Previous chapters have covered the operational specifics associated with successful technical startups, from vetting the idea, incorporating the business, building a plan, finding funding, marketing, and more. Woven through all of these activities is the dependence on people relationships. So this final chapter is an important one,with a focus on strengthening the biggest weakness found in most technical entrepreneurs—building and using relationships, both business and personal. I have seen far too many technical entrepreneurs who can invent or build many innovative things, but can't or aren't interested in building relationships with the people who can make them successful in business.

A successful entrepreneur needs to build and nurture relationships with partners, team members, vendors, and most importantly customers. The principles are embodied in every aspect of the business, from finding complementary partners...