Tags: startups

Startups

Startup Outlook 2012: Entrepreneurs are Optimistic and Hiring, but Concerned about Government Policies

05.18.12 From Tech Cocktail

TECH_COCKTAIL

Today, Silicon Valley Bank released its Startup Outlook 2012, based on a February survey of 270 executives from early-stage US startups. Here’s a quick roundup:

The Good

According to the report, “The survey revealed that the tech sector in the U.S. is healthy, hiring, has great business qualities and that startups are optimistic.” 64% of startups met or exceeded their 2011 revenue goals, and 61% believe business conditions are better than a year ago. And these numbers are even higher for software startups. Meanwhile, 90%t of software startups are hiring this year.

The Bad

Entrepreneurs’ concerns boil down to two main issues: education and government policy. 60% of entrepreneurs surveyed believe the education system isn’t preparing students properly for the workforce. And again, that number is higher for the software industry.

The fact that so many startups are hiring might mean that they can’t find or attract high-quality talent. “If I look at my own portfolio … we must have several hundred open positions,” said Jeff Clavier, founder of SoftTech VC, on a call today. “There is so much competition today across the growth stage that it’s really, really hard to attract that talent.”

Read more from Tech Cocktail

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Surroundings Impact Success – Five Steps to an Organized and Efficient Workday

05.16.12 By Rebecca Malik

.CO ExclusiveAs a small business owner your ability to self start and stay focused is key.  However, few things can derail your best efforts as instantly as a disorganized or  inefficient workspace.  Poor organization systems and exposure to visual distractions translate into massive amounts of wasted time, frustration and lack of progress.

The great news is that we can avoid these pitfalls by taking a few, simple action steps. Implement the following five tips and prepare to be more effective, productive and in control of your day.

from Rebecca Malik

How To

How to Start a Business with Limited Funds

04.25.12 from Startup Nation

Startup Nation LogoOwning  and running your own business can be the most fulfilling occupation  in the world. Unfortunately, some businesses require quite a bit of  capital to get started. Opening up a barber shop, for example, means  leasing a building and purchasing chairs, mirrors, and grooming  tools. Other businesses – like an auto garage – require even more  significant investments.

Yet,  there are some businesses you can get up and running with relatively  limited funds. You just need to know how to determine whether a given  business is both inexpensive to start and something that you’re  interested in. You also need to know where to cut costs, and where  you need to keep the cashflowing.

Read more from Startup Nation

Get Inspired

ZAMP’S SAM ZEBARJADI ON COFOUNDING WITH A SIBLING AND THE GROWING TECH SCENE IN ATLANTA

04.04.12 By Tech Cocktail

Way back at the beginning of the month, Zamp was a showcased startup at our SXSW #StartupLife Celebration Founder Sam Zebarjadi was gracious enough to sit down for an interview, which became part of our SXSW video series (you can watch the interview here).  He talked about his really cool social travel service that connects travelerswhile they are traveling, as well as how to get through the tough days, why the startup life is all about networking, and how the idea of stealth mode is dying.

Because we could only cover so much in the video interview, I circled back with him to learn more about what it’s like to co-found a company with your brother and learn more about the burgeoning startup scene in Atlanta.

Read more from Tech Cocktail

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I bought a .CO domain now what?

02.02.12 By .CO Team

.CO ExclusiveYour new domain to-do list

Searching for the perfect .CO domain name can be pretty exciting, but the real fun begins after you buy your domain. We want to see your “next big thing” succeed, and while we know you’re resourceful, here’s a few quick tips to help you get started. Read More

Get Inspired

Entrepreneur-Sourced Ideas For Reducing Barriers To Business Creation

09.09.11 Posted from Fast Company

Back in the 1910s, my Grandpa Jack was working in a shoe store, but he had bigger aspirations. So, he put a few machines in the back of the store and made socks and stockings on the side. As business picked up, he started building his own textiles factories, one of which I worked at during college.

Grandpa Jack’s story shows how America’s entrepreneurs have always been critical to driving prosperity. They start businesses, drive innovation, and create good jobs. Unfortunately, the recession led to a drop of about 100,000 new businesses created. That’s a problem because we know that new businesses are a major factor in increasing employment.

Today, we need to do everything possible to clear the way for entrepreneurs to go ahead and start that business. One critical way to do that is to reduce barriers that get in their way. Read more from Fast Company

Startups

Create Your Own Personal Board of Directors

09.06.11 Posted from BNET

BNET
The most successful executives I know all have a group of trusted advisors.

This kind of board is more than a network. It is a small core of people who care about your success–both personal and professional.

This is how Holly Goodwin, a high tech project manager, described hers to me:

“The people on your Personal Board of Directors are not only useful for helping you move up, they are also helpful in correcting you when you need a sanity check. EVERYONE should have a PBOD. People from your work, faith/spiritual life, personal relationships, family etc. Those people whose judgment you value and whose opinions matter to you are the people who should be on your PBOD. If you don’t have a network like this, GET ONE. You will go nuts without it.”

Read more from BNET

.CO Exclusive

How to Find a Profitable Green Niche

08.02.11 By Shel Horowitz

Shel Horowitz, shel at greenandprofitable.com, shows you how to “reach green, socially conscious consumers with marketing that has THEM calling YOU.” He writes the Green And Profitable column and is the primary author of Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green (John Wiley & Sons, 2010).

Good news! Growing at 29 percent a year, the green market is eager for new products, services and ideas. And it’s especially eager for affordable, effective, and truly eco-friendly creative solutions to long-standing problems. If you can figure out something that matches those three criteria, you’re probably sitting on a winner. Just ask yourself what problem you can solve, or longing or craving you can satisfy. Then ask yourself who needs this problem solved, or that desire sated. Then all you have to do is figure out where they congregate, and reach them with powerful targeted messages that make them feel you’re talking just to them. Read more from Shel Horowitz

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Does Impossible Exist?

07.29.11 By Michael Grandinetti

Michael Grandinetti is one of the world’s leading experts in the art of illusion. Over the past 20 years, his magic has been featured on NBC television specials, in sold-out baseball stadiums, at Heinz Hall with Oscar-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch, at New York’s Grand Central Station, and at The White House. In addition, as the founder of Michael Grandinetti Magic, a custom illusion production company, Michael has designed and provided original effects for Fortune 500 companies and major corporations around the globe. Find Michael at his website or on Facebook.

Does “impossible” exist? This is a question that I challenge myself with on a daily basis.  Since the age of five, my love for the art of magic and my passion for taking my life in unique and sometimes untraveled directions have allowed me to truly explore the concept of what is “impossible” and, I hope, push the boundaries of what is expected. Now, I’m not just talking about the visual impossibilities of my art form, such as walking through walls or floating in the air, but I’m talking about setting big goals, larger than you ever might think possible to achieve, and then going after them wholeheartedly and bringing them to life. Read more from Michael Grandinetti

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5 Skills & Traits Every Entrepreneur Should Nurture for Success

07.25.11 By Raj Malik

Raj Malik is CEO & Co-Founder of KikScore, an exciting startup that helps small online businesses use their own track record of reliability and trustworthiness to increase sales and close more leads. Raj is a contributor to his company’s blog at blog.kikscore.com, a past speaker at SXSW and is passionate about helping small business and entrepreneurs succeed.

There are hundreds of thousands of books, blogs, textbooks and journals on what you need to have as an business owner to succeed.  Some of these books that try to inspire business owners include everything from Jack Welch’s Straight from the Gut to Good to Great and Built to Last by Jim Collins.  In this post, I want to give some practical tips from experience on skills and traits that I have seen that increase the chances of an entrepreneur and business owner actually succeeding.  Here are some of those traits and skills: Read more from Raj Malik

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