AM Mark Montgomery said. Amazing lean startup resources Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science? September 11, 2008 2:06 PM Editor said.

Lean 168

Lean San Francisco Startup Continuous Deployment 168

Startup Lessons Learned

MARCH 25, 2010

You can view previous essays in this series here: Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science? You can view previous essays in this series here: Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science? Amazing lean startup resources Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science? This is the speed-up-or-slow-down moment.

Software Review 141

Software Review San Francisco Lean Continuous Deployment 141

Startup Lessons Learned

NOVEMBER 8, 2008

When creating a new market, expect to spend as long as two years before you manage to get traction with early customers, but enjoy the utter lack of competition. Instead, we do everything possible to validate the founders belief. What kind of market are you in? We dont just abandon the vision of the company at every turn.

Customer Development 168

Customer Development Developer San Francisco Customer 168

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 2, 2008

► August (2) SXSW Case Study: SlideShare goes freemium ► July (4) Case Study: kaChing, Anatomy of a Pivot Some IPO speculation Founder personalities and the “first-class man&# th. Amazing lean startup resources Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science? No departments The Five Whys for Startups (for Harvard Business R.

San Francisco 94

San Francisco Continuous Deployment Agile Lean 94

Startup Lessons Learned

MARCH 22, 2010

For example, over 25% of the technology companies founded between 1995-2005 had a key immigrant founder. Similarly, 24% of all the patents filed in the US in 2006 had a foreign resident as inventor or co-inventor. For example, over 25% of the technology companies founded between 1995-2005 had a key immigrant founder.

San Francisco 121

San Francisco Indiana Lean Startup 121

Startup Lessons Learned

JULY 3, 2009

The same has been true of an unfortunate number of startups, they manage to generate a lot of hype, raise a lot of money, and sometimes make some of their investors, employees, or founders rich. Ive been there: is it me or my cofounder thats crazy? Yet, I think this definition is too important to leave out.

Lean 60

Lean San Francisco Continuous Deployment Cofounder 60

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 27, 2010

One of the sayings I hear from talented managers in product development is, “good enough never is.&# Especially in teams that are managing by objectives (or OKRs), the pressure to deliver is intense. Good managers work hard to create an environment where this courage thrives. But action/paralysis are not the only options.

San Francisco 167

San Francisco Lean Continuous Deployment Software Review 167

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 30, 2008

So what does CTO mean, besides just "technical founder who really cant manage anyone?" I always assumed I wouldnt manage anybody. Being a manager didnt sound fun - deep down, who really wants to be held accountable for other peoples actions? So I wound up learning the discipline of managing other people.

CTO 168

CTO Fractional CTO CTO Hire Technical Review 168

Startup Lessons Learned

MARCH 16, 2009

Both Scrum and XP had a role which you could happily call by the modern title "Product Manager". I think Jim Murphys confusion comes where many peoples did, with the XP term "Customer", which was XPs name for the product management role. Thats why I prefer to think of them as two co-equals: the problem team and the solution team.

Agile 111

Agile Customer Development Developer San Francisco 111

Startup Lessons Learned

JUNE 22, 2009

Some startups fail because the founders cant have this conversation - they either blow up when they try, or they fail to change because they are afraid of conflict. Although I wish I could take credit for these pivots, the reality is that they were not caused by my singular insight or that of my other co-founders.

San Francisco 167

San Francisco Lean Continuous Deployment Agile 167

Startup Lessons Learned

JULY 6, 2009

Its also frustrating how some founders see ANY form of struture/approach as limiting and go to the total reverse of waterfall by just doing what they were told by "their wifes friend" This is great and practical stuff.will make sure I pass it on and use in my discussions (giving credit to you!) July 6, 2009 8:43 PM Eric said.

Lean 115

Lean Video San Francisco Continuous Deployment 115

Startup Lessons Learned

NOVEMBER 6, 2008

This eliminates the need for a bunch of standard project management ideas and methods: all the ones concerned with dealing with slackers, calling bluffs on estimates, forcing people to come to consensus on shared design issues, and so on. Amazing lean startup resources Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science?

Agile 76

Agile San Francisco Software Review Continuous Deployment 76

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 22, 2008

► August (2) SXSW Case Study: SlideShare goes freemium ► July (4) Case Study: kaChing, Anatomy of a Pivot Some IPO speculation Founder personalities and the “first-class man&# th. Amazing lean startup resources Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science? No departments The Five Whys for Startups (for Harvard Business R.

San Francisco 167

San Francisco CPA SEM CTO Hire 167

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 10, 2008

► August (2) SXSW Case Study: SlideShare goes freemium ► July (4) Case Study: kaChing, Anatomy of a Pivot Some IPO speculation Founder personalities and the “first-class man&# th. Amazing lean startup resources Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science? No departments The Five Whys for Startups (for Harvard Business R.

Software Review 68

Software Review San Francisco Technical Review Continuous Deployment 68

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 7, 2008

► August (2) SXSW Case Study: SlideShare goes freemium ► July (4) Case Study: kaChing, Anatomy of a Pivot Some IPO speculation Founder personalities and the “first-class man&# th. Amazing lean startup resources Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science? No departments The Five Whys for Startups (for Harvard Business R.

Customer Development 131

Customer Development Engineer San Francisco Developer 131

Startup Lessons Learned

JULY 5, 2010

I have personally sold many copies of his book, and continue to recommend it as one of the most important books a startup founder can read. I have personally sold many copies of his book, and continue to recommend it as one of the most important books a startup founder can read. Case Study: Continuous deployment makes releases n.

Customer Development 166

Customer Development Developer San Francisco Customer 166

Startup Lessons Learned

JULY 13, 2009

For those who hunger for a rigorous approach to managing product development, Donald Reinertsens book is epic. Managing timelines instead of queues. Since few companies can answer both questions, it should be no surprise that queues are managed poorly today. The project manager is actually trading cycle time for variability.

Product Development 153

Product Development Developer San Francisco Product 153

Startup Lessons Learned

JANUARY 15, 2010

A good general manager is expected to use all the tools at their disposal — market research, competitive analysis, customer focus groups — to figure out a plan that will work. Safely because it is clear that the manager in question didnt do his homework. No departments The Five Whys for Startups (for Harvard Business R.

Hockey Stick 105

Hockey Stick San Francisco Entrepreneur Lean 105

Startup Lessons Learned

APRIL 9, 2009

Metrics are people too" is a reminder I constantly needed when I was a manager. sachinrekhi : "Visionary customers are as smart if not smarter then the founders" #leanstartup Theres no skipping the chasm. My cofounders and I would hash out nuances and details almost every day, re-drawing diagram after diagram on the whiteboard.

San Francisco 132

San Francisco Continuous Deployment Lean Agile 132

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 12, 2008

► August (2) SXSW Case Study: SlideShare goes freemium ► July (4) Case Study: kaChing, Anatomy of a Pivot Some IPO speculation Founder personalities and the “first-class man&# th. Amazing lean startup resources Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science? No departments The Five Whys for Startups (for Harvard Business R.

Audience 119

Audience San Francisco Continuous Deployment Lean 119

Startup Lessons Learned

FEBRUARY 28, 2009

Luckily for me, my co-founders eventually prevailed and we went on to build a product that customers actually wanted. ► August (2) SXSW Case Study: SlideShare goes freemium ► July (4) Case Study: kaChing, Anatomy of a Pivot Some IPO speculation Founder personalities and the “first-class man&# th.

San Francisco 98

San Francisco Continuous Deployment Lean DC 98

Startup Lessons Learned

NOVEMBER 17, 2008

Id like to talk about a technique Ive used to help manage this growth without slowing down. Managers in this area have to take a portfolio approach, promoting ideas that work and might make good candidates for further investment. Amazing lean startup resources Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science?

San Francisco 88

San Francisco Lean Continuous Deployment DC 88

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 23, 2013

Viljakainen, founder of No Fear Community and author of “ No Fear: Business Leadership for the Digital Age “. A corporate manager traditionally takes only two different options into account: Either do it in-house or throw a lot of money at established companies and their teams. He is also the founder of No Fear Community.

Finland 150

Finland Bankruptcy Cofounder Leadership 150

Startup Lessons Learned

JULY 30, 2009

.&# In 2002 I became exposed to the idea of “agile software development&# and subsequently was a first round investor in Rally Software which is now the market leader in Agile application lifecycle management software. Amazing lean startup resources Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science? Read the rest.

Lean 68

Lean San Francisco Continuous Deployment DC 68

Startup Lessons Learned

JANUARY 30, 2009

I know of at least five former employees that went on to become startup founders. My experience (3 time founder, 6 startups, 1 IPO, 5 colossal failures) is that we spend too much time looking for what we do wrong, when in fact, we may have done nothing wrong. Amazing lean startup resources Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science?

San Francisco 150

San Francisco Lean Agile Continuous Deployment 150

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 2, 2008

► August (2) SXSW Case Study: SlideShare goes freemium ► July (4) Case Study: kaChing, Anatomy of a Pivot Some IPO speculation Founder personalities and the “first-class man&# th. Amazing lean startup resources Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science? No departments The Five Whys for Startups (for Harvard Business R.

San Francisco 142

San Francisco Continuous Deployment Lean DC 142

Startup Lessons Learned

FEBRUARY 20, 2009

Similar results apply in product management, design, testing, and even operations. If peer pressure doesnt work then it looks like a management problem. And Im afraid those can only be solved by managers who are willing to solve them. Amazing lean startup resources Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science?

San Francisco 161

San Francisco Software Review Continuous Deployment Development Team Review 161

Startup Lessons Learned

FEBRUARY 10, 2009

The first version of the 3D IMVU client took about six months to build, and as the founders iterated towards a compelling user experience, the user base grew monthly thereafter. Amazing lean startup resources Is Entrepreneurship a Management Science? No departments The Five Whys for Startups (for Harvard Business R.

Continuous Deployment 123

Continuous Deployment San Francisco Software Review Lean 123

Startup Lessons Learned

OCTOBER 28, 2008

Most important slide: about the founders In a pitch meeting, try to spend as much time as possible talking about the key questions for your pitch. ► August (2) SXSW Case Study: SlideShare goes freemium ► July (4) Case Study: kaChing, Anatomy of a Pivot Some IPO speculation Founder personalities and the “first-class man&# th.

San Francisco 128

San Francisco Lean Continuous Deployment DC 128