Tech Startups Evolve – They Aren’t Created in a Big Bang
The traditional model of starting a company is to complete all the steps in parallel, leading to the “big bang” launch of the company. I strongly recommend a dramatic departure…
Self-Knowledge Makes You a More Effective Entrepreneur
If you are going to be a real entrepreneur, it’s important that you know yourself well. After all, you won’t have a direct manager charged with giving you feedback, and…
Ten Calculated Risks Worth Taking
Being a risk-taker in business is not the same as being reckless. Nevertheless, the word “risk” has a negative connotation to most of us, implying danger and possible loss. For…
Tech Startup Expenses Continue to Fall
I come from a high-tech software background, and only a few years ago, it would cost at least a million dollars ($1M) for a team of professionals to produce any…
Don’t Start a Business if You Have a Victim Mentality
People with a victim mentality should never be entrepreneurs. We all know the role of starting and running a business is unpredictable and has a high risk of failure. For…
How and Where Do You Find Angel Investors?
If your startup is looking for an angel investor, it makes sense to present your plan to flocks of angels, and assume that at least one will swoop down and…
Empowered Customers Are Earned, Not Sold
You can’t succeed in your new startup if you can’t win customers, and the new Internet-empowered customers are tough. They are in control, and they no longer care where or…
Stick Your Neck Out of the Turtle Shell
Willingness to take a risk is the hallmark of a serious entrepreneur. That’s why one of the first questions that potential investors ask is “How much of your own money,…
Baby Boomers are Leading the Startup Charge
Contrary to what most of you might guess, the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity over the last few years is not Gen-Y young upstarts, but Baby Boomers in the 55-64…
Startups Aren’t For Lone Rangers
You can’t win as an entrepreneur working alone. You need to have business relationships with team members, investors, customers, and a myriad of other support people. That doesn’t mean you…