Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2012

For the past several years I’ve undertaken many initiatives to “get more organized,” which basically means to make another attempt at implementing and running a solid task list that I can share with others with whom I collaborate. I seem to be really good at kicking off well-structured lists, but less good at “working them.” I know there’s no real point in creating a task list if you’re not actually going to open it up and parse through tasks.

Technical Review 332

Technical Review Search Product Email 332

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 13, 2012

If you’re curious about learning a programming language then you’re in luck: there’s no shortage of resources for learning how to code online. University-level courses, tutorials, cheat sheets, and coding communities all offer excellent ways to pick up a new language, and maybe even a new job, too. Read on, and you’ll discover 50 great places to learn how to code, for free, online.

Ruby 216

Ruby HTML Michigan Artificial Inteligence 216

This is going to be BIG.

AUGUST 13, 2012

If anything has held true about the progress of technology over the last 150 years, it is that one generation's bread and butter tasks become automated and the skill level requirement for participating successfully in the workforce is forced up. We've seen disruption by machines among all sorts of human labor, particularly in the area of "making stuff".

Coder 121

Coder Ruby Bandwidth Open Source 121

ReadWriteStart

AUGUST 16, 2012

The ends justify the means, according to Machiavelli in The Prince back in the early 16th Century. The concept is hardly to news to countless startup founders who find themselves facing intense pressuresto survive and grow their companies in extraordinarily challenging conditions. Hopefully, the struggles and compromises are worth it in the end. We asked a panel of eight successful young entrepreneurs from the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) to reveal the hardest, most wrenching thing they’ve h

Founder 152

Founder Bootstrapping Startup Early Stage 152

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

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 15, 2012

I recently read Brad Feld’s thought provoking piece encouraging founders to sit on the board of another startup company. I found it thought provoking because I’ve always believed startup founders need extreme focus on only their company to succeed. We live in an era where the press espouses the entrepreneurs who have five startups. I’m not one who has subscribed to the “superman founder” narrative.

Founder 294

Founder Vesting Startup Stock 294

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 16, 2012

by Andrew Sobel, author of “ Power Questions: Build Relationships, Win New Business, and Influence Others ”. Most doctors firmly believe that certain types of regular screening tests and checkups are essential and help save lives. And most of us, no matter how much we despise devoting an hour or more to getting poked and prodded, dutifully go for an annual checkup each year.

Management 150

Management Partner Channel Demand 150

Growthink Blog

AUGUST 14, 2012

Crowdfunding, or raising money from the Internet "crowd" has really taken off. Just a couple years ago there were only hundreds of companies who had raised Crowdfunding. Today we are in the tens of thousands. Below is a brief overview of the many Crowdfunding platforms to consider. The Largest Crowdfunding Sites: Kickstarter.com is the largest site for funding projects, mostly creative projects.

SEC 113

SEC Equity Technical Review Mobile 113

Entrepreneurs-Journey.com by Yaro Starak

AUGUST 16, 2012

I recently had a meeting with my CrankyAds team and a friend named Andy who I had not seen in many years. Andy left a software company he founded over ten years ago. He’s one of those guys who can do everything.

Software Developers 87

Software Developers Software Development Software Developer 87

techcrunch.com

AUGUST 12, 2012

Home. Startups. Mobile. Gadgets. Europe. Video. More. Enterprise. Venture. Social. GreenTech. Gaming. Opinion. Drama. Guides. Smartphones. Tablets. Digital Cameras. Laptops. Headphones. Events. CrunchBase. Hot topics. Facebook. Twitter. Apple. Google. Android. Disrupt SF. Hackathon. news. Comment. Zachary Bogue And Matt Ocko Launch Data Collective, An Early Stage Fund For Big Data Startups.

Early Stage 70

Early Stage San Francisco Los Angeles Southern California 70

ReadWriteStart

AUGUST 16, 2012

The ends justify the means, according to Machiavelli in The Prince back in the early 16th Century. The concept is hardly to news to countless startup founders who find themselves facing intense pressuresto survive and grow their companies in extraordinarily challenging conditions. Hopefully, the struggles and compromises are worth it in the end. We asked a panel of eight successful young entrepreneurs from the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) to reveal the hardest, most wrenching thing they’ve h

Founder 78

Founder Bootstrapping Startup Early Stage 78

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 16, 2012

It has always surprised me that founders were so quick to fight over how many board members there were and so quick to agree to have as many board observers as people wanted. I have always been vehemently against board observers and wrote some of the reasons in this previous post. But over the past couple of years I’ve slightly modified my views, which I’d like to explain: The Case Against Board Observers.

Strategic Investors 289

Strategic Investors Early Stage Partner Naming 289

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

People ask me if they really need ANY business plan, unless they are looking for an outside investor. In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Things that make it investment-grade for outside investors will also benefit you, since you are the ultimate investor.

Business Plan 283

Business Plan Sweat Equity Exit Strategy Intellectual Property 283

www.kalzumeus.com

AUGUST 13, 2012

Kalzumeus Software. Patrick McKenzie (patio11) blogs on software development, marketing, and general business topics. Blog. Greatest Hits. Standing Invitation. Start Here If You’re New. About. You Should Probably Send More Email Than You Do. Posted on May 31, 2012. by Patrick. in marketing. For the last six years or so, I’ve blogged, participated in online watering holes like Hacker News and the Business of Software boards, tweeted, spoken at conferences, and been very public about w

Email 54

Email Software Review Software Campaign 54

deal architect

AUGUST 11, 2012

Intuit sends us a Payroll subscription reminder. I check for same functionality on the Amazon site. Intuit wants to charge us twice as much for the privilege of being a captive customer. They are not alone. It is far cheaper.

Naming 268

Naming Customer 268

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 15, 2012

Admit it – if you’re anything near as busy as I am, you’ve hit the delete button on countless less significant emails in your email inbox. A solution, of course, is to attract less emails, but that’s not feasible. The more practical one is to find a way to manage and prioritize incoming emails. Thankfully, there are various solutions that can help you do just that.

Email 196

Email Management Algorithm Massachusetts 196

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 12, 2012

I’m a big fan of the old adage "There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers." We have all heard questions that begin, "This may be a dumb question, but …" used effectively by smart people who are not afraid of risking ridicule by challenging a questionable assertion from an intimidating speaker. Most people in business seem to expect their leaders just to give orders.

Entrepreneur 261

Entrepreneur Leadership Lean Employee 261

Genuine VC

AUGUST 14, 2012

I’ve always wondered why funding begins with fun. Those three letters. F. U. N. Fun. For entrepreneurs, seeking seed capital means meeting with numerous VC firms and sometimes dozens of angels… fun? Telling the same pitch over and over again… taking time away from more immediately impactful endeavors like recruiting and customer development… the endless follow-ups and inevitable radio silence… fun?

Seed Capital 163

Seed Capital Customer Development Partner Developer 163

deal architect

AUGUST 11, 2012

The Opening Ceremony with the Queen/James Bond skydive. Michael Phelps. The Jamaican sweep of the Men’s 200. British Cycling. US Ladies Soccer. Gabby Douglas. Misty and Kerri in beach volleyball. So much more. To me, London was the best Olympics.

Global 247

Global Technology 247

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 13, 2012

If you’re an eBay or HardwareZone forum junkie who regularly uses those sites to sell unwanted items or hunt for pre-loved items, check this new mobile app out: Carousell is a mobile marketplace that connects buyers and sellers socially. Aside from being an easy way to list products for sale (users simply take pictures of an item, beautifies them, set a description and price) or finding what you want (buyers scroll through various sale categories such as ‘Photography’, ‘F

Singapore 190

Singapore Mobile Curation Incubator 190

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 11, 2012

The Internet and social media have totally destroyed the meaning of the word “friend” and even changed it from a noun to a verb. On Twitter and Facebook, many young people follow hundreds of friends before age twenty, all without ever having physically said or heard a word from most of them. Facebook users with “whale” status (5,000 friends), are not even rare any more.

Entrepreneur 261

Entrepreneur Social Media Social Network Internet 261

Rembrandt Communications

AUGUST 13, 2012

As you enjoy these hot days of summer, you are probably spending more time at the beach or pool. Have you noticed the people who could be a little more slim and trim? Heck! After all the summer ice cream I’ve been eating, I could use to lose a few pounds too! Well, this same [.].

SEO 150

SEO Web 150

deal architect

AUGUST 14, 2012

I was raised in a PwC culture where even an hour’s meeting was a justification for a flight. I left PwC for Gartner hoping my travel would drop. It actually increased. I left Gartner to do a start-up hoping to.

230

230

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 15, 2012

Starting a business is hard enough. Getting people to notice is even more difficult. It takes a lot of money, time, and thought to promote your business in a way that attracts attention and drives business, but sometimes all you need is a little creativity to get the ball rolling. Whether you’re a business owner or a future entrepreneur, hopefully you’ll have some success using one of these eight unexpected ways to promote your business. 1.

Advertising 185

Advertising Community Customer Web 185

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2012

Even though the world is getting smaller, due to easy global connectivity, people still feel alone if not well-connected locally. There is also more going on in every location, so this personal need and super sensitivity to the local community has spawned a new breed of Internet startups, called “hyperlocal.” The term first appeared at least five years ago, but the model is now very common.

Global 240

Global Finder Seattle Entrepreneur 240

Agile VC

AUGUST 14, 2012

We’re pleased to announced NextView’s investment in SkyVu Entertainment, along with Lightbank and angel investors. SkyVu is a mobile game company best known for their hit franchise BATTLE BEARS … a series of shooter type games that are action-oriented with an edgy theme, that still remain kid/teen friendly in terms of content. There are countless mobile game studios out there, and we’ve looked at our fair share of gaming opportunities here at NextView.

Mobile 140

Mobile Angel Investor Networking Revenue 140

deal architect

AUGUST 15, 2012

Usually organizers will ask you to fill surveys after you attend an event. I thought it was pleasant that Oracle’s PR firm, Blanc and Otus asked me for input 6 weeks before the event. Other Oracle folks have also reached.

PR 225

PR Software 225

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 14, 2012

Most of us have watched the Olympics simply in awe of the amazing skill, dedication, and focus exhibited by athletes from all over the world. Yet these traits do not only serve the athletes well in the arena; they can also be carried over into the non-Olympic sphere. The drive to aim for gold, the passion to battle through setbacks, and the infallible work ethic of these athletes can serve as a powerful lesson for those of use who aren’t quite Olympics material, too, and are traits that are just

Non-Compete 176

Non-Compete Employee Management Audience 176

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2012

Everyone knows that that startups are risky, but they also expect that the job will be exciting and potentially very lucrative (think early employees at Facebook and Google). Yet we have all heard stories about the high turnover, unstructured work environment, lower base pay, and unpredictable expectations from the top. Assuming you are lucky enough to get hired, what can you do to survive, and even stand out above the rest in this environment?

Startup 231

Startup Matching Restful Employee 231

Gust

AUGUST 16, 2012

The reality is that results in angel investing tend to bifurcate: “Professional” angel investors, who are investing calmly, steadily, relatively-rationally, over a long period of time and with a strong knowledge of both investment math and early stage realities, tend to not only make money, but do quite well: the average return for a comprehensive, well-managed angel portfolio is between 25% and 30% IRR.

Angel Investor 152

Angel Investor IRR Early Stage Portfolio 152

deal architect

AUGUST 14, 2012

InformationWeek summarizes the IT brand challenge of a 150 year old railroad based in Omaha, Neb. When Union Pacific IT recruiters attend job fairs on college campuses nationwide, they typically look on enviously as long lines queue at the booths.

Omaha 225

Omaha Technology 225

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 12, 2012

With an eye-catching title and an alluring subtitle – “What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else” – Fortune editor-at-large Geoff Colvin’s book “ Talent Is Overrated ” provides excellent food for thought in today’s knowledge economy. Debunking age-old notions that nature matter a lot more than nurture, the book proposes that prodigious amounts of deliberate practice is the key to success in multiple fields.

Demand 166

Demand Developer Community Video 166

Feld Thoughts

AUGUST 14, 2012

We have investments in a lot of companies that are growing very quickly. They end up on the calling (now emailing) lists for a bunch of VC firms who have an outbound deal flow program. These emails ofter appear immediately after a large financing is announced. Recently, I’ve been forwarded a few of these emails from CEOs of companies I’m an investor in with the question “how do I deal with this?

Email 141

Email Deal Flow Portfolio Finance 141

Gust

AUGUST 12, 2012

Why is it that most of the business plans I see are really product plans? I define a product plan as a detailed description of your product or service, with a bit of business thrown in at the end. A business plan is a detailed description of your business, with a bit of product description thrown in near the front. Don’t get me wrong. It’s definitely positive to have a product plan.

Product 150

Product Business Plan Differentiation Business Model 150

deal architect

AUGUST 12, 2012

on the innovation blog The Concorde View was Ho-Hum Lasers and home runs GoInstant: Like a good neighbor here when you need it The Wired Ocean Reboot the school An “Ultra-Green” Building Mosquitoes, Shall we play a game? The Great.

Green 220

Green Technology 220

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 15, 2012

How much do new graduates in Singapore expect for a starting salary on their first job? According to an annual survey conducted by Singapore-based online jobs portal JobsCentral , 64-percent of graduates in Singapore demand at least S$3,000 (US$1,800) per month. This is a marked increase over 2011, where the same survey reported only 55-percent of respondents asking for more than S$3,000 per month for their first job.

Singapore 159

Singapore Salary Demand Security 159

Feld Thoughts

AUGUST 13, 2012

I’ve invested in hundreds of companies that have started from scratch and I’ve been though some crazy number of product launches, especially if you include all of the TechStars companies I’ve been involved with. These alphas, or betas, or v1.0 or v0.1 launches are exciting moments as they signify the transition from an idea to a product.

Community 138

Community Naming Product Product Development 138