Events
Top 5 Things To Do After StartupWeekend
You’ve been to StartupWeekend, pitched your idea, collaborated with a cool team of people and pumped out a killer app. Now what? In this post, we’ll go over the top 5 things you should think about as you consider your next move.
A Review of the Tech Cocktail Startup Mixer
Last night was the inaugural event of yet another out-of-town tech event coming to Seattle, Tech Cocktail’s Seattle Startup Mixer. Tech Cocktail, originally the brain child of New York’s Frank Gruber, followed a similar formula to last week’s Seattle Beta — a Belltown bar and a handful of startups showing off their products or services on a laptop or iPad to any passerby that is interested, minus the poker chip-style voting. In this instance, the bar was Belltown Pub, which is a tad bit smaller than Spitfire, where Seattle Beta was held. The startups consisted of a few that have been around for a while (SkyGlue, CoCollage, and OfferUp), one that was at Seattle Beta…
Tolis Dimopoulos is the founding member of Sophos Law Firm, PLLC, a Seattle based law firm formed in 2007. Sophos provides legal and business counseling to entrepreneurs, emerging companies, and cherub and angel investors in the tech, biotech and cleantech industries.
Startup Strategy
The First Mover Advantage Myth
Have you ever had an idea that you thought was different or unique only to later find out that someone has already done it? Well, take heart. Being first does not equate to being successful. In this article I discuss some of these failed first movers, as well as the legal barriers first mover erect to try and exclude competitors.
When to Formalize An Idea Into a Company
When is the right time to form a company around the idea you have been tossing around? There has always been a healthy debate on when the right time is to quit your job, but not much about when to form a new company. In this article, I discuss the two most important elements in helping you decide the right time.
How to Avoid Mistakes in Forming Your Startup
Thanks to the internet, forming a new company is now quick and easy. Perhaps too easy. As a result, many fail to fully form their new venture resulting in costly clean up down the line. In this article we discuss the key steps in building a solid legal foundation for your new company and the costly mistakes to avoid.
What’s in Your Startup’s Name?
When the spark strikes and you get that brilliant new product or service idea, you start thinking about how it will work, what will it look like and who will pay to use it. That’s where branding comes in. In this article we discuss the importance of branding the selection of a company name.
Act Autonomously, Live Authentically
When a person decides to launch out on their own to start a new business, the act is often times autonomous. Being autonomous means to act in accord with one’s self, to act or behave in a manner that is self governing. If you are acting autonomously you are willing to do whatever it is you are doing and embrace the activity with energy, commitment, and enthusiasm. While many may argue that your actions are either reckless and ill-timed, or conversely, courageous and visionary, acting autonomously is the best way to start a new venture. In contrast, activities that are not autonomous are controlled. Controlled actions are taken under pressure and are not a true…
Co-Found or Go It Alone?
The issue of whether you should launch your startup alone or with a co-founder comes up from time-to-time, most recently by Kevin Dick and David Lambert of Right Side Capital, the seed investment fund based in San Francisco. At a reception held during their visit to Seattle last month, Dick and Lambert indicated that a startup with only one founder may indicate the there is something wrong with the founder or that the founder is incapable of building a team. This sentiment was subsequently repeated in a blog post by William Carleton and previously on OnStartups.com. I respectfully, but strongly, disagree with all three. Here’s why: Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen. You know…
Why Would I Buy From You?
Large corporations, consumers, and even small businesses and startups often times make purchasing decisions based on the size of the service provider or seller. Why is that? Does the assumption that bigger is better really hold true? The answer to that is, of course, no. Size does not equate to quality or reflect that you understand your customers’ needs. Whether you are a technology startup, a large multinational corporation, a VC, or a lawyer, the service you provide or product you sell is not better because you are bigger, wealthier, or have a readily recognizable brand. Sure, people may call you more or seek out your services, but that does not make your product or…
What Entrepreneurs Can Learn From the Amish
According to Erik Wesner’s new book, Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive, over 95% of Amish businesses are around five years after startup. That’s compared to 80% for nationwide entrepreneurship program alumni and the nationwide average of 50%. So what is it that the Amish are doing right? Well, the “secrets” of their success aren’t really all that surprising: 1. Hard work and long hours; 2. Strong faith and values; 3. Family commitment to the business; 4. Humble leadership; and 5. Treating the customers well and offering them good value. Whether you are an entrepreneur, a startup, or a high growth company, those sound like values we can all stand…
