Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2010

Since my background includes software development, I often get the question about when to build a solution in-house, versus outsourcing it to a local company, near-shore service, or off-shore organization in China, India, or Eastern Europe. Don’t outsource your core competency. Intellectual property content. Technology level.

Outsource Development 51

Outsource Development Outsource Software Offshore 51

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

JUNE 26, 2012

They didn't feel they had visibility into timelines and costs for development of their software. In three of the cases, the founder was finding that the software teams (1 in-house, 2 outsourced) were delivering relatively well in the short-run. My belief is that you shouldn't sign that contract.

Outsource Development 254

Outsource Development Software Development Develop Development 254

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 25, 2023

For example, only a few people today still think of Amazon as an online provider of books and related goods, now that they have exploded their business world-wide into every product arena, added web services (AWS), television and film production (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer), a bricks-and-mortar grocery chain (Whole Foods), and more.

Outsource Development 140

Outsource Development Outsource Startup Metrics 140

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 17, 2021

It wasn’t so many years ago that starting a new e-commerce business on the Internet was a complex custom development project, usually costing a million dollars or more. You can now skip the mandatory office space rental, with secretary and bookkeeping staff, or outsourcing. Work out of your home, and keep your own books.

Entrepreneur 162

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Outsource Development 162

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2022

A good overall example is the synergy between Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, as well as long-time Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt. If both of you are experts at software development, even though one loves design and the other loves coding, that still won’t get the marketing done. Marty Zwilling.

Software Review 154

Software Review CTO Hire Outsource Development Startup 154

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 5, 2010

He gossips with the office manager who tells 3 software developers. I don’t like distributed development teams in early stage businesses. As your company develops you’ll obviously need to hire sales talent in multiple locations. I’m fine with key developers being in a remote location.

Technical Advisors 335

Technical Advisors Outsource Development Offshore Startup 335

SoCal CTO

JULY 23, 2012

I've previously addressed the role of a CTO in early-stages in my post Startup CTO or Developer. For example it includes the following kinds of things that a CTO should be addressing, but that may not be part of the expectation, time allocation, etc. for a Lead Developer: How much will it cost to build what we need to build?

CTO Coach 231

CTO Coach CTO Hire Outsource Development Develop 231

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 11, 2023

For example, the development of reusable rocket technology by SpaceX and Amazon, who could not match NASA supplier budgets, has opened huge new opportunities in space travel and exploration. I’m often asked for the secret to this attribute in developing a team culture. Outsourcing of manufacturing is another option.

Resource 111

Resource Competition Outsource Development Startup 111

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 14, 2021

He provides dozens of ideas and examples to illustrate how this discipline can work, and the power it brings to any organization. An example is the evolution of computer control to screen touches and gestures, versus keys and mice. Outsource services back to the customer.

Entrepreneur 158

Entrepreneur Startup Outsource Development Design 158

InfoChachkie

MAY 19, 2011

This series describes how entrepreneurs can craft company-changing agreements with BDCs, while avoiding Kiss of Death contract provisions. Guard against a preclusion that would deny you from utilizing the IP developed during the course of executing the agreement. Get The Cheese With Your Neck Intact.

Outsource Development 193

Outsource Development IP Technical Review Entrepreneur 193

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2020

For example, I used to regularly hear pitches for the next great social media site, usually focused on a special interest or niche , such as photography, cooking, healthy living, or a thousand others. Initially, you may be able to do everything in your startup, including product development, marketing, and shipping orders.

Startup 123

Startup Outsource Development Entrepreneur Outsource 123

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 22, 2014

The latter would include coverage for assets such as physical inventory and equipment as well as business interruption which pays off if, for example, a fire or flood left your physical location inaccessible for a period of time. Outsourcing can be an extremely cost-effective solution here. Legal Expertise.

Startup 97

Startup Outsource Development Software Review Sales 97

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 20, 2010

I know this will fall like a lead balloon to the many people who believe it is possible to have a [insert: startup incubator or technology accelerator or technology consultant or outsource firm] build your technology. Some CTO’s swear that it is a huge improvement in development timeframes and doesn’t cause performance issues.

CTO Hire 400

CTO Hire Fractional VPE Startup Outsource Development 400

InfoChachkie

MAY 16, 2011

Thus, you must first create the playbook by which an independent sales rep can readily sell your product, including: identifying objections and developing strategies to overcome them, creating reference accounts and establishing meaningful customer adoption. 2) Secure Your Intellectual Property Too Early. 6) Rely On A Public Relations Agency.

Startup 242

Startup Outsource Development Outsource Sales 242

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2019

A good overall example is the synergy between Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, as well as long-time Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt. If both of you are experts at software development, even though one loves design and the other loves coding, that still won’t get the marketing done. Marty Zwilling.

Software Review 88

Software Review CTO Hire Outsource Development Startup 88

socalTECH

OCTOBER 20, 2011

Back in 2003 and 2004, we were focused on the international market, and started outsourcing to India and the Philippines for call center services. In terms of tactics, we went from 20-odd people at the company to just three people, myself and two developers. A good example of that was VantageILM.

Outsource Development 190

Outsource Development Startup Outsource Altadena 190

socalTECH

APRIL 30, 2018

For this morning's interview, we caught up with Elizabeth Cholawsky , the new CEO of Santa Barbara-based HG Data (www.hgdata.com), which develops software which helps marketers and salespeople understand the "technology stack" of their potential customers and prospects. I've been in product, product development, marketing, and management.

Santa Barbara 113

Santa Barbara High Tech Outsource Development Startup 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2014

It wasn’t so many years ago that starting a new e-commerce business on the Internet was a complex custom development project, usually costing a million dollars or more. You can now skip the mandatory office space rental, with secretary and bookkeeping staff, or outsourcing. Work out of your home, and keep your own books.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Commerce 104

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2019

He provides dozens of ideas and examples to illustrate how this discipline can work, and the power it brings to any organization. An example is the evolution of computer control to screen touches and gestures, versus keys and mice. Outsource services back to the customer.

Startup 105

Startup Outsource Development Entrepreneur Ideas 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 6, 2016

For example, at any given moment in your business, you may be limited by development, marketing, or sales. Evaluate outsourcing as a quick solution to break the constraint. An example of a good strategic alliance was Barnes & Noble bringing Starbucks into their book stores. Investigate strategic alliance alternatives.

Startup 56

Startup Outsource Development Organization Outsource 56

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2014

A good overall example is the synergy between Google co-Founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, as well as with Chairman Eric Schmidt. If both of you are experts at software development, even though one loves design and the other loves coding, that still won’t get the marketing done. Complementary skills. Passion for what they do.

Software Review 107

Software Review Entrepreneur CTO Hire Outsource Development 107

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 9, 2014

Traditionally, these between a rock and hard place problems have been solved with a limited pool of expensive options – usually associated with long contracts and high billables for “MBA quality” work. For example, difficult solutions that speed and flexibility are also a priority. Introducing SkillBridge.

Outsource Development 105

Outsource Development Software Review Technical Review Outsource 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2017

A good overall example is the synergy between Google co-Founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, as well as Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt. If both of you are experts at software development, even though one loves design and the other loves coding, that still won’t get the marketing done. Brings complementary skills and experience.

Software Review 56

Software Review CTO Hire Outsource Development CTO Coach 56

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

Example sites include StartSomeGood and the Facebook Cause page. A good example site, and one of the earliest in this category, is IndieGoGo. This is basically the Open Source concept, where sites like IdeaScale facilitate the outsourcing of application development to the Internet community in the form of an open call.

Funding 99

Funding Satisfaction Sites Outsource Development 99

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2016

For example, the concept of an online platform for social networking is a simple one, and has been attempted by thousands of entrepreneurs past and present. They also tend to focus on developing additional features, rather than scaling the business to capitalize on the first. The idea is the only easy part.

Social Network 94

Social Network Startup Ideas Entrepreneur 94

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2011

In a very recent international bribery case, Alcatel-Lucent decided to pay $137 million to settle charges that it paid millions of dollars in bribes to foreign officials to win and maintain contracts in Costa Rica, Hondurus, Taiwan and Malaysia. The days of a “slap on the wrist” for offenders are gone.

Outsource Development 88

Outsource Development High Tech Outsource Examples 88

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2012

Example sites include StartSomeGood and the Facebook Cause page. A good example site, and one of the earliest in this category, is IndieGoGo. This is basically the Open Source concept, where sites like IdeaScale facilitate the outsourcing of application development to the Internet community in the form of an open call.

Funding 96

Funding Satisfaction Sites Outsource Development 96

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 13, 2012

If you're an application developer, sending emails through your application can be a chore. The best way to describe this is by example. Jim Franklin: Web developers are good at building web applications. This is one of those services that when you create a new company, it makes sense to outsource things.

Email 157

Email Startup IP Newsletter 157

socalTECH

JUNE 9, 2014

A good example of that is Hero Cat, which blew up in two days to million and millions of views. That''s relevant, because of our third piece, where we have been hired by traditional media companies, to basically provide them a turnkey, outsources content acquisition team. We can bring in a clip, cleared in about eight hours.

Media 235

Media Content Startup IP 235

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 13, 2009

For children with a proclivity toward business, a newspaper route provided an invaluable opportunity to develop the following entrepreneurial skills: Punctuality – Newspapers had to be delivered on time, irrespective of the weather, the fact that Sunday papers can weigh several pounds each or the requirement to wake up at the crack of dawn.

Web 2.0 222

Web 2.0 Web Sales Outsource Development 222

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 5, 2016

Notable examples include Bill Gates, Michael Dell and Richard Branson, who took no early outside money, and waited for confirmed initial success to go public or scale the business. Entrepreneurs who don’t have someone else’s cash for outsourcing come up with the more innovative and creative approaches to get things done.

Entrepreneur 67

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Outsource Development 67

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2011

In the initial phases of any new market you’re developing a product (hopefully with a minimal set of features), getting feedback from customers, refining your product based on user feedback and then re-launching your product. Markets develop for a complex set of factors that are often beyond all of our control.

Development Team Review 374

Development Team Review Technical Review Startup Resource 374

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 23, 2016

He provides dozens of ideas and examples to illustrate how this discipline can work, and the power it brings to any organization. An example is the evolution of computer control to screen touches and gestures, versus keys and mice. Outsource services back to the customer.

Startup 57

Startup Outsource Development Entrepreneur Ideas 57

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2013

Others hire consultants, or outsource much of the real work. You need to show the team every day how your vision relates to their everyday tasks, with real examples that you can demonstrate. Instead, set long-term business objectives and develop a framework for the trajectory your team needs to get there.

Startup 103

Startup Entrepreneur Template Mentor 103

Southern California Edison Blog

JUNE 4, 2019

As enterprises outsource more of the business operations to hosted platforms, more emphasis needs to be placed on ensuring mission-critical applications are always accessible. To reach a goal of “five 9s,” start developing IoT monitoring procedures that are shared with your network team. Do Not Fall for the Common Redundancy Pitfall.

Networking 45

Networking Southern California Outsource Development Startup 45

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2016

Most begin by doing the product development, marketing and sales alone, but struggle making the transition to hiring and coaching others, defining repeatable processes and focusing on future strategy. For example, there once was a social network called Friendster , often credited with starting the social networking boom way back in 2002.

Social Network 59

Social Network Startup Demand Entrepreneur 59