Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2014

If you have a software development background like mine, Im sure you often get questions about when to outsource, versus building the solution in-house. Outsourcing is defined as contracting the work to another company, usually located in a developing country, like India, China, or Eastern Europe.

Outsource Development 95

Outsource Development Outsource Offshore Software Review 95

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 26, 2010

I’ve been having discussions with several people recently about the role of the CTO (Chief Technology Officer) in very early stage companies. I used an image from Roger Smith that describes the varying roles of a CTO as the company matures. How do we need to structure the systems to get ahead and stay ahead of the competition?

Fractional CTO 225

Fractional CTO CTO CTO Hire CTO Coach 225

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 31, 2021

The sweeping infrastructure package put forward today by President Joe Biden comes with a price tag of roughly $2 trillion (and hefty tax hikes) but gives startups and the broader tech industry about $1 trillion worth of reasons to support it. Fables of the reconstruction.

Startup 229

Startup Technical Review Invest Research 229

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2011

I believe that over capitalizing companies too early often favors the VC. In the late 90′s I saw a dangerous trend creeping into the startup world, which was that companies were suddenly raising huge amounts of money too early in their existence. Over funding often produces bad behavior in early-stage companies.

Development Team Review 374

Development Team Review Technical Review Startup Resource 374

Frank Addante

MAY 12, 2007

Outsourcing ► April (1) GoogleClick - Who owns your cash register? ► November (1) 2 Ears and 1 Mouth: There's a Reason ► October (2) Be Best at Something Tear Down Your Firewalls ► September (3) Elements of Sustainable Companies We're Not Saving Lives. I am still a big fan of outsourcing.

Outsource Development 40

Outsource Development Outsource Software Review Startup 40

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 1, 2013

Before going through the expensive process of sourcing, recruiting, and hiring an employee, look into outsourcing, especially for non-core functions such as HR, accounting, and legal. Do your due diligence to perform competitive analysis. Companies want to make sure they achieve a milestone with any money they raise.

Startup 93

Startup Pricing Outsource Competition 93

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 3, 2015

Hire professionals to handle the details of company formation paperwork when you first start up. Navigating the ins and out of employment law — Complying with employment law can be a minefield, tripping up not just startups but also much larger companies. Banking Relationship. And get to know your banker. HR Partner.

Startup 40

Startup Outsource Development IP Outsource 40

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 11, 2023

Most new business owners I know feel the challenges of not enough time, money, and resources, and see these as problems rather than a competitive advantage. Many companies these days start with a single online-only purchase model, but later move to providing subscription services and freemium alternatives.

Resource 111

Resource Competition Outsource Development Startup 111

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 1, 2010

I continue to collect great content that is the intersection of startups, products, online and technology. The United States is now a debtor nation to China and that the bill is about to come due. Who better to answer than the company's engineering lead. These are probably the two sites where I've posted the most reviews.

Technical Review 175

Technical Review Startup Product Technology 175

SoCal CTO

JULY 23, 2012

This leads to a set of questions: What is the role of a CTO in the early stages of a company, and does that role change later on as both the company and that individual matures? It specifically answers the first questions about role and how it changes as the company matures. What are the biggest areas of technical risk?

CTO Coach 231

CTO Coach CTO Hire Outsource Development Develop 231

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 12, 2022

We can all aspire to grow companies like TikTok, Facebook, and Apple, which have the aura of fun, while still improving your lifestyle and offering the dream of untold riches. Internal corporate processes thwart innovation due to inherent inefficiencies of scale, high overhead, and the risk of impact on the corporate bottom line.

Startup 126

Startup Artificial Inteligence Entrepreneur Offshore 126

InfoChachkie

JUNE 4, 2012

As an entrepreneur, I helped create companies which achieved two IPOs and two trade sales totaling $385 million. Value is created through diligent hard work. No one has heard of you, your company or your solutions. Thus, you have negotiating leverage as long as a legitimate, competitive threat exists. Grant Exclusivity.

Entrepreneur 272

Entrepreneur Outsource Ideas Technical Review 272

InfoChachkie

MAY 16, 2011

As an entrepreneur and startup investor, I have helped create companies which achieved two IPOs which collectively raised over $100 million, as well as two acquisitions which totaled $385 million. Value is created through diligent hard work. Rationale: My company is small, I am super busy and I am not a lawyer.

Startup 242

Startup Outsource Development Outsource Sales 242

InfoChachkie

MAY 19, 2011

As noted in parts I and II of this series, agreements with Big Dumb Companies (BDCs) can be alluring and potentially fatal. This series describes how entrepreneurs can craft company-changing agreements with BDCs, while avoiding Kiss of Death contract provisions. Do Not Relinquish Joint Intellectual Property Rights.

Outsource Development 193

Outsource Development IP Technical Review Entrepreneur 193

Frank Addante

JULY 30, 2007

Outsourcing ► April (1) GoogleClick - Who owns your cash register? ► November (1) 2 Ears and 1 Mouth: There's a Reason ► October (2) Be Best at Something Tear Down Your Firewalls ► September (3) Elements of Sustainable Companies We're Not Saving Lives. FounderBlog’s 1 Year Anniversary! Be scrappy.

Startup 40

Startup Venture Capital Outsource Development Advertising 40

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

We can all aspire to grow companies like Google, Facebook, and Apple, which have the aura of fun, while still improving your lifestyle and offering the dream of untold riches. Internal corporate processes thwart innovation due to inherent inefficiencies of scale, high overhead, and the risk of impact on the corporate bottom line.

Entrepreneur 87

Entrepreneur Offshore Technical Review Outsource 87

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 10, 2018

It’s like the entire industry wants to outsource its brain to the smartest person they know and then follow that person. Founders read the tech press every day filled with stories about these $20 million fund-raisings by this firm and that firm and it sounds like everybody else is doing it except for you. Wait, make that $1 million.

Press 232

Press Funding Venture Capital Technical Review 232

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2015

We can all aspire to grow companies like Google, Facebook, and Apple, which have the aura of fun, while still improving your lifestyle and offering the dream of untold riches. Internal corporate processes thwart innovation due to inherent inefficiencies of scale, high overhead, and the risk of impact on the corporate bottom line.

Startup 102

Startup Entrepreneur Offshore Technical Review 102

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 24, 2013

We can all aspire to grow companies like Google, Facebook, and Apple, which have the aura of fun, while still improving your lifestyle and offering the dream of untold riches. Internal corporate processes thwart innovation due to inherent inefficiencies of scale, high overhead, and the risk of impact on the corporate bottom line.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Offshore Startup Technical Review 105

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2017

We can all aspire to grow companies like Google, Facebook, and Apple, which have the aura of fun, while still improving your lifestyle and offering the dream of untold riches. Internal corporate processes thwart innovation due to inherent inefficiencies of scale, high overhead, and the risk of impact on the corporate bottom line.

Offshore 55

Offshore Technical Review Entrepreneur Outsource 55

Frank Addante

MAY 15, 2006

Outsourcing ► April (1) GoogleClick - Who owns your cash register? ► November (1) 2 Ears and 1 Mouth: There's a Reason ► October (2) Be Best at Something Tear Down Your Firewalls ► September (3) Elements of Sustainable Companies We're Not Saving Lives. FounderBlog’s 1 Year Anniversary! Be scrappy.

Advertising 40

Advertising Startup Chief Technology Officer Technical Review 40