October, 2017

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Why Uber is The Revenge of the Founders

Steve Blank

A version of this article is in the Harvard Business Review. Uber , Zenefits , Tanium , Lending Club CEOs of companies with billion dollar market caps have been in the news – and not in a good way. This seems to be occurring more and more. Why do these founders get to stay around? Because the balance of power has dramatically shifted from investors to founders.

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The fundamental lesson of the forces governing scaling startups

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

Idealistic founders believe they will break the mold when they scale, and not turn into a “typical big company.” By which they mean: Without stupid rules that assume employees are dumb or evil, without everything taking ten times longer than it should, without wall-to-wall meetings, without resorting to hiring anything less than the top 1% of the talent pool, and so on.

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7 Steps To Finding Investors Aligned With Your Values

Startup Professionals Musings

One of the most common complaints I hear from new business owners and startups is about the pain and difficulty raising capital. The “venture capital” model is the only option they know, where they feel they get no mercy, giving up equity and control. Based on my experience with startups, I’m a strong believer that there are far better alternatives available, if you think outside the box.

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A Few Reasons To Use Video Production Services In Your Internet Marketing Campaign

YoungUpstarts

Without any doubt, marketing is one of the crucial elements of business success. Every experienced marketer and business owner knows that poor or inadequate marketing efforts can affect the sales and vice versa. With the help of a solid marketing plan, you will get a chance to promote your product, showcase its abilities and increase awareness about your unique service our product.

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Building Healthy Innovation Ecosystems for Your Projects

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

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What Is a SWOT Analysis?

Up and Running

This article is part of our “ Business Planning Guide “ —a curated list of our articles that will help you with the planning process! Conducting a SWOT analysis of your business is a lot more fun than it sounds. It won’t take much time, and doing it forces you to think about your business in a whole new way. The point of a SWOT analysis is to help you develop a strong business strategy by making sure you’ve considered all of your business’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as the op

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We’re Programming Around Your Needs: Highlights of Lean Startup Week 2017

Startup Lessons Learned

Guest post by Jennifer Maerz, Program Chair of Lean Startup Co. For eight years, our flagship conference has focused on sharing stories and lessons of putting Lean Startup’s entrepreneurial methodology into practice. We’ve hosted talks, workshops, and interactive sessions on the challenges and successes of modern management techniques from a wide variety of business leaders around the world.

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14 Entrepreneurs Explain Why They Started Their Business

Hearpreneur

Each business has a story. No matter if the business is a Goliath like Wal-Mart, or a local business owned by a couple or family, the business has roots in an idea. For each business owner, the story of their journey can range from monetary needs or the passion for a unique project. Each story is different though the reasons may be the same. No matter the tale, the background behind each and every business is what fuels each and brand.

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Why You Need Help Rather Than Helpers In A Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

As an advisor to startups, and a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m still surprised at the number who are determined to go it alone. Even worse, when they figure out that they really need help, the first place they look is for an intern or untrained helpers. They don’t realize that these only increase their workload, due to training and management, rather than offloading real work.

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The Firewall Is Dead – What Can Businesses Do To Protect And Secure Their Brands?

YoungUpstarts

by David Nagrosst, head of sales for Cyxtera Technologies in Asia Pacific, Australia and Japan. Recent developments in applications have rendered the firewall outdated and incapable of deciphering the good and trusted from the bad traffic. Without a doubt, the firewall era has come to an end. The onset of death. There are those who are still clinging on for dear life to firewalls by saying that there are renditions of next-generation features.

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8 Steps to Starting Your Own Business

Up and Running

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! People often ask us for a list of steps they can use to start their own business. From business type to business model to physical location, there are so many variables! However, there are things that every business needs to do to get off the ground.

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Publication Day for "The Startup Way"

Startup Lessons Learned

Today, my new book, The Startup Way , finally hits bookshelves! It's a huge day for any author, but I also hope it can be a huge day for the future and growth of the startup movement and for the future of our country. I want people to use my book as a way to start conversations about the critical roles of innovation and sustainable growth everywhere from startups to large corporations to public policy.

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Side Business: Generating Ideas for Your Side Hustle

The Startup Magazine

To get in the mindset of finding the profitable ideas that exist all around you, take an imaginary drive down the street and consider what kind of possibilities might appear. All along the way, pay close attention to your surroundings—you never know when a good idea for a side hustle might show up. The first thing to notice is that you’re not the only one on the road.

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Profiles on 2017 Boulder City Council Candidates

Feld Thoughts

On October 19th, Engage Boulder is hosting a breakfast with me from 7:30am to 9:30am to discuss the past, present, and future of Boulder. I’ve lived and worked here since 1995 so I’ve seen, and be involved in, a lot of the evolution of our city over this period of time. I’m hoping to have a thoughtful and open conversation about a lot of the issues that are coming up around our local election.

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5 Hardest Things in Conversion Optimization

ConversionXL

Conversion optimization is hard; it’s constantly changing and you need to know a lot about a lot. Keeping up with the technology changes and managing business’ expectations can be tricky. Here’s what some of the top experts in the field are saying about the top challenges in conversion optimization. #1 Having to be an expert in many things. CRO is multidisciplinary and cross-functional.

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Does Fintech Disruption Break The Investment Banking Model?

YoungUpstarts

by Joe Duncan, founder of Duncan Capital LP. Fintech is triggering a profound rethink for financial institutions, from retail to investment banking. However must this imply the banking model is broken beyond repair thus leading to massive headcount reductions? At least for investment banks the answer is not so clear cut. The combination of services and infrastructure traditionally housed under one roof – underwriting, research, sales & trading, supported by large back office operation

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6 Ways to Make Sure Your Tech Startup Will Succeed in 2018

Up and Running

When we established Ready4S back in 2012, the tech startup scene looked completely different than it does today. The 2008 financial crisis was still fresh on our minds and people were more careful when taking each business step. The series of recent spectacular successes and lucrative exits in the tech industry inspires many professionals to venture into the sector.

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What's Next for "The Startup Way"

Startup Lessons Learned

We’ve had an amazing first week following publication of The Startup Way. I’ve loved traveling to talk about the book and hearing what readers and supporters have to say and what their most pressing questions are. Launch week was busy to say the least, with lots of interviews, Quora and Reddit A MAs, and events across three states. A heartfelt thank you to everyone for turning out, reading, and offering support!

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7 Technological Issues Small Business Currently Face

The Startup Magazine

The influence information technology has on the productivity of so many enterprises should never be underestimated. In fact, it is one of those business elements that can bring an entire company to a grinding halt. But in the hands of the right people, it can deliver a boost that will stretch beyond increased levels of productivity. The moment the IT section does not work like a well-oiled machine, expect several problems to arise and very quickly escalate, resulting in expenses, unproductive em

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50 on Fire Celebration on Oct 4 in Austin

Austin Startup

The Forrest Four-Cast: October 1, 2017 A gathering of innovators, big and small, people and organizations, across multiple categories, 50 on Fire occurs at 7:00 pm on Wednesday evening, October 4 at Impact Hub Austin (5540 North Lamar, 78756). The 50 best-of-the-best Austin startups, organizations and individuals being honored at this event include 3 Day Startup, Central Texas Angel Network, Civitas Learning, Data.World, Div Inc, Ever Fest, EverlyWell, Flo Sports, GameSalad, Mubariz “Moby” Hayat

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Using Dual Process Theory for Higher Conversions

ConversionXL

Designing your website requires a studied understanding of human behavior if you want to increase your conversions. Using psychological tactics in your design to appeal to potential customers can help do this, but you must first know how users’ decisions are made. Daniel Kahneman presents two thought systems that can give marketers a framework for how to target their ideal clients through site design and get a major uplift in conversions.

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Business Prenup: What To Do Before You Start A Company With A Partner

YoungUpstarts

by Mark L. Zyla, managing director of Acuitas, Inc., and Jessica Wood, a principal at Bodker, Ramsey, Andrews, Winograd & Wildstein, P.C. So, you’re about to start a closely held business with your best friend (or a few friends). Congratulations! Before you get started, though, think pragmatically on the front end to avoid headaches at the back end.

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What Is a Business Model? Business Models Explained

Up and Running

Airbnb is a well-known example of the marketplace business model. Understanding the problem you are solving for your customers is undoubtedly the biggest challenge you’ll face when you’re starting a business. Customers need to want what you are selling and your product needs to solve a real problem. But, ensuring that your product fits the needs of the market is only one part of starting a successful business.

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Two Weeks until "The Startup Way"

Startup Lessons Learned

“Mission critical reading.” -- Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and co-author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers The Alliance and The Startup of You In just a few weeks, my new book, The Startup Way , will be available in print, digital, and audio formats. One of the most gratifying parts of writing a book is heading off on tour with it and finding out how it’s engaging actual readers.

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Intro to Blockchain: Why You Can’t Miss Out

The Startup Magazine

Blockchain is a financial technology platform that is truly a “phenom”, but one with the lasting potential to affect every aspect of our society. It will likely affect every transaction we make, our own identification, and every way we interact digitally. It may literally reduce not only our own identity to a number, but also the identity of all things.

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14 Entrepreneurs Reveal Which Famous Entrepreneur Would Be Their Dream Mentor

Hearpreneur

A mentor is someone who is more knowledgeable in your area of expertise and he/she may help you through various ways such as in career guidance. In the business field, there are entrepreneurs who have stood out from the crowd due to their various accomplishments and way of doing this. It’s from this that many entrepreneurs draw their inspiration from them.

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How to Structure Your Optimization and Experimentation Teams

ConversionXL

It’s important to know the most efficient way to arrange your optimization team to ensure their productivity and yours. But what’s the best way to structure your team? Should optimization folks be in a separate team? Or under product teams? Or marketing? There’s several different ways, and choosing which one works best for your company can be challenging.

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The Seven Rules of Fearless Growth: What Fearless Companies Are Doing To Grow Faster And Smarter 

YoungUpstarts

by Amanda Setili, author of “ Fearless Growth: The New Rules to Stay Competitive, Foster Innovation, and Dominate Your Markets “ Growth has always been fundamental to business success, but it’s never been more critical than it is now. Rapid changes in technology, shifting customer expectations, disruptive business models, and quickly evolving regulations force organizations to innovate quickly and invest in new lines of business that will fuel future growth.

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A Standard Business Plan Outline [Updated for 2017]

Up and Running

This article is part of our “Business Planning Guide” —a curated list of our articles that will help you with the planning process! Editor’s note: We’ve updated this article for 2017. Start from the very beginning understanding that your business plan ought to be specific to your business needs and objectives. Every business ought to have a plan, but not every business needs a full formal plan with carefully crafted summaries and descriptions.

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How to Optimize Your Event Marketing Campaigns: Before, During and After Events

Duct Tape Marketing

How to Optimize Your Event Marketing Campaigns: Before, During and After Events written by Guest Post read more at Duct Tape Marketing. Frost and Sullivan report that the live events industry is worth around $512 billion. Alon Alroy, CMO of Bizzabo, explains how event marketers can measure and optimize their event marketing campaigns before during and after the event process.

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No Time for Bookkeeping? 5 Tips for Busy Startups

The Startup Magazine

Bookkeeping is a joy for some and a burden for others. Whichever side of the fence you fall on, streamlining your process and understanding the system is key to faster record keeping. Here are five tips to make bookkeeping easier and save time that’s better used elsewhere in building your new business. Keep Things Simple. In the excitement of a new business venture, it’s tempting to arm yourself with a big, fancy, expensive accounting software package that you don’t need.

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You can have two Big Things, but not three

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

Forget work/life integration for a minute. How much time do you have, regardless of partitioning? From your 24-hour daily allotment, the 1950s-style break-down is 8 hours for work, 8 for home and commute, and 8 for sleep and ablutions. So, “work” and “home” are the two things in which you can spend 40+ hours per week. This is the amount of time it takes to tackle something huge.

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Predictions, Redactions

deal architect

At their annual Gartner Symposium event in Orlando today, Peter Sondergaard predicted "AI will be a net job creator starting in 2020" To that, Jason Hiner at TechRepublic snarkily commented “Gartner's research chief couldn't have opened the company's flagship conference.

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4 Ways In Which Millennial Entrepreneurs Do Business Differently

YoungUpstarts

Millennials are a generation which stretches from the mid-eighties to the late nineties, and the name itself comes from the people born between these two dates being the first generation to move into further education in the new millennium. Millennials themselves are generally viewed rather negatively as a whole, despite the statistics surrounding their lives giving an entirely different story.

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Do You Know How Your Business Is Doing and Where It’s Going?

Up and Running

I think it’s safe to say that most new business owners don’t jump into their entrepreneurial dream because they are financial experts or are particularly excited about spending a lot of time knee deep in their business’s financial reports. But, it is important to understand what’s going on within their business—it’s really the only way to plan for growth.

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Transcript of Increase Profits Through Specialization

Duct Tape Marketing

Transcript of Increase Profits Through Specialization written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing. Back to Podcast. Transcript. John Jantsch: One of the ways to really drive up profit is to specialize, is to go into a vertical market, is to go have a niche, to get known as an expert in X, Y, or Z. In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing podcast, we speak with Philip Morgan of Philip Morgan Consulting, and that’s what he does.

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3 Practical Machine Learning Applications That Can Help Your Startup

The Startup Magazine

Artificial intelligence is helping level the playing field for companies seeking to compete for search engine results. AI machine learning allows search engines to determine users’ intent when submitting queries, even when queries involve different keywords, using the context of prior searches to deliver more relevant results. This allows startups who know how to take advantage of machine learning to deliver website visitors a better, more relevant user experience.