What Start-ups Are Looking For Marcellous Curtis
You might be an entrepreneur if… ∗ You can visualize solutions without a requirements doc ∗ UX/UI is important to you, even if it’s not your job ∗ You code in C# or Java, because your job requires it, but you learned RoR or Python to see what it could do ∗ You care about what customers want
You get frustrated… When your employer responds slowly to customer needs ∗ If there is a better way to build it (quickly) ∗ Impact ≠ Reward ∗ People around you “punch a clock” ∗
…and you’re doing something about it
∗ You contribute to open source projects ∗ You participate in meet-ups, hackerspaces, blog, or contribute to discussion groups ∗ You’re helping a start-up on the side ∗ You’ve built a functional prototype
But do you have a company? ∗ ∗
Is your product a feature, product, or business? Is it a product or services business?
Do you have a customer?
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∗ Does your technology solve a current or future need? ∗ Is it a big or small market?* ∗ What do you know about the customer, the competition, technology and market trends? ∗ Do you o er a “complete solution”? **
There is only one way to nd out
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∗ Build a minimally viable product (MVP) ∗ Architect in a way that allows for rapid prototyping, iteration and exibility ∗ Get customer feedback through interaction ∗ Do it with the least possible $$$
Fundraising •
Build MVP and get some validation rst
•
Your funding strategy depends on answers to the questions:
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Feature, product or company?
Small or big addressable market
Success requires lots of help (read: $$$)
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Marketing team, advisors, investors and employees
To get big fast requires giving up control (usually)
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•
• •
Or, Go Work For A Start-up
What Start-ups Are Looking For Adaptive Excellen ce
Core Values
Technical Skills
What Start-ups Are Looking For Has Adaptive Excellence
Core Values Match
Technical Skills Match
What Are Core Values?
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∗ Set of shared principles that unite a team ∗ Reinforced each time someone is hired, rewarded or red ∗ Non-negotiable, do not change, even when strategies change ∗ You either have them or you don’t
What is Culture? Where core values = how you do things
What Start-ups Are Looking For Has Adaptive Excellence
Core Values Match
Technical Skills Match
Will You Get Paid? ∗ Probably less than you make now, but hopefully not for long ∗ Equity participation ∗ Non-monetary bene ts: Impact Autonomy Mastery
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∗ ∗ ∗
Thank You