VC Adventure

NOVEMBER 1, 2018

This is the 4th post in my Designing the Ideal Board Meetin g series. I hope this series so far has helped you think a bit differently about how you approach the lead-up to your board meetings. By the time you walk into the meeting you should have a clear agenda that everyone has agreed to, one or two areas of the business that you plan to dive more deeply into, prepared materials that are of a style, length, detail and consistency that efficiently and effectively brings your board up to speed o

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Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 1, 2018

So, you are close to selling your company, and counting the profits a bit early. Well, that’s human nature. Here’s a thought for you to recall later when and if the event happens. Remember those who got you there. And for tax reasons, remember them before the closing of the deal, so that you can do so by sharing a bit of your proceeds without paying personal income tax upon those amounts.

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Stock Options Stock Distribution Programming 192

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 12, 2018

by Georgianna W. Oliver, founder of tour24. Entrepreneurs are funny people. They are problem solvers, and are everywhere in every walk-of-life! They are engineers, computer scientists, doctors, detectives, teachers, parents, politicians, and even your barista or Uber driver. Virtually anyone you may meet on a given day wants to solve a problem, or make the world a better place.

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Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 13, 2018

I know a change is going to come. If you’re an early employee at a startup, one day you will wake up to find that what you worked on 24/7 for the last year is no longer the most important thing – you’re no longer the most important employee, and process, meetings, paperwork and managers and bosses have shown up. Most painfully, you’ll learn that your role in the company has to change.

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Part-Time VPE Employee Cofounder Hiring 334

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

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2018

For decades, efforts to satisfy customers have been built around demographics – capitalizing on race, ethnicity, gender, income, and other attributes. Today, in this age of pervasive social media and two-way communication, the focus needs to get beyond demographics into personalities. Customer personalities define customer experience, and sets what they love, and what they hate.

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Customer Social Media Media Employee 252

The Startup Magazine

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

The Startup Magazine recently featured two of the FUND Conference Top 3 Exhibitor winners, Happenstance , and Digs. We’ve saved the best for last. The top startup at this year’s FUND Conference in Chicago, Illinois was Balodana , a fashion purchasing platform disrupting the women’s e-commerce fashion industry. The event presenter, FUND, is a national connector of entrepreneurs, VCs, angel investors, and industry experts with a focus on deal flow and making connections.

Technical Review 158

Technical Review Software Review Illinois Due Diligence 158

crowdSPRING Blog

NOVEMBER 8, 2018

Many people want to start a clothing brand or clothing line. After all, how difficult could it be? The truth is that successful clothing brands become successful in part because they’re created by people who are passionate about clothing. But, a clothing brand needs more than just exquisite apparel design to create a lasting business. It needs all the trappings of a successful business as well.

Small Business Administration 133

Small Business Administration Social Media LLC Technical Review 133

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 21, 2018

by Saeju Jeong, CEO and Co-founder of Noom Coach. Many friends who start a new business together often end up going their separate ways, leaving the company to collapse and the relationship to turn sour. However, this isn’t to say that a partnership – and new business – can’t last if handled correctly. I should know – I’ve done it.

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Cofounder Technical Cofounder Software Engineering Startup 217

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 26, 2018

Most healthy businesses need business financing at some point. Startups have to deal with starting costs and ongoing businesses have to finance growth and working capital. Deciding to take on some kind of debt is quite common. In this article, we’ll take a quick look at the big picture, and then talk through options for funding. Financing options depend on what kind of business you have.

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SBA Venture Capital Angel Investor Technical Review 161

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 16, 2018

As the rate of change continues to increase in business and technology, the more I’m convinced that marketing is the primary key to success for a new venture. Yet I find that many technical founders don’t feel they need it at all, or at best point to one person on the team who is marketing. I believe the real challenge is make your whole team a marketing machine.

Technical Review 178

Technical Review Marketing Due Diligence Social Media 178

The Startup Magazine

NOVEMBER 12, 2018

Developing successful agile innovation methods can drive companies to great new heights. Wanting to avoid digital disruptions and enable better decision-making in the workplace? Then implementing agile innovation methods should be top on your list of to-dos. Taking an agile approach to project management means taking large tasks and splitting them into smaller tasks, as well as finding ways to be more innovative.

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Agile SCRUM Cloud Software Developers 102

ConversionXL

NOVEMBER 12, 2018

If you generate a $200 million quarterly profit with an online product, your website’s user experience must be world class, right? Wrong. Your homepage can still look like the one above, which is from one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. But terrible UX isn’t a shortcoming of the cryptocurrency industry—it’s common in every high-growth industry, including, perhaps, your own.

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Affiliate Email Technical Review Registration Rights 116

crowdSPRING Blog

NOVEMBER 8, 2018

Silicon Valley has dominated the U.S. startup ecosystem for many decades. Despite repeated efforts, only a few cities outside the Valley (New York and Boston) have historically had the critical mix of VC funding, network, and talent to fuel vibrant startup centers. Best startup city rankings have reflected this truth for a long time. But this is becoming less true today, as more and more entrepreneurs find their way across the U.S.

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YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 27, 2018

by Marcus Harris, Software Litigator at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP. Since 2003, October has been recognized as National Cyber Security Awareness Month in an effort to promote safety and security online. While October has now come and gone, cyber security remains an extremely important topic and will continue as such through the foreseeable future.

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Software Review Software Developers Software Development Security 157

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 20, 2018

This article is part of our Business Startup Guide —a curated list of our articles that will get you up and running in no time! Starting up a business requires a lot of different steps. First-time entrepreneurs and small business founders often feel anxious when they think about all the factors that play into getting their idea off the ground. Plus, it can seem like success or failure hinges on finding deep-pockets funders, expert mentors, ample press coverage, and other “champions.”.

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Sweat Equity Startup Lean Italy 93

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 19, 2018

I often wonder how many more startups would succeed if their founders could master the art and science of delegation. It seems inherent in the mind of most first-time entrepreneurs that it was their idea, and they must do all the work themselves to make it happen. In my role as mentor and advisor to many founders, I consistently fail in convincing them of the power in wise delegation.

Leadership 241

Leadership Technical Review Due Diligence Founder 241

The Startup Magazine

NOVEMBER 6, 2018

Who are we? Why are we here? Where are we going? These are the questions we ask ourselves when feeling philosophical. For startup owners, similar questions need to be asked about their company – particularly the product (or service) they’re providing their consumers. Only by developing a deep understanding of the product lifecycle can a startup have the endurance necessary for long-term success, and this can only be achieved via solid product management.

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Management Product Software Review Software 113

Duct Tape Marketing

NOVEMBER 7, 2018

Google Ads Changes Affecting Small Businesses written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing. Marketing Podcast with John Jantsch on Changes to Google Ads. Google has recently made some drastic changes to their ads program—starting with a name change, from Google AdWords to Google Ads. Some of the changes are technical, like tweaks to the interface.

Small Business 76

Small Business Artificial Inteligence Technical Review Advertising 76

Jeff Hilimire

NOVEMBER 6, 2018

It’s funny how life works, isn’t it? My wife and I started dating junior year of high school, just after I convinced her to let me “borrow” her Ray Kroc presentation (we were in different classes but had both chosen Ray Kroc to do our history report on.). Fast-forward a few years later and I followed her to Charlotte, her attending Davidson College and me at UNC-Charlotte.

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Charlotte New Zealand Atlanta .Net 54

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 22, 2018

Starting a business is difficult enough, but starting out alongside full time employment is incredibly difficult. However, it can be equally rewarding and can lead to you being able to take more control of your life and focus entirely on what may become your sole income. Unlike working full time in a 9 – 5 job as most people do, running your own business provides challenges, uncertainty and difficult learning curves which need to be overcome in order to succeed.

Web Development 147

Web Development PPC Marketing Social Media 147

Up and Running

NOVEMBER 19, 2018

Image via TechCrunch. What’s a non-emergency medical transportation business? NEMT services help people get to pre-scheduled healthcare appointments, including doctor visits, rehab, clinical testing, follow-up exams, and more. The demand for safe and reliable public transportation for people with medical issues and disabilities, particularly in rural communities, continues to grow at remarkable rates.

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Non-Compete Operations Programming Hiring 92

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 10, 2018

Every technical entrepreneur is an early adopter of technology, so naturally they build things with people like themselves in mind. Unfortunately, for most solution markets, early adopters represent only 10 to 15 percent of the total opportunity, so it’s easy to get mislead on the real requirements of mainstream customers. Psychologists call this the confirmation bias.

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Technical Review Restful Engineer Technology 240

The Startup Magazine

NOVEMBER 8, 2018

In an effort to support startups looking for capital and mentorship, The Startup Magazine is supporting Volvo Financial Services in its launch of its iLabX global innovation program for technology entrepreneurs. We encourage all startups to consider applying to this rewarding startup accelerator. Corporate accelerators are one of the best ways for startups to access capital, advice, and markets. iLabX Technology Accelerator.

North Carolina 140

North Carolina Startup Technical Review Programming 140

Duct Tape Marketing

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

Becoming a Great Leader, No Matter What Field You’re In written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing. Marketing Podcast with Jason Kander. Podcast Transcript. Since recording this interview, Jason Kander announced that he was taking a step back from political life to deal with depression and PTSD symptoms he was experiencing as a result of his tour in Afghanistan.

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Kansas City Missouri Afghanistan Kansas 72

deal architect

NOVEMBER 12, 2018

My daughter, Rita is about to embark on what she calls a Gap Quarter. I don’t want to steal her thunder as she plans to blog about it but it is a play on a Gap Year and what us.

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YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 16, 2018

It seems like social media makes the world go ‘round these days, and if you are a retailer or restaurant owner you may understand this more than most! Getting great reviews online is so important in attracting new customers (and, sometimes even keeping your regulars as perceptions can change over time). So, how do you improve your reviews as a restaurant owner… and, what’s a sure fire way to ensure you patrons get clicking on those stars?

Technical Review 167

Technical Review Social Media Campaign Channel 167

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 27, 2018

The team at Innovation Leader had me over to share some observations on how to survive in a world of disruption in large organizations. It’s worth a listen – here. 5:30: The cultural differences between startups and big companies. 8:30: Not everyone is an innovator. 9:10: Being an ambidextrous organization is the key to survival for a big company. 9:42: Apple stopped changing the world; here’s why. 10:55: The most disruptive companies are driven by founders. 11:30: How to int

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Programming Founder Startup Product 276

Feld Thoughts

NOVEMBER 2, 2018

I received a Silicon Flatirons email from Phil Weiser this morning in his role as Silicon Flatirons Founder and Executive Director. My partners and I, especially Jason Mendelson, have been very involved with Silicon Flatirons over the past decade. I have a chapter in Startup Communities that uses CU Boulder – and specifically Silicon Flatirons – as an example of a much better way than the traditional approach (circa 2012) for a university to engage with the startup community.

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Community Colorado Venture Capital Startup 238

The Startup Magazine

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

At this year’s FUND Conference in Chicago, Illinois, over 100 startups presented their early-stage companies in front of hundreds of investors and industry leaders. FUND is a national connector of entrepreneurs, VCs, angel investors, and industry experts with a focus on deal flow and making connections. The startups ranked most highly by investors and startup enthusiasts in terms of scalability and longevity received votes on how well they connected with investors.

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Chad Illinois Nepal Haiti 139

Duct Tape Marketing

NOVEMBER 6, 2018

How to Build an Effective Referral Program written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing. You spend a lot of time and energy winning over new business, and once you’ve gotten that prospect to convert, you work hard to create a positive customer experience. Rather than going out and trying to find brand new customers all over again, it’s much more time- and cost-effective to turn to the customers you already have, not only for repeat business, but to create a steady stream of referrals

Programming 66

Programming Technical Review B2C Email 66

deal architect

NOVEMBER 11, 2018

Plex hosted its annual Future of Manufacturing Roundtable in Michigan last week. I was actually as excited about the past and present of manufacturing I saw during the visit. They hosted a dinner at a Birmingham restaurant which used to.

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Michigan Hosting 281

YoungUpstarts

NOVEMBER 27, 2018

by Emmanuel de Watteville, co-founder of Blue Ocean Ventures. When anyone considers their own option to invest in a growing project or venture, they immediately think of the financial risks that come with such a business endeavor. Investing has always (and will always) come with a long laundry list of liabilities that can deter even the most experienced investors from making a generous contribution to a startup or early-stage company they believe in.

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Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 18, 2018

Successful entrepreneurs are usually hard-driving, and highly focused on some specific goals, like being the dominant player in a given domain, or the low-priced provider of their product. Yet other entrepreneurs will talk for hours about all their ideas, and how they intend to change the world, but I don’t hear any specific goals or milestones. Many people are very hesitant to set specific goals, due to lack of self-confidence or whatever.

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Business Plan Developer Entrepreneur Product 244

Babbling VC

NOVEMBER 7, 2018

Bear with me as many generalisations are to follow. . . via GIPHY. "Nobody reads Powerpoints anyway!" I heard this from a business acquaintance recently and was initially taken aback by that comment. The brunt of what I have done over the past twenty years in business has involved Powerpoints (or more recently Google sheets but you know what I mean.

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Lean 170

The Startup Magazine

NOVEMBER 21, 2018

Starting a business includes planning for security issues. The last thing an entrepreneur wants to deal with is stolen property. Proper installation of CCTV cameras offers a high level of security. Having CCTV cameras at your business and home premises makes you feel safe. The question is, are these CCTV cameras adequately installed? Alarmadoo helps you highlight the common mistakes you should avoid when installing CCTV cameras.

Security 109

Security Technical Review Cost Hiring 109

Duct Tape Marketing

NOVEMBER 21, 2018

Using Technology to Build Connections in the Real World written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing. Marketing Podcast with Dan Schawbel. Podcast Transcript. This week on the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, I chat with Dan Schawbel. He is a New York Times bestselling author, partner and research director at Future Workplace , and founder of both WorkplaceTrends.com and Millennial Branding.

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Technical Review Technology New York Social Media 56