Both Sides of the Table

JULY 26, 2015

The hardest thing about starting a company is that from day one you emerge as this completely vulnerable entity trying its hardest to project success, power, trajectory and inevitability while you secretly know that you’re one knock-out blow from extinction. Think about it: You start with nearly no money, you bring on some co-founders and if they quit it could completely derail your mission, you talk to journalists who if they decide to be cranky can ruin your reputation, you pitch investo

Oauth 286

Oauth Software Review Technical Review IPO 286

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 25, 2015

These days, it is almost impossible to find a small business where everything is done at the home location, by full-time employees. We are in the age of outsourcing, by any of many popular names, including subcontracting, freelancing, and virtual assistants. These approaches allow your startup to grow more rapidly, save costs, but costly mistakes can lead to business failure.

Philippines 214

Philippines Startup Bandwidth Cofounder 214

YoungUpstarts

JULY 24, 2015

By Scott Schreiman, CEO of Samepage. You’ve got a small crew that wears many hats. That makes each minute precious. Yet every minute, tons of data is generated. It’s a constant battle to maintain focus. You’re constantly absorbing information. Making sense of it. Then communicating the right data to the right people in a timely way. SIS International Research surveyed small businesses to uncover what’s mucking up the works.

Small Business 156

Small Business Cofounder Conversion Email 156

View from Seed

JULY 24, 2015

On Tuesday, July 21, we hosted the first-ever Boston Consumer Tech Summit. The invite-only event was attended by 300 of the area’s best tech leaders, founders, product managers, designers, developers, investors, engineers, salesmen and women, and more, all of whom are hard at work in consumer tech. This is a recap of the more insightful tweets and comments from the event.

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Boston Cofounder B2C PR 216

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

Startup

Brandanew

JULY 31, 2015

The good thing about online marketing is that it is not very hard to learn. In fact this is true for everything on the internet. It provides us more information that we can ever consume and that too for free. In fact it is complete opposite to the formal education we are used to. Actually everything in the online world evolves and changes so rapidly that it is not possible to create formal courses and taught through an academic year as the scene may change drastically even before the year ends.

Social Media 185

Social Media Media Software Review Campaign 185

Up and Running

JULY 31, 2015

This week Peter and Jonathan talk to Tim Berry, founder of Palo Alto Software, about lean business planning, strategy, tactics, specifics (milestones), and the forecast. Subscribe: Stitcher | TuneIn | Pocket Casts | PlayerFM | Soundcloud. Do you have a question you’d like us to answer on the show? Tweet at us: @Bplans (include the hashtag #BCast).

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Lean Business Plan Forecast Software Review 70

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2015

The most valuable assets of a new startup are the people on the team, and the most challenging task of the entrepreneur and team leaders is to spend their leadership time and energy productively. Cash isn’t always the scarcest resource startups have to invest – more often it’s the leadership capital of under-experienced and over-stretched entrepreneurs and co-founders.

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Startup Leadership Cofounder Matching 213

YoungUpstarts

JULY 21, 2015

By James Pooley, author of “ Secrets: Managing Information Assets in the Age of Cyberespionage “. In today’s competitive global market, managers know that employees (including really valuable ones) are likely to change jobs every few years or so. Like it or not, employee mobility has just become a fact of life. But even worse than the cost of recruiting someone new to fill the vacancy when a key employee leaves, there’s one big, looming worry that’s sure to ratchet your anxiety

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Employee Technical Review Ratchet NDA 152

Sophia Perl of Wisdom

JULY 23, 2015

A couple of years ago, a friend and I were debating about how to implement a function for a website, one that we were working on for fun. I came up with an elaborate, thorough way to do editorial reviews of user submitted images. Needless to say, it would have required many more coding hours to implement than not doing editorial review at all. My friend then said, “Why do we need a computer to do this?

Software Review 40

Software Review Hiring Search Software 40

deal architect

JULY 27, 2015

I was reviewing Duncan Chapple’s latest influence quadrant and thinking how much the analyst relations world has changed since my days at Gartner in the 90s a) Vendor product portfolios have exploded Microsoft needs a “One Microsoft” initiative to bring.

Portfolio 247

Portfolio Product 247

Up and Running

JULY 22, 2015

Everyone has to deal with the nitty-gritty details of starting a business; no matter your industry, getting started safely and legally involves at least a little red tape. You need to make your business an official legal entity, and take an in-depth look at what permits and licenses you need at the local, state, and federal levels to be able to operate your business without fear of being hit with a fine—or worse, having to close down.

Government 97

Government United States Software Review LLC 97

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 19, 2015

Yesterday I saw two biopic films: “ Amy ” about the life of Jazz sensation Amy Winehouse who died of alcohol poisoning at the age of 27 and “ Montage of Heck ” about the life of Kurt Cobain , the grunge-rock generational voice who died of an overdose of heroin and valium at the age of … 27. It was a heavy day, for sure.

Houston 305

Houston Vesting Founder Capital Call 305

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. My first response is that it’s much like finding that ideal spouse, where chemistry, common interests and complementary communication skills are key. After some reflection, I now realize these attributes are necessary but not sufficient to be an ideal business partner.

Partner 211

Partner Technical Review Due Diligence Startup 211

YoungUpstarts

JULY 20, 2015

By Leon Adato, Head Geek, SolarWinds. In a study conducted by SolarWinds in Singapore, application performance and availability were found to be critical for 59% of respondents to accomplish their work. For 71% it became more important over the past five years due to an increase in the time spent using applications, coupled with an increase in their workload and more demanding deadlines.

Networking 176

Networking Bandwidth Software Review Security 176

Sophia Perl of Wisdom

JULY 23, 2015

A couple of years ago, a friend and I were debating about how to implement a function on a website, one that we were working on for fun. I came up with an elaborate, thorough way to do editorial reviews of user submitted images. Needless to say, it would have required many more coding hours to implement than not doing editorial review at all. My friend then said, “Why do we need a computer to do this?

Software Review 43

Software Review Hiring Search Software 43

deal architect

JULY 24, 2015

As I go through final edits of SAP Nation 2.0, I am updating it for its Q2 results. I was pleased to see two interviews with Rob Enslin, SAP's President of Global Customer Operations here and here. He provides some.

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Customer Global Operations Software 203

Duct Tape Marketing

JULY 30, 2015

Benefits of Outsourcing Marketing Activities written by Guest Post read more at Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing. photo credit: Flickr. In the beginning, startup companies are always trying to fix everything by themselves. Their marketing strategies are usually made by self-thought marketing experts, who also work in some other company sectors.

Marketing 55

Marketing Software Review Small Business Salary 55

Early Growth Financial Services

JULY 24, 2015

Once regarded as part of a libertarian fringe, Bitcoin is increasingly commanding the attention of the world’s major financial institutions, institutional investors, and governmental regulatory bodies. Current estimates put the amount of Bitcoin outstanding at $14.2 million. Though this is tiny relative to other asset classes such as stocks, bonds, and physical currencies, proponents and, increasingly major financial institutions, believe Bitcoin has a major role to play in enabling not only con

Institutional Investors 45

Institutional Investors Technical Review Stock Operations 45

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 18, 2015

I may be old fashioned, but the term consultant still conjures up an image of a self-proclaimed expert who can make great presentations, generate recommendations and leave you to do the hard work of implementation. This may work for big companies who have specialized staffs, but it doesn’t work for startups and small businesses who are already understaffed and overloaded.

Startup 207

Startup Software Review Social Media Curation 207

YoungUpstarts

JULY 28, 2015

by Arthur Pait, AVer Information, Inc. Modern day businesses need to incorporate videoconferencing into their repertoire – whether it be for the rise of satellite employees or to speak with a client. It’s not as common (or necessary) to meet face-to-face anymore with new technology, however, technology still poses its pitfalls. Here are some tips on how to pick the appropriate videoconference solution: Make sure to measure how large your conference room is.

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Video Technical Support Audio Canada 198

View from Seed

JULY 28, 2015

While the startup environment in Boston has vastly improved over the last several years , I continue to hear the sentiment that it’s really tough to build a great consumer startup in Boston. This is expressed by people outside of Boston, but it often comes from those within our community too. There are a couple reasons cited for the challenge of building a consumer company in this city, but I want to focus on one in particular.

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Boston Marketing Early Stage Startup 224

deal architect

JULY 21, 2015

Well worth a read this Fortune expose We have devoted 12,000 words in our July 1 issue to an extraordinary story by Peter Elkind on the now infamous cyber­attack against Sony Corp….a chillingly compelling, behind-the-scenes narrative of the events leading.

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Steve Blank

JULY 20, 2015

My guests on Bay Area Ventures on Wharton Business Radio on Sirius XM Channel 111 were: Errol Arkilic , former program director for the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (NSF I-Corps), now founder of M34 Capital. Steve Weinstein , CEO of MovieLabs. Venk Shukla , president TiE Silicon Valley and general partner, Monta Vista Capital. In my interview with Errol, we discussed the origins of the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps), how and why it was created, and how it

Government 217

Government Channel Southern California Lean 217

Rembrandt Communications

JULY 30, 2015

Are you following these steps to advance your career and make more money? Recently, I was looking for BtoB content writers and requested applications. It’s amazing what people sent to me… the good, the bad, and the (very) ugly. Let’s just say that the applicants who followed directions accordingly were placed in the “possible” pile. […]. The post How to Win a BtoB Content Project – Or Any Job For that Matter!

PR 116

PR Sales Management 116

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 31, 2015

Every entrepreneur needs a value proposition statement for his or her startup that can hook potential investors and partners in less than a minute -- the short time you might join them in an elevator on the way to their offices. This may sound easy, but every investor I know is frustrated by wasted time listening to rambling, emotional pitches that are not to the point.

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Elevator Pitch Angel Investor Differentiation Business Plan 213

YoungUpstarts

JULY 31, 2015

Universities are under a constant attack from the media. Like vultures trying to peck a man to death for sustenance, tabloids circle campuses and comment on everything from controversial guest speakers, freedom of speech, teaching standards and tuition fees. The media is the hector at the side lines, shouting about any and all things education related – and they’re beginning to have a point.

Restful 142

Restful Finance Mobile Security 142

View from Seed

JULY 22, 2015

The NextView podcast Traction shares the incredible stories of the creative and unusual things entrepreneurs did to make initial progress in an important area of their businesses. You can listen on iTunes or SoundCloud. Stories to date include LinkedIn, General Assembly, NatureBox, InsightSquared, and more. It’s always amazing to hear people’s founding stories, but few have struck me as just plain necessary for entrepreneurs to hear today than this one.

Seed Stage 246

Seed Stage Cofounder Viral Audience 246

deal architect

JULY 17, 2015

I first wrote about ERP third party maintenance (support independent of the software publisher) in 2005. Even earlier, I have written about similar offerings like plug-compatible mainframes and specialty auto shops who do better than official dealers. I have noticed.

Software 224

Software 224

Brandanew

JULY 30, 2015

What is content marketing ? You write something useful in your blog, rank high in google search and expect people to read it and become your fans and the gradually morph into your customers. Is that not enough? What is so complicated in it? Why do we need a content marketing audit? Image credit: Flickr. Well, things are not as simple as some of you might think.

Marketing 146

Marketing SEO Analytics Search 146

Rembrandt Communications

JULY 23, 2015

What’s your BtoB strategy for the months ahead? Is Your Content Marketing Strategy on Fire?! It’s hot out there! For many of you, that means you are spending more time in your office in the nice, cool air conditioning. And while business may be slower as people take vacations and spend time with family and […]. The post Use the Summer for Content Marketing Success appeared first on Boost sales with BtoB Content Strategy and PR here.

Marketing 126

Marketing PR Sales Email 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2015

Every entrepreneur realizes that building a great team is critical to the success of his or her startup, but many don’t realize that it takes more than multiple qualified employees to make an effective team. It’s possible, or even likely, that a set of skilled individuals can result in a dysfunctional team, where contention, jealousy, lack of communication or work habits jeopardize results.

Due Diligence 207

Due Diligence Startup Differentiation Entrepreneur 207

YoungUpstarts

JULY 31, 2015

If you’re going away this summer, it’s possible that you’re already creating lists of the holiday essentials that you need to pack. You’ve probably already thought about your sunscreen, your swimsuit and all your toiletries, but have you considered what you’re going to do while you’re away? Unless you’re filling all of your time climbing mountains or doing water sports, it’s likely that you’re going to have a lot of down time that you could fill by getting lost within a good book.

Audio 151

Audio Search Technology Mobile 151

Gust

JULY 30, 2015

2015 is shaping up to be a strong year for the startup and early stage investor ecosystem. Total startup funding applications are up across the globe and in multiple sectors, especially in the United States where the surging New York City tech industry is leading a nationwide growth in new startups. Coming out of the second quarter of the year, the total number Read more >.

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New York City United States Early Stage New York 139

deal architect

JULY 29, 2015

I saw this 1986 photo of Steve Jobs by Doug Menuez. “He is outlining what remains to be converted from analog to digital.

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Brandanew

JULY 29, 2015

Two Social Accounts: A Wise Thing To Do? Maybe. Maybe not. As social media is becoming increasingly popular for both work and play, there is one question that haunts the professionals these days. Do you need to run separate accounts for living their professional and personal lives? What happens when you are a Startup owner and your Startup brand gets starkly impacted by your personal brand?

Social Network 188

Social Network Networking Social Media Audience 188

Feld Thoughts

JULY 30, 2015

Yesterday we closed our fifth fund, Foundry Venture Capital 2016, L.P. As with all four of our other funds, it’s a $225 million fund. In 2007 we raised our first fund – Foundry Venture Capital 2007. We subsequently raised a $225 million fund in 2010 , another one in 2013 , and a late stage fund in 2013. Our 2013 fund was originally raised in 2012, but we didn’t start investing it until 2013 so we renamed it 2013.

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Minneapolis Phoenix Portland Syndicate 122