Software companies typically have to convince prospects to adopt new technologies based on their shared history, their service track record, and their ability to accurately predict and deliver real results that overcome the cost and friction of adopting new tools and methodologies. There are a number of lessons we draw on to help startups fostering […]
Fostering Technology Adoption: Early Customers & Early Revenue Read More »
To “see the elephant” entrepreneurs must work toward a holistic perspective by integrating advice and conflicting views from a variety of sources.
Seeing The Elephant: The Entrepreneur’s Challenge of Integrating Advice Read More »
How do you plan when you are in a small software startup? Big company methods are not a good fit. Here are three tips for planning a startup.
3 Tips for Entrepreneurs Planning a Startup Read More »
Here are the social networks I participate in. I find them a good source for practical advice for running my business. LinkedIn www.linkedin.com Intuit’s Jumpup www.jumpup.com Bank of America Small Business http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com Bootstrappers Breakfast www.bootstrappersbreakfast.com Check me out, my screen name is tshafer.
Social Networks for Running your Business Read More »
I collect quotes for entrepreneurs, here are a set quotes on operational excellence. You can follow @skmurphy to get quotes for entrepreneurs hot off the mojo wire or wait until they are collected in a blog post at the end of each month. Enter your E-mail address if you would like to have new blog
Quotes on Operational Excellence Read More »
My two key takeaways from “First Customers: Targeting The Right Customers To Build And Sustain Your Business” were that nothing happens automatically with a launch and your true first customer is a stranger.
First Customers: Targeting The Right Customers To Build And Sustain Your Business Read More »
Anonymous Coward landing pages don’t inspire trust or confidence in prospects, as a result few contact you. Startups should sign their work. Requiring a signed NDA before providing basic information also deters inquiries.
Startups Should Sign Their Work Read More »
Cheryl Downing suggests you explore three market niches to find your target market niche.
Prioritizing Your Target Market Niches Read More »
Francis Adanza recaps the Ready, Set, Launch: Taking the Product to Market event at SVPMA on July -11-2007.
Ready, Set, Launch: Taking the Product to Market Read More »
Francine Tyler, CPA francinetylercpa@gmail.com 831-419-9812 See also Q: Can you recommend an accountant for business taxes? Our Answer used to be You can’t go wrong with Ogden Lilly at Boitano Sargent and Lilly. Odgen has done my taxes on the business side for more than a dozen years and helped on the personal side for
Can you recommend an accountant? Read More »
Don’t imitate Google: there are many criteria to consider in a hiring policy for a sales person, but college GPA has to be one of the least useful indicators of future success.
One Google Hiring Policy Startups Should Avoid Read More »
Entrepreneurs prowl Silicon Valley for a Venture Capitalist to listen like a department store Santa to their list of needs and make their dreams come true.
Silicon Valley: Not as Nuts as 99…Yet Read More »
Getting early customer feedback is critical to fine tuning your product so that you can scale up. The temptation is to use a on-line survey tool to save your time, but I think for your early customers a questionnaire may only give you the answers that you are looking for, not the information that you need.
Getting Early Feedback Read More »
In “Perseverance Rewarded” William Feather offers some good advice for getting started. Many folks succeed because they don’t realize how hard it is to accomplish what they have set out to do (of course several orders of magnitude more fail).
William Feather on “Perseverance Rewarded” Read More »
In “Iterating Towards Bethlehem” Michael Sippey addressed making the shift as a product manager. from packaged software to hosted services.
Iterating Towards Bethlehem: Michael Sippey at SVPMA 8/2/2006 Read More »
“Plus Minus People” make a strong initial impression but once you start working with them (or you hire them) you realize that they have a negative impact on the team.
Where in Silicon Valley can I meet with clients? How do I setup payroll? Can you recommend a lawyer? Where can I get insurance? What are the basic marketing concepts for a startup? See “Crucial Marketing Concepts for Startups” by Sean Murphy and Mark Duncan, April 2007 Long Version (includes Book Reviews) Short Version (just
Learning the Business of Startups Read More »
