This site uses cookies to improve your experience. To help us insure we adhere to various privacy regulations, please select your country/region of residence. If you do not select a country, we will assume you are from the United States. Select your Cookie Settings or view our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Used for the proper function of the website
Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Strictly Necessary: Used for the proper function of the website
Performance/Analytics: Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
When speaking with founders and CEOs, we often hear concerns like this: My project manager is losing confidence in the developmentteam. The PMs are seeing late deliveries and bugs that suggest the devs just aren’t capable enough. This can be true even if those failures had nothing to do with the current team.
The answer is to engage a trusted outside source for a Technical Review – a deep-dive assessment that provides a C-suite perspective. At TechEmpower, we’ve conducted more than 50 technical reviews for companies of all sizes, industries, and technical stacks. A technical review can answer that crucial question.
It was like having a bunch of mini- Free Startup CTO Consulting Sessions all in one room. Structure development contracts appropriately or directing the in-house team appropriately. Review the code being built. This is exactly the kind of thing I'm doing as a Part-Time CTO or Technical Advisor for startups.
I’m a very big proponent of the “lean startup movement&# as espoused by Steve Blank & Eric Ries. 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. This post originally appeared on TechCrunch.
Startup founders make decisions on a daily basis – significant decisions that will have lasting impact on their business. Actually, many startups need two kinds of technical advisors. No good innovator turns down advice! Why do this without the right technical advisor? Would you create contracts without an attorney?
I talk to roughly 2 or 3 new startups every week who need advice from an experienced CTO. Many of the founders of these companies are surprised to learn that I'm willing to review what they are doing (maybe an hour) and get on the phone for an hour with them and provide free advice. Do you have a Startup Founder Developer Gap ?
I talk to roughly 2 or 3 new startups every week who need advice from an experienced CTO. Many of the founders of these companies are surprised to learn that I'm willing to review what they are doing (maybe an hour) and get on the phone for an hour with them and provide free advice. Do you have a Startup Founder Developer Gap ?
Yesterday I wrote a post about top-down versus bottom-up thinking. Here’s how it goes: You have a business development group with two people. It’s why I’ve often start when running marketing campaigns the most simple of questions: - with whom are we trying to communicate? Tags: Start-up Advice.
I promised to do this post as a follow-up to the session to provide additional links and information. Even with these, you will have paper-tested your MVP, but the reality is that customers will not be able to assess the value to them until they actually use it. Review the code being built. To prove/disprove a hypothesis.
We caught up with Bong to hear more about his new startup. From the ground up, we're focused on both social and fun, and our brand attributes are aspirational, cultured, and fun. What's the story on how you started the company? Bong Koh: We started at the end of April. What is LifeCrowd?
So please see this post through that lens – at some point when you deal with larger companies: enterprise buyers, biz dev partners, VCs or one day acquiring companies – you’ll like encounter these negotiation issues. You obviously start your process with a primary buyer. Your IT Reviewer. Biv Devteams?
[and of course I use "we" loosely as the hard work of course was the entire MyTime team sans me]. It got quite good reviews in the media: TechCrunch , LifeHacker & PandoDaily and many others. The team has put in a huge effort to get to this day – and I hope they’re sleeping well tonight. Startup Advice'
I never implied that startups are all great and job hoppers are all at fault. Most of what I learned about operating startups I learned from the really tough years at my first company from 2001-2003. That is when no customers wanted to work with Internet startups because we as an industry had burned so many customers.
Los Angeles-based Parabol , a startupdeveloping software management tools, used to manage the efforts of developmentteams, has raised $4M in a funding round, the company said this morning. The company's software helps developmentteams manage their processes, and is focused on Agile development processes.
Otherwise, in my experience, the startup will fail. The importance and the specifics of practical team leadership were re-confirmed to me a while back in the classic book, “ Unlocked ,” by Robert S. Have monthly reviews with each team member. Ask what you can do for them in every review.
I had a recent email dialog with the founder of a company looking for a CTO for their startup. Was it a Startup Founder Developer Gap ? Did they really need a Startup CTO or Developer or both? Did they have a Weak DevelopmentTeam ? Did they have a Weak DevelopmentTeam ?
Although noteworthy, working with large corporations differs remarkably from working with startups. While the appearance matters, remember you are hiring the development firm primarily for its development skills, not its graphic design skills. How do they verify the ongoing progress of development? Avoid them.
Running that effort is Kevin Hell , the founder of DivX, who we caught up with to learn more about EvoNexus and how the group is trying to help grow technology startups in San Dieog. They get to meet the team, we do some duediligence, and have them talk to functional experts.
At TechEmpower, we frequently talk to startup founders, CEOs, product leaders, and other innovators about their next big tech initiative. Still, if you’re a business leader and your developers haven’t asked you these questions, look for a Fractional CTO to help navigate the critical early stage of development.
Otherwise, in my experience, the startup will fail. The importance and the specifics of practical team leadership were re-confirmed to me a while back in the classic book, “ Unlocked ,” by Robert S. Have monthly reviews with each team member. Ask what you can do for them in every review.
Sometime around 2003/04 my technology team turned me on to “Spolsky on Software&# a periodic newsletter served up blog style from Joel Spolsky of FogCreek Software, a maker of bug-tracking software. But I loved reading them and so did my team. Do you see product managers as a hindrance to software development?
We’ve heard this from startup founders, product managers, developmentteam leads, CTOs, and others who see their product gaining traction, but simultaneously see performance falling off a cliff. Too often though, it’s the result of performance needs not being properly assessed at the start of work.
Cash is the fuel of every startup. It continually amazes me how two startups, seemingly comparable in stage and objective, can be so far apart in their burn rate. Here are some recommendations on how to keep the rate low, and help your startup to prosper at the same time: Measure it and manage it. Which would you bet on?
Cash is the fuel of every startup. It continually amazes me how two startups, seemingly comparable in stage and objective, can be so far apart in their burn rate. Investors assume it will only go up with more funding. Investors assume it will only go up with more funding. Which would you bet on? Great strategy.
Ive not found that much use for LinkedIn to help my blogging, but Im starting to think about this. I am in the middle of writing up some of my thoughts on this and will post about it and let you know. We have been using LinkedIn for both sourcing recruits and reviewing backgrounds for recruits. Maybe this meme will help.
Otherwise, in my experience, the startup will fail. The importance and the specifics of practical team leadership were re-confirmed to me recently in a new book, “ Unlocked ,” by Robert S. Have monthly reviews with each team member. Ask what you can do for them in every review.
Startups do not always have the luxury to optimize their product for both buyers and users. I implored my developmentteam to imitate WebEx’s strategy, but I could not convince my engineers to build a similar on/off box. Follow John’s startup-oriented Twitter feed here: @johngreathouse. Build For Buyers Or Users?
Becka Klauber Richter is co-founder of the startup, and spoke to us about the company, which she co-founded with Kasey Edwards. What's your background, how did you start the company? I started as a teenager, and I did babysitting, life guarding, and swim coaching. Becka is also co-founder of Female Founders Los Angeles (FFLA).
At Inverted Software we often help our clients manage offshore and onshore developmentteams. Our proprietary processes and unique experience helps us evaluate and correct software development practices that have proven inefficient and instill practices that insure productivity and success. Miscalculating Financial Data.
Otherwise, in my experience, the startup will fail. The importance and the specifics of practical team leadership were re-confirmed to me recently in a recent book, “ Unlocked ,” by Robert S. Have monthly reviews with each team member. Ask what you can do for them in every review.
Cash is the fuel of every startup. It continually amazes me how two startups, seemingly comparable in stage and objective, can be so far apart in their burn rate. Investors assume it will only go up with more funding. Investors assume it will only go up with more funding. Which would you bet on? Great strategy.
Way back in the early eighties, I was privileged to be part of the original IBM PC developmentteam, led by Don Estridge. Typically, team members must be sourced internally, with their performance and credentials based on prior corporate assignments and relationships. Every such deal was an exception.
Other installments include: Words of startup wisdom from Jeff Bezos. People should not try to emulate him, because they will be setting themselves up for failure. Steve’s Startup Tips. That’s too bad ,” Steve told him, “ because I signed the inside, along with the other members of my developmentteam.
Give up Branding. Serve up World-wide Distribution. Guard against a preclusion that would deny you from utilizing the IP developed during the course of executing the agreement. Once your developmentteam begins working with the BDC, do not allow the BDC to unilaterally create any meaningful IP without your team’s involvement.
They also have a new management team, that’s headed up in part by Michael Jones (COO), the most all around talented internet executive I know. Having grown up in LA, and having started Docstoc down here, there’s a bit of a shared connection. New Product Releases Every Month & a Rock Star Product Evangelist.
We organize all of the trending information in your field so you don't have to. Join 5,000+ users and stay up to date on the latest articles your peers are reading.
You know about us, now we want to get to know you!
Let's personalize your content
Let's get even more personalized
We recognize your account from another site in our network, please click 'Send Email' below to continue with verifying your account and setting a password.
Let's personalize your content