Passion
June 30, 2009
If you aren’t as passionate about your startup as this guy is about his World of Warcraft. Go find something else to do. It’s not easy, and there will be a lot of times that you will think about giving up. If you aren’t totally committed to your business, then go work for someone else.
How To Pitch A VC
March 30, 2009
Watch and learn friends. Dave McClure gives a great presentation on how to pitch to a VC. Watch the following video and flip through the slides. You will laugh. You will cry. You will have a chance at wowing the room the next time you pitch to a VC (or even an angel investor).
Dave McClure - How to Pitch a VC (aka Startup Viagra: How to Give a VC a Hard-On) from Chris Hutchins on Vimeo.
Want $20K in cash; $20K in free stuff and 20 mentors for your startup?
March 27, 2009
I just found out about this and wanted to get it posted for all of you right away. Click the link above to find out how you can get in on this. 10 weeks, $20k cash and $20k worth of free stuff. And 20 mentors…. holy crap, GET ON THIS RIGHT NOW! Applications due by April 3rd, so hurry up!
Open Source Funding and Why You Should Burn Your NDA
February 26, 2009
The blogosphere is ablaze with news of Mark Cuban’s most recent idea. Open source funding.
Personally, I love the idea and would love to see this approach taken more often. How much easier does it get if you’re a college kid wanting to start a business. You have to make money by selling your product or service (no ad revenue models, thank goodness), as well as fit within 12 other rules. Easy. Post your b-plan somewhere online, link it in the comments of Mark’s post and BAM! You might just have a very well known investor on board.
Marc at the North Carolina Startup Blog has an excellent post about the Open Source Funding project also. He also mentions Jackson Miller who offered to buy ideas for $0.02 a piece. Why? Because ideas aren’t worth a crap. They’re cheap. Execution is where the difficult part comes in. This brings me to my next (related) topic…
Why You Should Burn Your NDA
If you’re involved in a startup, or want to be, and you have a Non-Disclosure Agreement, burn it. The only thing that an NDA does is protect your idea. I recently got into a pretty giant argument with a close friend of mine about this very subject. He got mad that I told someone else about his idea. He was afraid they were going to steal it. Who cares? If someone else is doing the same thing you are, then find a way to do it better than them. I promise you that as soon as you come to market, someone will likely copy your idea. Being the first to market doesn’t hold as much sway anymore, especially with the early-adopter types that frequent startups.
If you go to an angel investor or a VC firm and ask them to sign an NDA, you will get laughed out of town folks. Here’s why Alexander Muse won’t sign one (here’s why he will, but will charge you for it), here’s one post from the startup lawyer himself, Ryan Roberts, (and another), two from Guy Kawasaki (one here and one here), and one from Brad Feld.
What do all of these guys have in common? They’ve all been involved in startups for quite some time. Some are serial entrepreneurs, some are angel investors, some work for VC funds, but they all know the ins and outs of how it works. If you don’t ever listen to another word I say, listen to them.
Anyone need a light?
Calling All College Entrepreneurs!!!
February 23, 2009
If you’re a college student (or recent grad) who:
- Is starting or working at a startup.
- Has started or worked at a startup.
- Wants to start or work at a startup.
Get in touch with me about some exciting things coming down the pipeline. I’m now accepting interviews for current/former startup founders/employees. I’m also working out some details for those that are interested in starting/working at a a startup. Mentorship, possible internships, help with writing a bplan, and even possibly connecting you with funding sources when that time comes.
Hello World!
February 4, 2009
Welcome
My name’s Chris and I’ll be your humble author and guide for all things relating to college startups: Who they are, where they are, and what they’re doing. I’ll also be dispensing advice on a regular basis that might be of use to college entrepreneurs or college students that are interested in startups but don’t really know where to start or how to get involved. I’ll also have the occasional interview either with a succesful college entreprenuer or a hopefully-successful-someday college entrepreneur.
What qualifies you to write this blog or have anything to do with SpringStage?
Excellent question! I have experience both trying to get a business off the ground, and watching that business crash and burn. We can use this blog as a jumping off point to start discussions on best (and worst) practices. I also LOVE startups. I love new and interesting ways to solve problems. If you’re trying to pitch me a new store that only sells candles, go somewhere else. But if you’ve got a new web app or invention that will change how I live my life…. you’ll have my attention. I spend a lot of time talking to people that are involved with startup companies, I read about them constantly, and like to get things done. I love talking to smart people.
What’s the goal?
There were 6 venture-backed IPO’s in 2008 due in part to the downturn of the economy. I’d like to see that number go up. I’d love to see young people like myself taking a chance at doing something great. It’s much easier to declare bankruptcy when you’re 22 than it is when you’re 52. I want to encourage college students (and young folks in general) to talk to one another, collaborate, and do amazing things. Smart people solving real problems. Within the next 5 years, I’d love to profile a company that’s having an IPO that somehow came about because of the College Startup Blog and the SpringStage Network.
I’m a college student and I’m interested, what next?
You can contact me, follow me on Twitter, or comment on any of my posts. Maybe we’ll profile your company. Maybe you can write a guest post or two. Maybe you can be the catalyst at your university. Let’s start talking, build some relationships and get some things done.
Welcome to the College Startup Blog
January 19, 2009
SpringStage is a new startup founded by David Cohen, Alexander Muse and Micah Baldwin. Our objective is to build a network of online, offline and media properties in an effort to promote entrepreneurship. Our focus is on local community development and in an effort to generate local content we are looking for a writer who is connected to the regional startup scene to blog about startups, entrepreneurs, venture capital and interesting people in your area. If this sounds interesting apply online below: http://www.texasstartupblog.com/startups/startup-blog-network/
