How Can You Create a Viral App or Site?
Steve Hoffman
First off, what makes an app or site viral?
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…
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.
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.
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.
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
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:
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.
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.
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.
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:
- 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:
- 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!
Does your App or Site need Beta Testers?
I think every founder will want to try this one out. BetaBait is a great idea. It’s a way to get early adopters to beta test your web, mobile and social applications. The service is 100% free and only takes a few minutes to submit your beta bait. I think I’ll try it out right now!
How it works:
Every day startups run into a major problem before they can publicly launch. They need beta users and testers. These people play an important role in helping the startup work out bugs, create new features and even turn into the first customers. However, in the past, founders and marketers have not had an organized and convenient way to find these testers without spamming email databases, social networks and personal contacts.
No Straight Lines: making sense of our non-linear world
Alan Moore
by Alan Moore. Bloodstone 2011
Introduction
In No Straight Lines: making sense of our non-linear world author Alan Moore argues we have arrived at the edge of the adaptive range of our industrial world. At the edge because that world, our world is being overwhelmed by a trilemma of social, organizational and economic complexity. We are in transit from a linear world to a non-linear one. Non-linear because it is for all of us socially, organizationally and economically ambiguous, confusing and worrying. Consequently we are faced with an increasingly pressing and urgent problem, WHAT COMES NEXT? And also we are therefore presented with a design challenge: HOW do we create better societies, more able organizations and, more vibrant and equitable economies relevant to the world we live in today? No Straight Lines presents a new logic/literacy and inspiring plea for a more human centric world that describes an entirely new way for true social, economic and organizational innovation to happen.
Are there any laws I need to follow when issuing stock to founders in different states?
Naomi Kokubo
Question: One of our founders asked us, “We’re starting the company with founders residing in more than one state. Are there any laws that we should be aware of?”
Answer by Naomi Kokubo, Editor of Founders Space
I’m a big fan of Startup Law 101 series: http://www.grellas.com/faq_business_startup.html
You need to look at the securities law surrounding the founder’s stock purchase and what is known as “blue sky” laws:
http://www.grellas.com/faq_business_startup_012.html
My take away from reading this webpage is: the key securities law concern for any stock issuance by an early-stage startup is to make sure that the offering fits within an exemption to the registration requirements.
iPhone vs. Android? Which should you get?
Let me start by saying Android has come a long way in the past year. It has actually caught up to iOS. So which one should you get if you’re looking for your next phone?
Android Pros:
* Great operating system
* More flexible than iOS
* More customizable than iOS
* Many more phone choices
* Phones support LTE, while iPhone is still stuck in 3G land
* No shortage of apps
* More carriers support Android
* Most Android phones have bigger screens
Where can I download good templates for boilerplate legal agreements?
Ethan Stone
Question: Where can I download good templates for boilerplate legal agreements, such as NDAs, Board of Advisor agreements, employment agreements, and other typical things a startup would need?
Answer by Ethan Stone, Stone Business Law
Let me start with a couple of caveats (yes, I’ll give you some links at the bottom).
First, I’m not your lawyer and this answer doesn’t establish an lawyer-client relationship. I’m giving a generic answer to a generic question to educate the users of this site.
Why Pay More for Verizon? Save Your $$$ for Your Business!
Verizon
Okay, so everyone says they love Verizon because they hate AT&T. Well, if you’re a startup founder, you’re better off with a lower-priced carrier.
Here are my four pet peeves about Verizon:
1) Verizon is the MOST expensive carrier. T-mobile is a bargain compared to Verizon. Just compare the prices.
2) Verizon has more coverage, but does it really matter? Most people use their phones primarily at work and home. If another carrier has good coverage in your city, why should you pay more for Verizon?
Don’t Have an Idea for Your Startup? Try This…
Are you having trouble coming up with a great idea for your startup? Well, try these four sites, and you’ll get a good laugh. You may even recognize some of the ideas!
What are the advantages of convertible debt?
- Ethan Stone
Question: I’m looking to raise angel funding. What are the advantages of convertible debt? And should I do convertible debt over a typical seed round where I set a valuation and sell shares in my company?
Answer by Ethan Stone, Stone Business Law
First, a quick caveat: I’m not your lawyer and this answer doesn’t establish an lawyer-client relationship. I’m giving a generic answer to a generic question to educate the users of this site.
Now to the question: There are two main advantages of raising seed funding through convertible debt. Neither one is an unequivocal benefit, so I’ll give you the pluses and minuses.
Best Business Simulation Games – Teaching Young Minds to Become Entrepreneurs
Naomi Kokubo
by Naomi Kokubo, Editor of Founders Space
If you’re thinking of getting a gift for your kids, nephews, nieces or friends, why not start them on the path to entrepreneurship. There’s nothing like experience to get a young (or old) mind thinking of starting their own company someday. Since most people aren’t about to found a real company, the next best thing is to start a virtual one in a simulated game world.
King & Spalding’s 4th Annual PharmaU
Richard Hsu
by Richard Hsu at One Page Blog
With contributions from some of my colleagues at Pharma Ventures, Aquilo Partners and Linda Pullan, Ph.D., here is a short presentation I recently delivered at King & Spalding’s PharmaU on life science and collaboration agreements.
How do I make my next press release a success?
Naomi Kokubo
Question: I’m running a startup and I haven’t had much luck with press releases. What do I need to know before I do my next press release? I need this one to be a success.
Answer by Naomi Kokubo, Editor of Founders Space
The first thing to know is that most press releases get ignored or lost in the noise. There are so many startups competing for the attention of top bloggers and journalists that they simply ignore the majority of press releases and inquiries.
Here’s what you NEED to know…
Business Maturity
Raj Gavurla
by Raj Gavurla of LiiiVEN, Inc.
Mature businesses show there maturity through consistency. In other words they are reliable. It’s odd to receive calls from suppliers on behalf of well known organizations that cannot keep an appointment. What does this say about your company? It’s not appealing. People’s time is valuable. You should keep the appointment although you may not be interested because it’s your word, you’ll learn more, and establish trust.
Deferred Compensation = Accelerated Dilution
Richard Komaiko
by Richard Komaiko, Cofounder of AttorneyFee
A few weeks ago I met a really promising seed stage team at a Hackers and Founders event. Out of sheer curiosity I asked them whether they had gone through all the legal formalities associated with starting a company. They said that they had just met with an attorney, and were planning on hiring him the next day. “How much did he quote you for the incorporation?” I asked. “He said it would be $2,500.”
Gadget of the Month: XShot (perfect stocking stuffer)
Steve Hoffman
Nothing is better for Xmas than an XShot — it makes the perfect stocking stuffer for anyone who wants to take photos over the holidays!
Check out the video below. This product is brilliant. And they have an iPhone case that works like a I charm with both the XShot and any tripod you may own. I know because I own them both!
As you can probably tell, I love the design. The product is also incredibly well made. It doesn’t feel cheap. It’s actually very sturdy. If you love gadgets, like we do, you will get a kick out this one!
Founders Spotlight: Kid IRA
Naomi Kokubo
by Naomi Kokubo, Editor of Founders Space
This week we’re shining the spotlight on founder Alexander Desuasido and his startup Kid IRA:
A Kid IRA® is the ideal investment vehicle that allows today’s students to raise and invest their money to grow faster than traditional savings accounts for college and beyond.
The Kidira Foundation provides students and parents with the necessary tools to educate and empower themselves. It’s a great idea, and I encourage you all to take a look!
