Startups, entrepreneurs, innovation, technology, and economic development.
Guest post by Suhail Kassim A new startup is like a baby A startup needs to be cradled and nourished. Even so, there is no certainty that the baby will grow up to be a lean mean fighting machine. In this post, I begin to investigate the phenomenon of some exciting startups which then refuse... Continue Reading →
Lame reasons to give up before you even start I often hear people claim to have good ideas for a business, but say they can’t pursue them for one reason or another. Some of course are valid, but others are misconceptions that deserve to be revisited. Here are the top five from my experience. 1.... Continue Reading →
Business incubators are great for startups The definition of business incubator (or startup incubator), according to Entrepreneur’s Encyclopedia, is an “organization designed to accelerate the growth and success of entrepreneurial companies, through an array of business support resources and services that could include physical space, capital, coaching, common services, and networking connections”. They are often sponsored by... Continue Reading →
Innovation is relative, originality overrated Innovation is one of the sexiest words in the business vocabulary. However, originality can be overrated, especially when it comes to the opportunity of bringing a proven business concept to a new market. The world is full of examples of copycat business models that were successfully replicated in new countries.... Continue Reading →
Successful entrepreneurs welcome change There are tons of studies about the key traits that make up a successful entrepreneur. Some of the characteristics attributed to the greatest entrepreneurs are: vision, talent, perseverance, ability to innovate, leadership. However, from my observation, their single most important common characteristic is the ability to adapt. In a clear Darwinian fashion, those... Continue Reading →
On Angel Investors As entrepreneurs, in the initial stages of the startup, we often think that the answers to our problems will come in the form of an angel investor. By definition, angels are high-net-worth individuals who get involved early in the company’s life, bringing capital, sector knowledge and network, and relevant expertise. Angel investors usually... Continue Reading →
Challenges of international outsourcing Many tech entrepreneurs face the question of whether to outsource software development to a foreign country. After all, there are good coders in countries like India, Russia and Argentina, while U.S. developers are quite pricey in comparison. But managing a team or project from afar can be quite challenging: communication often gets lost in... Continue Reading →
Disruptive innovations and customer feedback A recent study by ChubbyBrain.com listed the top 20 reasons why startups fail. The #1 reason, ahead of funding, product quality, pricing and other popular ones, was "ignoring or not seeking customer feedback". However, there are two sides to this. If your company is launching a disruptive technology, or a... Continue Reading →
MBA and entrepreneurs At times it seems MBA programs are passed their glory days. Every so often we see articles saying that they can be a waste of time and money, especially if your goal is to become an entrepreneur. My two cents: if you have no business background and you can afford it, a... Continue Reading →
Seed capital and ownership A common mistake entrepreneurs make, especially in the startup's early stage, is to worry too much about valuation and dilution. The business, after all, is their "baby" and they can't give away too much too soon - every share is worth fighting for! Well, guess what, the business is almost as... Continue Reading →
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