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StartupPro: How to set up and grow a tech business

By : Martin C Zwilling
Book Image

StartupPro: How to set up and grow a tech business

By: Martin C Zwilling

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StartupPro: How to set up and grow a tech business
Martin C Zwilling
Dec, 2014 | 238 pages
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Table of Contents (15 chapters)
StartupPro: How to set up and grow a tech business
StartupPro: How to set up and grow a tech business
Credits
Credits
About the Author
About the Author
About the Reviewers
About the Reviewers
Preface
Preface
Free Chapter
1
Do You Have What It Takes to be an Entrepreneur?
Do You Have What It Takes to be an Entrepreneur?
Personality traits of great technical entrepreneurs
Attributes to work on for entrepreneurial success
All entrepreneurs are survivors, never victims
Test the startup lifestyle before jumping into it
Missteps to avoid for aspiring technical entrepreneurs
Customers and investors like ideas, but measure you on their execution
Succeeding as a technical entrepreneur is really about you
Summary
2
Does Your Dream Idea Have the Potential to be a Business?
Does Your Dream Idea Have the Potential to be a Business?
How to perform a reality check of your opportunity
Recognize the entrepreneur passion trap
The difference between entrepreneurial requirements and engineering perceptions
Assess the opportunity and the risks with a startup incubator
The importance of frequent tuning and daily determination
Feature creep can turn your leading edge into the bleeding edge
Early adopters don't make your market
Check your alignment with today's customer buying habits
Women technical entrepreneurs have some unique challenges
Summary
3
When, Where, and How Do You Formalize a Technical Business?
When, Where, and How Do You Formalize a Technical Business?
Startup location – a critical success factor
Picking the right company name
Paying for a domain name
The official start date of your business is an important milestone
Protecting your startup founder's stock shares
Minimizing the red tape and taxes of a startup
Every technical startup needs a website
Business blog – an alternative to a business website
Kick-starting your startup with Twitter
Every business needs momentum
Summary
4
Does a Technical Entrepreneur Really Need a Business Plan?
Does a Technical Entrepreneur Really Need a Business Plan?
When do you really need a business plan?
The difference between product plans and business plans
Creating a good business plan
Summary
5
When and How Do You Find Funding for a Technical Business?
When and How Do You Find Funding for a Technical Business?
Finding cash sources to start a technical business
Crowdfunding basics for technical entrepreneurs
Tips on how much money to ask for from investors
Honing your elevator pitch and executive summary
Structuring your investor presentation
Guidelines for pitching to professional investors
Rules of thumb for startup investment valuation
Every technical entrepreneur needs a startup exit strategy
Getting ready for the dreaded due diligence
Rejection, and how you learn from it
Investors fund solutions rather than technology
Differentiating startup viability from fundability
Summary
6
After the Funding, How Do You Survive the Execution Risks?
After the Funding, How Do You Survive the Execution Risks?
Risks to be avoided
Taking smart risks
Summary
7
Are You Ready for All the Leadership and Team Challenges?
Are You Ready for All the Leadership and Team Challenges?
How to be an entrepreneur role model to lead your technical startup
Traits of a great technical startup founder
Finding the right top executive for your technical startup
Importance of having a startup mentor
Recognizing and hiring the smartest people for your startup team
How to turn your team members into an innovative startup team
Keys to motivation that every technical entrepreneur should know
Recognizing people who drain energy from your company
Summary
8
Do You Understand How Social Media is Changing the Business Landscape?
Do You Understand How Social Media is Changing the Business Landscape?
Making the right use of social media
How to begin using social media in your technical business
The big three social networks for business
Steps to social media success for technical entrepreneurs
Some old and broken social media marketing uses
Steps to measure technical entrepreneur social media results
How to balance social media costs versus value
How to make a real social media customer connection
Summary
9
If You Build It, Will They Find You, and Will They Use It?
If You Build It, Will They Find You, and Will They Use It?
Planning pivots – you may not get it right the first time
Joining the new breed with a new mantra – nail it then scale it
Validating the business model
Pricing your product correctly
Creating a memorable website for your startup
Building your startup brand
Using viral marketing effectively
Above all, maintain a laser focus
Summary
10
Can You Build the Relationships Needed to Succeed in Business?
Can You Build the Relationships Needed to Succeed in Business?
Don't work alone
Two heads are always better than one
Partner qualities to test before sharing equity
Why you need business relationships with many others
Don't look to a dating site for matchmaking business relationships
Should technical entrepreneur relationships ever be more than business?
Great relationships are the key to scaling your business
The importance of great customer relationships
Mergers and acquisitions for growth are special relationships
Make your relationship connect deeply
Summary

Credits

Author

Martin Zwilling

Reviewers

Fan Du

Jay LeBoeuf

Acquisition Editor

Nick Falkowski

Content Development Editor

Sweny M. Sukumaran

Copy Editors

Karuna Narayanan

Alfida Paiva

Faisal Siddiqui

Project Coordinator

Venitha Cutinho

Proofreaders

Simran Bhogal

Maria Gould

Ameesha Green

Paul Hindle

Production Coordinator

Melwyn D'sa

Cover Work

Simon Cardew

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