Founder Space – connecting startups with advisors, angels & VCs

How Can You Create a Viral App or Site?

Steve Hoffman

I’ve been doing a lot of research on virality, and I thought I’d share some of what I learned.

First off, what makes an app or site viral?

1) Your app or site needs to have a unique feature that creates value for users. Typically, users will download your product for one clear reason. They come to your app to do specifically this, and everything else you offer is either a bonus or a distraction. There might be other features in your app, but you need to know what the main one is. You also need to know exactly how this feature translates into value for your users. Your app should be simple and straightforward. Less is more. Don’t obscure the value proposition in any way. Value can be content, functionality, entertainment, etc. Value can also be an action or reaction, like a check-in. Or value can mean saving money or time. Just know what the value is and focus on the features that enhance this value. Read more...

Extreme Startups – the Incubator Up North

Do you want to take your company to an extreme? Well, we’ve found the incubator for you. Extreme Startups is extremely cold. At least for those of us living in sunny California. It’s way up in Ontario, Canada. But that shouldn’t stop you. First of all, they’re offering $200,000 in funding to each startup that enters their program. Nice! That can buy you plenty of long underwear.

They also have a nice roster of mentors and solid industry connections. Most importantly, they have a program that they put you through to make sure you’re prepared to spend their money wisely. Are you up for a trip to the great white north? If so, Extreme Startups is worth considering. And they have a sense of humor… Read more...

Need Help Creating Great-Looking Apps? Tapptics to the Rescue

For any of you who attended our session on “How to Create & Market Award-Winning Apps,” you’re already aware that having a great-looking app is not a luxury any more. It’s a necessity. And if you ever hope to get featured by Apple, it’s a must have. A poor looking UI or not-so-great icon can kill your chances of ever getting to the top of the App Store. Read more...

HTML 5 vs. Adobe Flash — Which Should you Choose?

According to Wikipedia, Flash has been in existence since 1996 and, because of this, has a strong base of developers and users. According to Adobe statistics, Flash has reached 99% penetration on Web browsers, while HTML 5 has a 40% penetration.

The latest version of the Adobe Flash Player runs on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android 2.2+, RIM QNX and Google TV. Earlier versions run on PlayStation 3 (Flash 9), and PSP (Flash 6). Adobe Flash Lite runs on Wii, Symbian, Maemo Linux, Windows Mobile, and Chumby. In contrast, some video sites, including YouTube, Vimeo and blip.tv, have implemented a degree of experimental support for HTML5 video. Steve Jobs noted that Flash is not an open standard – it is controlled by Adobe Systems, whereas HTML5 is largely controlled by a committee (WHATWG) made up of three companies: Opera Software, the Mozilla Foundation, and Apple. Read more...

Do You Really Need a FoundersCard?

Founders Card

FoundersCard is now two years old and has over 5,000 members. So what is it?

FoundersCard lets you receive discounts and deals from a whole bunch of businesses, like 10% off of everything at AT&T, 10% off Groundlink cabs, instant “Silver access” on Virgin Atlantic, 50% off domains at Hover, and a free account at Shoprunner — to name a few. In total, the startup has about 96 companies offering its members benefits, including 44 lifestyle companies, 16 travel companies, and 36 business companies. In addition, members enjoy access to frequent networking events held throughout the year.

So what’s the catch? Read more...

What’s the best way to test a new website on a budget?

Naomi Kokubo

Question: My startup is launching a new website. It’s in “alpha” right now. I need to test it out before it goes to public “beta”. What’s the best way to test a new website on a budget? I can’t afford costly focus groups or expensive usability studies.

Answer by Naomi Kokubo, Editor of Founders Space Read more...

500 Startups: Blowing up Startups with Design, Data & Distribution

Today, as part of incubator roundup, we’re featuring Dave McClure’s 500 Startups.

If you haven’t heard of it already, 500 Startups provides early-stage companies with funding ranging from $10K to $250K via seed investments. They offer a startup accelerator program and new micro-fund models, like the Twilio Fund. With over 160 experienced startup mentors around the world, a cool creative workspace in the heart of Silicon Valley, and a vibrant community of startup founders, we think 500 Startups is a winner!

Here’s a bit about their philosophy: Read more...

DESIGN Great products start with a great user experience—one that makes customers happy and brings them back for more.

Here are 14 Steps to Winning the SEO Wars

Is SEO (Search Engine Optimization) a mystery to you? Well then, take a look at this presentation by Ryan Spoon of Polaris Ventures.

Need a loan for your startup? Try ZestBank

ZestCash

Okay, so angel investors are ignoring you, VCs won’t give you a second meeting, your credit card is maxed out, and you can’t get a loan from any bank. What do you do? First off, pay-off your credit card. The interest will kill you. Next, look for an alternative.

One option is ZestCash, a financial services technology startup that serves the needs of the underbanked. It has just secured $73 million in its second round of funding. ZestCash doesn’t pull any information from credit burrows. Instead, it uses non obvious variables, like cell phone payment records and how much time applicants spend on our site, to offer loans to its customers. Read more...

Planning on Developing an App? Start with App Cooker

App Cooker

Just heard about App Cooker from a friend, and it’s a pretty nifty tool. Whether you’re an indie developer, an established company or an amateur, App Cooker helps you shape your iOS application ideas.

It’s pretty easy to use. Just start with an idea, a sketch or an icon, then utilize the App Board to organize and inspire your work as you go. It’s easy for anyone to use yet achieves professional standard results. App Cooker is a good solution for planning and perfecting your projects until they are ready for production. Read more...

Making an Android Game? Get Discovered!

With hundreds of thousands of apps currently in the Android Marketplace, it can be difficult for game developers to break through the clutter and have their games seen by the public. To help developers gain exposure, Hooked Media brings Get Discovered, a worldwide competition for Android game developers that gives them a unique chance to win both wide scale distribution through Best Buy’s App Discovery Center™ and seed funding from Trinity Ventures, a top Silicon Valley venture capital firm. The winner will also receive an online advertisement package from VentureBeat, one of the industry’s most widely-read blogs. Read more...

Five Approaches to Acquire a Client

Raj Gavurla

by Raj Gavurla of LiiiVEN, Inc.

Entrepreneurs have an idea they research and chisel into service and product. To make a significant difference in the marketplace acquiring a client is needed. Why a client? To help them, gain revenue, and find new ways to apply service and product.

There are five approaches to acquire a client: Read more...

You call on them, answer their questions, demonstrate the usefulness of your service and/or product, and give them the information needed for them to make a buying decision.

Making a Game out of Learning to Program!

That’s right. Coding is no longer some boring, arduous task. It’s now become a game thanks to Treehouse. They’ve developed a Facebook app called Code Racer that let’s players compete at coding.

Code Racer is a multi-player live coding game that teaches newbies how to code a basic website using HTML and CSS, and tests intermediate and advanced users on their coding speed and agility. Players race against each other and the clock to complete coding challenges, unlocking weapons and rewards along the way.

Want to be a Reality TV Star while Founding a Startup?

Startup Engine

Start Engine, the small L.A.-based accelerator, is now the focus of a new reality TV show. That’s right, you’ll get all those horrifying startup moments memorialized on video for the world to watch. If this sounds like a cheesy idea, welcome to reality TV. The show, which comes from Cameron Casey, producer of the TechStars reality program on Bloomberg TV, will capture entrepreneurs on video as they participate in the accelerator program.

Besides selling your soul to Hollywood, here’s what you get when you join Start Engine: Read more...

Up to $20K of seed funding.

Have you run out of money? Can’t afford to hire an engineer at Silicon Valley prices?

Codecademy

Well, I have the answer… learn to code yourself. That’s right. Codecademy is a hot new startup that teaches you how to code. It’s an easy way to learn how to program javascript. It’s interactive, fun, and you can do it with your friends. I recommend it to any frustrated founders who need to get something done but don’t have the cash or the patience to employee an engineer at Silicon Valley prices! Read more...

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