Comments on: How do you actually DO a startup? http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/ Tracking the UK's mobile and web start-up ecosystem. Fri, 16 May 2008 13:01:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Alan http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-121898 Alan Fri, 14 Mar 2008 10:43:49 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-121898 We have a list of some cash saving tools and services at BPlans.co.uk - http://www.bplans.co.uk/write_a_business_plan/article.cfm/297 Boot strapping is definitely an important element to starting up - lots of certain costs matched with uncertain income is a recipe for disaster if cash flow is not managed carefully. We have a list of some cash saving tools and services at BPlans.co.uk - http://www.bplans.co.uk/write_a_business_plan/article.cfm/297

Boot strapping is definitely an important element to starting up - lots of certain costs matched with uncertain income is a recipe for disaster if cash flow is not managed carefully.

]]> By: james http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-120788 james Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:39:00 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-120788 Jason's right on the money when he talks about getting an espresso machine for your office. Fiat thought of it first though; they commissioned Achille Gaggia to install his spring system espresso machines into their fabulous new factory in Turin - you know, the one with a racing track on the roof. They wanted to reduce the amount of time their workforce spend having coffee breaks while still packing them full of caffeine to increase productivity. Massively caffeinated beverages and a racing circuit on the roof, now that's what I call a work/life balance! Jason’s right on the money when he talks about getting an espresso machine for your office. Fiat thought of it first though; they commissioned Achille Gaggia to install his spring system espresso machines into their fabulous new factory in Turin - you know, the one with a racing track on the roof. They wanted to reduce the amount of time their workforce spend having coffee breaks while still packing them full of caffeine to increase productivity.

Massively caffeinated beverages and a racing circuit on the roof, now that’s what I call a work/life balance!

]]> By: Michele http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-120752 Michele Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:51:32 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-120752 While one or two of the suggestions may make sense a lot of them strike me as incredibly dumb and more likely to cost you money and staff in the long run. While one or two of the suggestions may make sense a lot of them strike me as incredibly dumb and more likely to cost you money and staff in the long run.

]]> By: David Petherick http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-120633 David Petherick Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:48:08 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-120633 Good point @Jof. My 7-year old bought an iMac for £16 with money she made at a car boot sale - and she sold old toys and then bought that the Apple at the same sale - and paid her share of the pot to get the car in. She's a happenpreneur. There were some great startups pitching at startupcamp - impossible to choose, but Nik's managed to get RSS to working so that his Mum can use it - literally. That's why he won the startup contest. Good point @Jof.

My 7-year old bought an iMac for £16 with money she made at a car boot sale - and she sold old toys and then bought that the Apple at the same sale - and paid her share of the pot to get the car in. She’s a happenpreneur.

There were some great startups pitching at startupcamp - impossible to choose, but Nik’s managed to get RSS to working so that his Mum can use it - literally. That’s why he won the startup contest.

]]> By: baah-baah-the-black-sheep http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-120507 baah-baah-the-black-sheep Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:31:44 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-120507 Get them all to work from home. Get together few times a week in a shared office. That will save you heaps of time and money. Gotta be double careful with choosing the right people, tho. Self-discipline is hard. Get them all to work from home. Get together few times a week in a shared office. That will save you heaps of time and money.
Gotta be double careful with choosing the right people, tho. Self-discipline is hard.

]]> By: Jo Potts http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-120504 Jo Potts Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:31:10 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-120504 @LocalHand - totally agree too. The secret to a good startup is the idea. The implementation has to be fast and light. Get it out there ASAP then build on it whilst using it and listening to feedback. Some of the startups I hear about that have millions funding and take months to get out the door would have benefited from no funding and a one week deadline! @LocalHand - totally agree too. The secret to a good startup is the idea. The implementation has to be fast and light. Get it out there ASAP then build on it whilst using it and listening to feedback.

Some of the startups I hear about that have millions funding and take months to get out the door would have benefited from no funding and a one week deadline!

]]> By: Hash http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-120488 Hash Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:02:43 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-120488 I think some decent 130 bpm minimal techno BGM should probably help too... but watch out for people with crap taste in music :0 I think some decent 130 bpm minimal techno BGM should probably help too… but watch out for people with crap taste in music :0

]]> By: Manoj Ranaweera http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-120487 Manoj Ranaweera Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:59:50 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-120487 As a startup, you also need to know when to give up or hand over. This is not something that anyone can prescribe, you, yourself will know that you have reached the end. I am yet to attend a session where someone has the balls to say this! All I keep hearing is "never give up". My second point is about getting your product out to market as quickly as possible. As we heard at StartUp Camp, according to Steve Garnett of Salesforce.com quoting Larry Ellison, "if it compiles, get it out!". I demonstrated this with www.edocr.com and have since influenced other startups to do the same. The second point applies mostly to startups with limited or almost no funding. If you are well funded, my advice would be to make sure it works before letting others play. Most startups do not have this luxury. As a startup, you also need to know when to give up or hand over. This is not something that anyone can prescribe, you, yourself will know that you have reached the end. I am yet to attend a session where someone has the balls to say this! All I keep hearing is “never give up”.

My second point is about getting your product out to market as quickly as possible. As we heard at StartUp Camp, according to Steve Garnett of Salesforce.com quoting Larry Ellison, “if it compiles, get it out!”. I demonstrated this with http://www.edocr.com and have since influenced other startups to do the same.

The second point applies mostly to startups with limited or almost no funding. If you are well funded, my advice would be to make sure it works before letting others play. Most startups do not have this luxury.

]]> By: Jof Arnold http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-120480 Jof Arnold Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:46:35 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-120480 @mike - I think I'd better continue this conversation offline in order to avoid starting a flame war! @LocalHand - totally agree. No matter how much polish you put into it prior to showing it to your customers, you can pretty much guarantee your customers will cause you to rip up some of your code. However, it is sometimes valuable to lead customers otherwise they'll "design by committee" for you. @mike - I think I’d better continue this conversation offline in order to avoid starting a flame war!

@LocalHand - totally agree. No matter how much polish you put into it prior to showing it to your customers, you can pretty much guarantee your customers will cause you to rip up some of your code. However, it is sometimes valuable to lead customers otherwise they’ll “design by committee” for you.

]]> By: LocalHand http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-120476 LocalHand Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:37:39 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/03/10/how-do-you-actually-do-a-startup/#comment-120476 My rule #1: don't spend too much time building your application: build quickly -> test with your customers -> LISTEN to feedback -> implement customers' suggestions. Repeat again and again. My rule #1: don’t spend too much time building your application:

build quickly -> test with your customers -> LISTEN to feedback -> implement customers’ suggestions.

Repeat again and again.

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