Didn’t Get Into TechStars? Don’t Sweat It
July 22, 2011
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3 minutes
Didn't get into TechStars? No worries! Get a job at Google, work diligently, and use your salary to fund your startup. Focus on validating your concept to secure seed money. Don't let setbacks stop your entrepreneurial journey—keep pushing forward!
7 Ways to Raise Money Without Giving Up Equity
May 08, 2011
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5 minutes
Explore funding options without giving up equity, including Startup Chile's $40,000 grants, Kickstarter and IndieGoGo crowdfunding, Profounder's profit-sharing model, Development Innovation Ventures' $350,000 grants, SBIR's government support, and RevenueLoan's revenue-based repayment for established businesses. Each program offers unique benefits for entrepreneurs.
Looking for techie to fix serious bug!
April 13, 2011
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1 minute
I've been nominated for “Best Startup Technologist” in the Seattle 2.0 Awards for the 3rd year in a row—clearly a serious bug in the nomination software! If you know any tech experts, please refer them to Seattle 2.0 to fix this. Thanks for your support!
How to recruit top engineers to your startup
January 20, 2011
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4 minutes
To recruit top engineers, focus on building relationships through dev events, personal networking, and targeted college outreach. Engage passive candidates with meaningful interactions, convert contractors to full-time employees, and invest in intern programs to create a strong brand presence and attract talent.
Favorite tools for late night startup hackers
January 16, 2011
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3 minutes
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10 photos
For late-night startup hackers, essential collaboration tools include oLark for customer feedback, Join.me for hassle-free screencasts, Propane for Campfire for continuous chat, FaceTime for personal discussions, ScreenFlow for creating screencasts, Thinkfuse for easy status reporting, CloudApp for instant screenshot sharing, and GitHub for collaborative coding.
A Simple New Year’s Resolution: Wake Up!
December 31, 2010
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4 minutes
For my 2011 New Year's resolution, I aim to wake up no later than 7am daily to enjoy the health benefits, spend quality time with family, and appreciate the sunrise. This simple goal promises a more productive and fulfilling day while allowing for a consistent schedule. Happy New Year!
Add logs, pour fuel (VC money), light match (beta release day)
July 07, 2010
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3 minutes
Fundraising should focus on the business's core value and traction, not just personal financial needs. Like a campfire, startups thrive when they build a solid foundation first—gathering kindling and proof points—before adding fuel (money) to accelerate growth, rather than relying solely on funds to survive.
LeadsCon: a crash course in “show me the money!!”
June 23, 2010
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2 minutes
Join entrepreneurs at LeadsCon in NYC on July 26-27, 2010, for a hands-on experience in monetizing online traffic. Learn from industry leaders about turning ideas into cash, with discounts available until June 25th. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to turbo-charge your business!
New York Times 50 Most Challenging Words (defined and used)
June 15, 2010
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7 minutes
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2 photos
The New York Times identified 50 challenging words that often perplex readers, including terms like "inchoate," "profligacy," and "sui generis." An article was created to define and exemplify these words, encouraging readers to enhance their vocabulary and avoid sounding jejune or laconic in conversation.
Unexpected Startup Lesson #3: Why You Can’t Read a VC
June 10, 2010
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3 minutes
Raising funds from VCs often feels like a one-way dialogue, lacking valuable feedback and cues. Despite my assumptions, I found that VCs, overwhelmed by pitches, avoid giving direct responses to preserve their options. This experience taught me that reading VCs accurately is nearly impossible.
Unexpected Startup Lesson #2: Channel your Inner VC to Understand Startup Valuations
May 27, 2010
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4 minutes
Valuation in early-stage startups should be viewed as an output variable, focusing on future value rather than current worth. Prioritize factors like team, market, and execution over valuation, as they significantly impact outcomes. Understanding venture math and negotiating terms is crucial for successful fundraising.
Unexpected Startup Lesson #1: Quitting the day job
May 09, 2010
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3 minutes
Quitting my day job to start Snapvine felt risky, but within months, I gained invaluable networking, learning, and satisfaction, far surpassing my MBA experience. The unexpected lesson? Taking the leap was a zero-risk move that opened doors and positioned me better for the future. Just do it!
If you want to ship, cut, cut, cut!
April 17, 2010
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2 minutes
Get better updates and access to a work item list. Clear the air with a call. Cut non-essential features and bugs to focus on a minimally viable release. Remember, user-friendly means useful, not perfect. Ship now and fix later. Cut. Cut. Cut.
3 Things I’ve Learned To Recruit Great Hackers
April 09, 2010
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1 minute
To recruit great hackers, consider enlisting independent contractors for potential full-time hires, network extensively over coffee with interesting people, and focus deeply on one school by engaging in informal presentations and meet-ups to build your company's reputation.
How much traffic do you get from being on the front page of Hacker News?
March 20, 2010
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2 minutes
Last week's Hacker News post got 2,530 visits, 1,542 from Hacker News alone, compared to my usual 50-100 visits. My average traffic doubled to 30/day, and I gained 30 Twitter followers. Unexpectedly, I also received traffic from Craigslist related to a job advert.
Sell Ice Cream, Not Cream and Ice
March 12, 2010
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2 minutes
In the startup world, many focus on technology or product without a clear business model. Successful entrepreneurs generate millions by acquiring traffic, filtering intent, and selling leads, as seen in lead generation for education and home improvement. Clients prefer ready-to-transact leads over building their own solutions.
Avoid This Startup Mistake: Losing Customer Focus
February 20, 2010
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2 minutes
To maintain customer focus during rapid growth, we printed user photo thumbnails and lined our walls with them, sparking curiosity about our users. This simple technique shifted our team’s mindset, driving engagement with user stories and feedback, ultimately enhancing our product's development.
Crucial first hire: the "do-it-all office admin"
December 16, 2009
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4 minutes
Hiring a "Do-It-All Office Admin" is crucial for startups to handle distractions and free up the team to focus on core goals. Look for self-driven, smart, and trustworthy candidates eager to learn. Responsibilities include office management, recruiting, and independent tasks, reporting directly to the CEO.
The positive follow-up to complaints, failures and ideas.
November 09, 2009
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1 minute
Complaints, failures, and ideas gain value when paired with solutions, honest learning, and follow-through. Encourage others to focus on positive follow-ups, transforming negatives into foundations for innovation and opportunities worth millions.
FiReGlobal West Notes
October 20, 2009
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3 minutes
At FiReGlobal West, discussions highlighted the need for education reform towards individualized learning, innovations in energy-efficient building materials, advancements in telemedicine, and urgent action on oceanic threats. Michael Dell emphasized the shift to mobile-oriented IT and the simplification of data centers, advocating for standardization and automation.
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