Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2020

Technology is so key to every business these days that experienced business-smart but non-tech entrepreneurs are feeling deeper and deeper in the hole. Only one component of running a business is managing technology, but it is a critical component, so no entrepreneur can afford to ignore it or totally delegate it.

Non-Compete 435

Non-Compete Cofounder Social Media Partner 435

mashable.com

MAY 9, 2011

a New York-based sizzle reel production company specializing in promotional videos for PR and marketing professionals, and the Young Entrepreneur Council. Hiring the wrong person for key company positions can cost a business thousands — or tens of thousands — of dollars and man hours. Adam Gilbert , My Body Tutor.

CTO Hire 73

CTO Hire Fractional CTO CTO Technical Review 73

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 11, 2021

Entrepreneurs often put off the hassle and the cost of filing a patent until first funding. Then they realize that they have talked to many people without signing non-disclosure statements, precluding a patent, or someone else has now beat them to the filing docket. Founders ignore non-compete clauses from former employers.

Cost 363

Cost Non-Compete Accredited Investor Cofounder 363

View from Seed

DECEMBER 17, 2015

I recently chatted with Saurya about how he approaches hiring engineers at Google and what founders can learn. We also talked about how he’d want to be interviewed if approached by a non-technical startup founder. (I’ve NV: What are some basics you’d recommend to anyone hiring an engineer?

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Engineer Software Review Founder 120

Hearpreneur

DECEMBER 10, 2019

Often entrepreneurs and business owners create their New Year’s Resolutions around their business. It could be more revenue, hiring clients or launching a new product or service, but every new year is an exciting time because it’s ripe with opportunity. Sometimes as business owners and entrepreneurs, we become consumed with planning.

Entrepreneur 125

Entrepreneur Security SEO Community 125

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 6, 2016

I even prefer to fund entrepreneurs who have experience some level of set-backs in their careers or startups because I think it brings a humility to decision-making that I find healthy. You also ran the risk that if you hired employees quickly and then demand wasn’t as strong as expected it was incredibility hard to fire people.

South Korea 261

South Korea Silicon Valley Los Angeles Japan 261

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

He just hired Meg Whitman. Most entrepreneurs today don’t remember the Dot-Com bubble of 1995 or the Dot-Com crash that followed in 2000. Startups wrote business plans, generated expansive 5-year forecasts and executed (hired, spent and built) to the plan. After the crash, venture capital was scarce to non-existent.

Lean 335

Lean Burn Rate Startup IPO 335

Steve Blank

APRIL 14, 2013

If you’re a software startup competing in China, the words that come to mind are “ruthless and relentless.” The large players like Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent historically would be more likely to simply copy a startup’s features than to hire their talent. Almost every entrepreneur I met was using VPN to circumvent the Great Firewall.

China 323

China Silicon Valley Non-Compete Intellectual Property 323

Steve Blank

AUGUST 22, 2011

Over the last few weeks I’ve gotten involved in hiring for two startups, a public agency and a non profit. In the last week I had four separate groups through the ranch all wanting to talk either about hiring a senior exec or a senior exec looking for a new job. Are you hiring for search or execution skills? Easy as pie!

Hiring 290

Hiring Non-Compete Search Customer Development 290

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2010

In fact, the considerations are not unique to software development – they apply almost as well to any product or service you have: Control of core competency. Don’t outsource your core competency. Near-shore and local outsourcing alternatives are manageable with contracts and non-disclosure agreements. Technology level.

Software 129

Software Intellectual Property Non-disclosure Agreement Non-Compete 129

View from Seed

APRIL 21, 2015

On the heels of our research on HBS entrepreneurs , NextView’s Dimitri Dadiomov (HBS ’15) interviewed several top founders on the early stages of their companies. I couldn’t believe how inefficient and non-transparent the rental industry was and I knew then that I’d one day come back to take it on.

Founder 120

Founder Las Vegas Entrepreneur Cofounder 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 14, 2023

Show that you have and can continue to hire the right people to run the scaled business without you being everywhere and making every decision. Outsource what is non-strategic to optimize leverage. Smart entrepreneurs never outsource their core competency, and never rely on intellectual property they don’t own.

Hockey Stick 339

Hockey Stick Intellectual Property Non-Compete Business Model 339

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2014

Technology is so key to every business these days that experienced business-smart but non-tech entrepreneurs are falling deeper and deeper in the hole. Only one component of running a business is managing technology, but it is a critical component, so no entrepreneur can afford to ignore it or totally delegate it.

Partner 259

Partner Entrepreneur Non-Compete Cofounder 259

www.drowningamerican.com

JUNE 22, 2012

Next → How to Hire for Sweat Equity…. We have a myriad of connections to local Venture Capital firms, entrepreneurs, CEOs, and many other important individuals. Our application tool will be free and will immediately compete with Peterson’s, Kaplan, Princeton Review, and other smaller players. Drowning American.

Sweat Equity 40

Sweat Equity Equity Hiring Technical Review 40

ReadWriteStart

AUGUST 28, 2012

But when it comes to core technical skills, more and more entrepreneurs are opting to partner with technical co-founders rather than hiring someone for an in-house position. I really believe that what’s most important for a founder is the ability to have a vision for the company, make sales and hire well. Laura Roeder , LKR.

Technical Review 131

Technical Review Cofounder Founder Software Review 131

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2021

Most successful entrepreneurs will tell you that their primary motivation is to “change the world” and to build something lasting, not to make a lot of money. Yet my own experience, and a still relevant McKinsey survey , leads me to believe that non-cash motivators may be more effective in the long term than financial incentives.

Non-Compete 343

Non-Compete Leadership Employee Audience 343

Steve Blank

APRIL 14, 2013

If you’re a software startup competing in China, the words that come to mind are “ruthless and relentless.” The large players like Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent historically would be more likely to simply copy a startup’s features than to hire their talent. Almost every entrepreneur I met was using VPN to circumvent the Great Firewall.

China 215

China Silicon Valley Non-Compete Intellectual Property 215

Up and Running

AUGUST 17, 2015

As I read stories of college dropouts who had successfully sold tech companies, or entrepreneurs with innovative ideas who made it big on Shark Tank, it became clear that there was no set path to startup success. C Corp versus LLC, non-competes, liquidation preferences, preferred versus common stock, and so on).

Entrepreneur 60

Entrepreneur Cofounder Angel Investor eCommerce 60

View from Seed

APRIL 21, 2016

This idea of flexible generalists hired early leads to another question: How do you then vet potential hires? I think the answer is tricky, depending on who you are as an entrepreneur. You and that early engineering hire need to approach the problem with intent and be informed. Helpful Interview Exercise.

Engineer 149

Engineer Hiring Non-Compete Dividend 149

Hearpreneur

DECEMBER 8, 2019

Often entrepreneurs and business owners create their New Year’s Resolutions around their business. It could be more revenue, hiring clients or launching a new product or service, but every new year is an exciting time because it’s ripe with opportunity. Sometimes as business owners and entrepreneurs, we become consumed with planning.

Entrepreneur 62

Entrepreneur Security SEO Community 62

Mike Michalowicz

AUGUST 30, 2012

Thanks to the Entrepreneur Enclave, we have compiled 22 unexpected places where you will find your next great employee. Your Hired! Usually community service also encourages striking up relationships with strangers, where you are free to talk openly about hiring needs for your business as a conversation topic. Going To School?

Employee 144

Employee LLC Non-Compete Utah 144

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 26, 2016

Perhaps the most misused terms I see these days from entrepreneurs involve CAC (customer acquisition costs) and LTV (life time value) and a lack of understanding these critical components is driving many companies to premature failure. So I spend an inordinate amount of time with entrepreneurs focused on payback. End of story.

Metrics 150

Metrics Cost Acquisition Startup 150

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 31, 2012

Most of the time, I’m all about providing encouragement and inspiration to entrepreneurs. They need it and they deserve it, because entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of our economy. The reality of competing. If you don’t compete with anybody for very long, it may mean that you’re trying to serve a market that doesn’t exist.

Entrepreneur 268

Entrepreneur Non-Compete Cloud Campaign 268

YoungUpstarts

JULY 6, 2011

It is nearly impossible to compete with a large company for the general public, and so a small business’ best chance to outperform a large company is by catering to a particular customer type. Some people advise entrepreneurs that it is more important to do than to plan. Business planning/strategy. But be warned.

Intellectual Property 224

Intellectual Property Non-Compete Technical Review Business Plan 224

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 25, 2009

I like to say to first-time entrepreneurs, picking a VC is more permanent than marriage. Keeping a blog has been great because so many entrepreneurs have written me with questions about their companies and I’ve gotten to know many of you personally through the process. There are many great VCs. Let me explain.

Pakistan 297

Pakistan India Technical Review Software Review 297

ReadWriteStart

APRIL 16, 2020

And all of these were made possible by some brilliant entrepreneurs across the globe. Here are six mistakes entrepreneurs make during the nascent stage of their startups. Entrepreneurs have inspired many to transform their startup ideas into reality aimed towards solving various problems for the greater good.

Entrepreneur 148

Entrepreneur Startup Non-Compete B2C 148

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

Technology is so key to every business these days that experienced business-smart but non-tech entrepreneurs are feeling deeper and deeper in the hole. Only one component of running a business is managing technology, but it is a critical component, so no entrepreneur can afford to ignore it or totally delegate it.

Technology 217

Technology Non-Compete Cofounder Partner 217

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 2, 2015

I love the enthusiasm, the boundless energy and the sense of possibility that comes from having an idea that hasn’t yet been beat up in the marketplace of competing ideas, customer contracts, VC skepticism, jaded journalists or fickle consumers who are on the The New, New Thing. It’s the nature of most entrepreneurs, honestly.

Operations 150

Operations Metrics Early Stage Non-Compete 150

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 19, 2020

Show that you have and can continue to hire the right people to run the scaled business without you being everywhere and making every decision. Outsource what is non-strategic to optimize leverage. Smart entrepreneurs never outsource their core competency, and never rely on intellectual property they don’t own.

Hockey Stick 386

Hockey Stick Intellectual Property Startup Non-Compete 386

www.drowningamerican.com

JUNE 22, 2012

Next → How we Hire for Sweat Equity (Part 2)… Posted on April 7, 2011 by Travis Biziorek. The first time we hired partners for Kibin was way back in late 2009. I’ve heard people say it’s impossible to hire good developers right now. I want to hire before I have the ability to pay anyone.

Sweat Equity 40

Sweat Equity Equity Hiring Technical Review 40

Hearpreneur

OCTOBER 1, 2016

The non-profits and businesses below all came from realizing that I needed some help in an area that was ever changing. I choose to create non-profits as I felt that would give us better opportunities to get financial help, but that did not prove to be the case. Then I realized what that qualifies me to be: an entrepreneur.

Entrepreneur 48

Entrepreneur Non-Compete LLC Social Media 48

Mike Michalowicz

DECEMBER 18, 2012

” Actually, it’s the opposite that’s usually true: it’s far too easy to take off too little time, and not create a clear-cut line between work and non-work; it’s especially true for those of us who work out of our home offices. Never forget that everyone needs a personal life, even successful entrepreneurs!

LLC 166

LLC Non-Compete Revenue Hiring 166

ReadWriteStart

AUGUST 28, 2012

But when it comes to core technical skills, more and more entrepreneurs are opting to partner with technical co-founders rather than hiring someone for an in-house position. You Need To Know Tech Basics I really believe that what’s most important for a founder is the ability to have a vision for the company, make sales and hire well.

Technical Review 79

Technical Review Cofounder Founder Software Review 79

YoungUpstarts

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

Most entrepreneurs start a new business with dreams of success, but the unfortunate fact is that too many of them fail. A non-traditional lender is another option; many small businesses are borrowing from on-line lenders like On Deck Capital Inc. By Brian Sutter, Director of Marketing, Wasp Barcode Technologies. LendingClub Inc. ,

Small Business 100

Small Business Small Business Administration SBA Non-Compete 100

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

I believe that it is part of the DNA of an entrepreneur – being so competitive that you’re practically sick when you lose. Entrepreneurs are neurotic about it. It’s the one thing I miss having switched from player to manager – I love the joy of winning and of competing. They’re competitive.

China 333

China Silicon Valley Software Review Technical Review 333

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 2, 2011

Entrepreneurs often put off the hassle and the cost of filing a patent until first funding. Then they realize that they have talked to many people without signing non-disclosure statements, precluding a patent, or someone else has now beat them to the filing docket. Founders ignore non-compete clauses from former employers.

Non-Compete 246

Non-Compete Accredited Investor Entrepreneur Cofounder 246

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

I believe that it is part of the DNA of an entrepreneur – being so competitive that you’re practically sick when you lose. Entrepreneurs are neurotic about it. It’s the one thing I miss having switched from player to manager – I love the joy of winning and of competing. They’re competitive.

China 328

China Silicon Valley Software Review Technical Review 328