Startup Resources

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This page contains an assortment of resources for startup and small business entrepreneurs. I tried to find a good mix of articles, blogs, templates, and software that will make the task of starting a business just a little bit easier. This list is never really complete, so if you have a suggestion or think I missed some critical piece be certain to contact me. You can also download this guide (HTML) (PDF).

For our ongoing Case Study series visit Startup Reactor.

Contents


Getting Ready

Lightening

“(a) Do not write a business plan. (b) Do not create a PowerPoint pitch. (c) Do not try to raise money. (e.) Do build a prototype. That’s the way to get off the ground because if you can’t build a prototype, a business plan, a pitch, and trying to raise money is just self-flagellation.” –Guy Kawasaki

“An inventor fails 999 times, and if he succeeds once, he’s in. He treats his failures simply as practice shots.” –Charles Kettering

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Blogs To Read

Library

“If you truly believe your idea fills a need, then start with identifying how many people would use it. Make sure that someone else hasn’t already built it. Then build a prototype and test it with a small group of people to make sure the potential users will like it.

Put together a brief business plan and build a financial model of how you are going to sell it and make profits . . . All these steps are there to test your mettle, and if you truly believe in your mission you will overcome adversity.

You will never give up, you burnt you boats and there is no going back, ‘Failure is not an Option’ are your mottos. If you stick with that, then victory will be yours.” –Vajid Jafri, cFares

“The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane.” –-Nikola Tesla

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Documents

Documents

“My main advice would be to always remember that your most valuable resource is your time. Are you using it effectively? Having good ideas isn’t hard, knowing which idea to focus on, which to outsource, which to skip altogether, that’s the skill.

Beyond that, all I can say is hire great people. We’ve been very lucky to attract a first class team.” –Ed Freyfogle, Nestoria

“The best museums and museum exhibits about science or technology give you the feeling that, hey, this is interesting, but maybe I could do something here, too.” –Paul Allen

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Funding

Bank

“Pick an idea that tries to help people and make people’s lives better. If you succeed in helping people, you too will be a success. Choose something you’re passionate about. When you work for yourself, you’re going to work harder than any company you’ve ever been at. Starting a company will be physically, mentally, and emotionally painful at times and if you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, there is a good chance you will quit.” –Eric Goh, Recommendr

“Whatever the difference between brilliant and average brains, we are all creative. And through practice and study we can enhance our skills and talents.” –-Jeff Hawkins

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Taxes

Bank

“Well, every company’s challenges are unique, but if there is one piece of advice I can share, its to build the right team. No matter what challenges you and your business face (and there will be lots), if you are surrounded by a team of intelligent, passionate, talented and imaginative people who believe in what you’re doing, you’ll have everything you need to work through the tough times.” –Mark Trefgarne, LiveRails

“He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils; for time is the greatest innovator.” –Francis Bacon

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Accounting

City

“Don’t wait to release. Get it out there early, don’t be afraid to be embarrassed. We learned this lesson the hard way. If you look at the current landscape of ‘Web 2.0′, ‘Enterprise 2.0′, or ‘Media 2.0′ apps, I believe we fit in each category, those who are most well known are often the least interesting, but it’s because the creators put it out there quickly, very early, and talked about it lots.” –Aaron Fulkerson, Deki Wiki

“In 20 or 30 years, you’ll be able to hold in your hand as much computing knowledge as exists now in the whole city, or even the whole world.” -–Douglas Engelbart

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Launch Day

Launch

“Most people are just like us, they have full time jobs and the only way they’re going to be able to make their idea develop into a reality is to make sacrifices. What little time and money you have after work and bills has to go into that idea you have. You have to stay focused and prioritize everything.” –Andrew Glass, Foodio54

“In marketing I’ve seen only one strategy that can’t miss - and that is to market to your best customers first, your best prospects second and the rest of the world last.” -–John Romero

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Hiring

Flock

“If someone does something nice for you, ask them how you can help them – even if it sounds silly to you. If you meet a CEO who says she can help you, it may feel weird to ask how you can help her, but CEOs and other powerful people are people too, and more than anything, people want to feel appreciated.” –Melanie Notkin, Savvy Auntie

“There are two kinds of companies, those that work to try to charge more and those that work to charge less. We will be the second.”–Jeff Bezos

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Marketing

NASA

“Seriously, if you want to try something new, DO IT. Try it by yourself then network yourself to other people. Ask questions, talk to people, join groups, and find other people that are interested in the same things you are interested in. Collaboration is key.” –Nick Schmidt

“One always has to remember these days where the garbage pail is, because it’s so easy to make sounds, and to put sounds together into something that appears to be music, but it’s just as hard as it always was to make good music.” –-Robert Moog

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Office

Offices

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A Few More Tips

Staircase

  • Invest in both team and task, collaborate with honesty, and you’ll survive to live another day if your first idea fails. -Deborah Nystrom

  • Clearly define your purpose for being in business and allow that focus to guide all of your decisions. -Karen Swim

  • Hire the right people and only when you really need them. -Kim Dushinski

  • Sell what someone actually wants. -Calvin Spealman

  • Do what you love, be relevant and provide real value. the rest will work itself out. -Matt Hager

  • Love what you’re doing or get out. -Kristen Beireis

  • Best entrepreneur tip I’ve learned is to be realistic in your day-to-day operations, but dream big.-Terra Anderson

  • The best advice I can give to entrepreneurs is that overnight success will take some years. Most things take longer than you expect. -Wilson Ng

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