YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 5, 2015

by Marcus Turner, President and CTO of Enola Labs. In fall of 2014, after over ten months of struggling with basic “business ethics” issues, I decided to resign from the company that I had poured not only my money but also 3 years of my life into. From that experience, I have grown as an entrepreneur, but that “growth” came at a tremendous expense, so I thought I would share the 5 lessons I learned throughout that experience that every entrepreneur should know. 1.

CTO Hire 177

CTO Hire Fractional CTO Advisory Board Software Review 177

Up and Running

AUGUST 6, 2015

(Note: This is the fourth installment in our “Cash Flow 101” series. The first, second, and third installments can be found here, here, and here. ). Businesses that lack positive cash flow—i.e., those that pay more money out than they bring in—will almost assuredly be forced to shutter their doors sooner or later. Without positive cash flow, all companies (and small businesses in particular) likely won’t possess the agility necessary to respond to today’s quickly evolving business landscape.

Management 96

Management Technical Review Software Review .Net 96

ConversionXL

AUGUST 5, 2015

Animation for the sake of “cool” can often hurt conversions since it’s distracting, but not always. There are 4 ways animation, when used properly, can actually strengthen UX. And better user experience can lead to higher conversions. You don’t need to overhaul your site to take advantage of animation. Just about any site can utilize basic animation in it’s loading sequence, calls-to-action, or navigation.

PHP 100

PHP Web Development Web Conversion 100

David Teten

AUGUST 6, 2015

The median investor looking at your proposal is in her 40s. Her eyes are going, not to mention her brain. I look at a lot of spreadsheets and analytic reports, and way too many are difficult to read and therefore hard to understand. In an effort to make my life easier, I’ve summarized here the steps that will make it much easier for people to read, understand, and hopefully invest in your business.

Balance Sheet 95

Balance Sheet Software Review Forecast Acquisition 95

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

Hearpreneur

AUGUST 4, 2015

What’s in a name? Would a rose called by any other name sell just as well? Coming up with a name for your business is just as important as the business idea itself. A name not only identifies you, but it can also serve to set you apart from your competitors and reflect your values. We asked some CEOs, entrepreneurs, and business owners about how they named their company and this is what they had to say. 1) No Tricks.

Naming 95

Naming China Entrepreneur Los Angeles 95

Up and Running

AUGUST 5, 2015

Via Mindkube. We’ve all heard that making your dreams come true takes sacrifice and hard work. Natasha Crosby decided to pursue the career of her dreams the day she sold her Ford Mustang to buy the first computer for her company, MindKube Creative & Marketing. Through hardwork and determination, Natasha has created a successful marketing company by assembling a small talented marketing team that has acquired major brands as clients, such as Harley Davidson and Wal-Mart.

Trinidad 104

Trinidad Software Review Small Business Administration Small Business 104

SVPG

AUGUST 3, 2015

It pains me to write this article. I have been an unapologetic Apple fanboy for as long as I’ve been in this industry, and published articles at the debut of the iPhone , and the debut of the iPad , congratulating Apple on what I believed would go on to become extremely successful products. I am also on record as considering Steve Jobs the worlds greatest product leader.

Product 64

Product Technical Review Engineer Design 64

deal architect

AUGUST 7, 2015

I enjoyed the GOP debate last night – lots of complex. thorny issues we face as a country but at several points I thought they were talking about the tech industry if you substitute one or two words in what.

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Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 2, 2015

Don’t bash the competition. Every investor knows how vulnerable a new startup is to competitors, so investors always ask about your sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. How an entrepreneur answers this question speaks volumes about their knowledge of business realities, customers, confidence, and their ability to handle investor funding.

Intellectual Property 238

Intellectual Property Startup Angel Investor Matching 238

Duct Tape Marketing

AUGUST 6, 2015

12 Things a Small Business Owner Can Do to Get the Most Out of WordPress written by Guest Post read more at Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing. WordPress is a popular CMS platform, so you’re in a great place if you use it as the foundation for your website. With millions of themes and plugins, a superior experience can be had. It’s easy to get started, and an out of the box solution is free.

Small Business 57

Small Business XML Technical Review Software Review 57

View from Seed

AUGUST 6, 2015

When someone goes to work for a larger corporation or public company, the compensation package generally includes an annual salary, a performance bonus or commission plan, 401(k), and health insurance. When someone goes to work for an early startup, the compensation package general includes an annual salary, health insurance, and, instead of fixed-cost performance upside, a percentage of unvested options to purchase equity in the company.

Equity 237

Equity Employee Cap Table Stock Options 237

deal architect

AUGUST 4, 2015

I am pleased to announce Amazon is taking Kindle eBook preorders for the sequel (click on the badge on left). My company is also taking bulk orders (50+ copies) for the print version. Amazon will offer print on demand for.

Demand 235

Demand 235

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2015

Most aspiring entrepreneurs are convinced that the strength of their initial idea somehow defines them as a leader, as well as the success potential of their derivative business. In my experience, it’s a lot more complicated than that. It takes leadership ability, as well as a good idea, to make a successful entrepreneur, and great leaders evolve from key leadership decisions along the way.

Leadership 212

Leadership Entrepreneur Framework Metrics 212

Brandanew

AUGUST 7, 2015

Cities are not just places. They are living, breathing and morphing organisms. The inherent eccentricities of cities, the most common knowledge amongst their dwellers, are essentially considered the primary identity of a city. For instance Suketu Mehta wrote about Mumbai exploring its fragile and peripheral hidden tales- tales about the life of people away from the mainstream urban experience.

New York 180

New York New York City Campaign Architecture 180

View from Seed

AUGUST 3, 2015

The NextView podcast Traction shares the incredible stories of the creative and unusual things entrepreneurs did to make initial progress in an important. Listen on iTunes , SoundCloud , or Stitcher. The founding stories of companies like LinkedIn , DraftKings , General Assembly , The Muse , NatureBox , InsightSquared , and more have appeared on the show.

Seed Stage 228

Seed Stage Cofounder Acquisition Analytics 228

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 5, 2015

By Jennifer Tuohy. Starting a small business is no easy task, especially a business that requires a physical presence, either in terms of a storefront or an office. Start-up costs can be huge, including installing essentials like lighting, security systems, HVAC and electrical systems to support your business. Give yourself and your company an edge (not to mention a little flair) by considering some of these “smart” gadgets as alternatives to the traditional infrastructure. 1.

Small Business 176

Small Business Product Video Audio 176

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2015

When pitching to investors, entrepreneurs always seem to start with a customer pitch, then add a slide or two about the business. In reality, they need a separate pitch about the business, carrying over only a slide or two about the solution. Remember, investors are buying into the business, not the product. Investors are business experts, while the entrepreneur is more likely the product expert.

Product 211

Product Intellectual Property Liquidity Event Burn Rate 211

deal architect

AUGUST 6, 2015

Many of my writing and speaking bios use the moniker “innovation historian.

Software 240

Software 240

Brandanew

AUGUST 4, 2015

July flew! The fact that we were collecting Van Gogh stories for a week sort of led to a quick end to July. However, it’s always been a month full of news and interesting questions from clients, readers and the Brandanew team! Just like the months before, here are some of the themes we worked on in July and a short summary of external publications from Brandanew.

Social Media 168

Social Media Marketing Later Stage Media 168

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 3, 2015

by Tom Britton, co-founder & CTO at SyndicateRoom.com. Your first investors can be your most valuable assets so when looking to raise finance you should always look beyond the capital to what else the angel can bring to your business. For that reason you should do due diligence on all potential investors before pitching, and then pay careful attention to the questions they ask after you’ve made your pitch.

Angel Investor 168

Angel Investor Early Stage Due Diligence Cofounder 168

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2015

Most new entrepreneurs assume that great investors will find their startups based on the compelling solution the founders have created. It does happen once in a while, but usually only for entrepreneurs who have already spent money promoting their efforts, and a large amount of precious time connecting with their peers and the investment community. Others spend money on mailing lists and investor contacts and “cold calling” a few thousand people, hoping to find someone willing to take a risk on

Cost 209

Cost Angel Groups Due Diligence Silicon Valley 209

YFS Magazine

AUGUST 1, 2015

Women are quickly becoming formidable powerhouses in business. So, if you feel ready to do your own thing, it’s never been a better time to be a female entrepreneur.

Entrepreneur 131

Entrepreneur 131

Brandanew

AUGUST 3, 2015

Smartphone apps have changed the way we access the web. They are faster and efficient compared to opening the full sites especially when the bandwidth is low on the go. Mobile apps have become a part of our lives and small businesses are no different in that respect. Here are some awesome apps for small businesses and your content marketing teams on the go!

Small Business 160

Small Business Marketing Bandwidth Mobile 160

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 7, 2015

Whether you’re running a business that involves a van to transport equipment around in, deliver products or just require an executive car for commuting and client meetings purposes, it can be a costly expense. Getting the best value for any vehicle you hope to purchase is the main aim but it’s vital to consider depreciation too. Depreciation can provide a big loss for your company, which can be especially damaging for start-ups and small businesses when there’s only one or two vehicles in use.

Government 146

Government Audience Cost Small Business 146

Rembrandt Communications

AUGUST 6, 2015

Is all that copywriting time and effort really worth it? What you think is a B2B content strategy may not be. You have different authors creating content with various styles and tones. You cover various topics and you post new content each week. You are on a roll, and everything is moving along… or is […]. The post 3 BtoB Content Strategy Sins to Avoid appeared first on Boost sales with BtoB Content Strategy and PR here.

B2B 126

B2B PR Sales PPC 126

View from Seed

AUGUST 6, 2015

When someone goes to work for a larger corporation or public company, the compensation package generally includes an annual salary, a performance bonus or commission plan, 401(k), and health insurance. When someone goes to work for an early startup, the compensation package general includes an annual salary, health insurance, and, instead of fixed-cost performance upside, a percentage of unvested options to purchase equity in the company.

Equity 120

Equity Employee Cap Table Stock Options 120

Brandanew

AUGUST 5, 2015

Editor’s note: A lot of our readers, especially the young ones, have been sending in questions on how to build a remarkable personal brand in their chosen fields. We are trying to cover a few of these questions in a series of posts here on the Brandanew blog. These are equally true for solopreneurs and Startups trying to establish a brand presence. .

PR 158

PR Social Media Analytics Database 158

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 6, 2015

By Beth Noymer Levine, author of “ Jock Talk: 5 Communication Principles for Leaders as Exemplified by Legends of the Sports World “ When was the last time you or someone you know complained because a speaker was brief? Quite the opposite, right? Like bling, brevity immediately gets our attention. It’s a quick way to be memorable and ensure that your audience retains your points.

Utah 145

Utah Audience Retention Reputation 145

Feld Thoughts

AUGUST 6, 2015

Last week I participated in a podcast hosted by A16Z titled How Innovation Ecosystems Grow Around the Globe. I got to talk with AnnaLee Saxenian , the Dean of the UC Berkeley School of Innovation. Her book, Regional Advantage , had a huge impact from on my thinking around Startup Communities. From a 2010 blog post of mine about a bunch of books that I had read on a week off the grid.

Community 118

Community Silicon Valley Startup Hosting 118

View from Seed

AUGUST 3, 2015

The NextView podcast Traction shares the incredible stories of the creative and unusual things entrepreneurs did to make initial progress in an important. Listen on iTunes , SoundCloud , or Stitcher. The founding stories of companies like LinkedIn , DraftKings , General Assembly , The Muse , NatureBox , InsightSquared , and more have appeared on the show.

Seed Stage 120

Seed Stage Cofounder Startup Acquisition 120

Up and Running

AUGUST 3, 2015

In many ways, starting an online business is similar to starting a brick-and-mortar store. You’ll plan your business, organize your funding, produce your product, and get to work. But, there are unique aspects of running an online-only business that would-be entrepreneurs need to consider. I’ve laid out a few of the various types of online businesses that you might be interested in starting, both those based around existing platforms like Etsy and eBay, and self-hosted eCommerce sites.

eCommerce 113

eCommerce Intellectual Property SBA Lean 113

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 4, 2015

The success of any company is wholly dependent on the individuals that make up the team behind the business. But what makes a good team in business is as much debated as it is in sport – what is that right mix of individuals with the right skill sets, traits and values that determine a great business team? For example, it is argued that for a startup you need just six people – the expert, the doer, the leader, the industry veteran, the sales person and the accountant.

Sales 145

Sales Startup Leadership Management 145

Feld Thoughts

AUGUST 1, 2015

On my run this morning (yay – I’m running again) I listened to a wonderful podcast between Jerry Colonna and Bijan Sabet called Investors are Human Too – with Bijan Sabet. If you follow me, you know that I’m incredibly close friends with Jerry (he’s one of the people on this planet that I comfortably say that I love). I’m also a huge fan of his company Reboot.io.

Conversion 112

Conversion Founder Venture Capital 112

SiliconHills

AUGUST 7, 2015

By LAURA LOREK Reporter with Silicon Hills News Joan Hall worked as a model most of her life. Now she’s 81 and lives independently in San Antonio. Her daughter, Jean Anne Booth, who lives in Austin, wanted to keep tabs on her mom and make sure she is ok but her mom refused to wear […] The post UnaliWear Makes Smartwatches for Older Adults appeared first on SiliconHills.

San Antonio 103

San Antonio Austin 103

ConversionXL

AUGUST 3, 2015

If I were to tell you – what would you do with that information? Honestly, think about it and see if you can answer that. Let’s say it’s 2%, 5% or 10% – now what? What will you do differently? If yours is already good, would you sit back and relax? If it’s crap, would you work harder? You have to work harder no matter what.

Conversion 102

Conversion Non-Compete eCommerce Audience 102

YoungUpstarts

AUGUST 6, 2015

If your finances are starting to get out of control, the first thing to think about is what your earning is compared to your spending. If you’re only breaking even or are coming up in the minuses, you need to start thinking of some ways to tame your bank accounts. Below are four useful suggestions that anyone can implement: 1. Additional Income. If you have too many debts or payments to make, it is worth thinking about a side job or an additional income source.

Finance 144

Finance .Net Reputation Cost 144