Archive for the ‘Startups’ Category

Newer Entries

Avoid This Startup Mistake: Losing Customer Focus

20, Feb 2010

In 2006 when we launched Snapvine’s first viral widget and phone app for teens, it went viral overnight. We were overwhelmed with success within 3 weeks: our servers were swamped with signups – 1 million of them within the first 7 weeks. This was one of those “good problems to have” — so “good” in fact [...]

Crucial first hire: the "do-it-all office admin"

16, Dec 2009

Back in June of 2006 after having closed a small series A, it was time to move out of our spare rooms, get some basic startup office space and hire a couple of employees so we could move fast and get on with our mission. One of the best decisions we made at the time [...]

The Dental Floss Health Care Plan?

21, Nov 2009

I stopped by Evoworx headquarters last night to say congrats to Aaron Goldfeder and Scott Case on reaching the one-year anniversary of their startup, EnergySavvy.com. On the wall next to feature post-it notes, I noticed the official Evoworx Health Insurance Plan (see photo above).   Very funny!   But this made me think.   Highly accomplished, talented people [...]

The positive follow-up to complaints, failures and ideas.

9, Nov 2009

Complaints can be annoying, but when paired with solution ideas are valuable.  Failure by itself is a negative but when it comes with honest learning is the foundation of innovation.  Ideas by themselves can be worthless but when accompanied by follow-through can be worth millions. Therefore, next time someone brings you any of these things [...]

Does Seattle shun startup failure?

29, Oct 2009

Tonight I attended the UW CSE Annual Industrial Affiliates Meeting. As I walked around, I bumped into familiar faces close to the UW CSE and Startup communities. I asked people “how are we doing on entrepreneurship coming out of the department?” Surprisingly, feedback from 3 people very close to the issue was “we’re not doing too well.”

Competition. Am I screwed?

29, Sep 2009

I’m advising a first time web entrepreneur on a new service. This week he discovered a directly competitive service that is much further along and already launched. He wrote me asking “am i screwed?”


Newer Entries
top