April 2011

Greenhorn Thoughts on Finding Advisors and Mentors

No man is an island, and neither is a startup. If you've taken up the task of starting up a company, then you should absolutely be seeking out others to solicit help and feedback from.  Often this leads to the recruitment of advisors and thus the formation of an advisory board and the building of that infamous page on every website with famous or important people from your industry listed as company advisors. 

When you're first starting out, thinking about how you're going to get advisors can be intimidating and overwhelming.  It's always better when you Keep It Simple, so I'd like to show you why this isn't as hard as you think and you should think broader than a few advisors.

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Greenhorn Weekly Events Countdown April 24-30

It's Easter and the last week of April! The weather is (finally) actually warming up, flowers are in bloom, and the startup scene is in full swing. This week is coming fast, with 32 networking events and office hours scheduled. Read on to find the can't miss events of the week! 

Founder's Friday: Practically Green

Who are the faces behind a company? How did the company get started? These are common question you may have about startups you see and hear about. If you don't get a chance to personally meet the founders, you're unlikely to ever know their story. That's what Founder Fridays is all about.

This week we are talking to Susan Hunt Stevens, Founder & CEO of Practically Green, a company that helps you live healthier and greener.

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10 Reasons You Should Work at a Startup Before Starting Your Company

 So you know you want to be an entrepreneur. You've got the bug and you know you've got the potential to build a great company.  If you're recently out of school (or still a student), are you sure you're ready? 

Last week marked my one-year anniversary working at oneforty, a small, venture-backed startup right here in Cambridge.  During this time, I've learned an incredible amount about more than just my role (Customer Development), but also many universally applicable startup lessons.  I can't put a price on the value of the experience I've gained, which is why I'd like to share my reasons why I think everyone should consider working at a startup before setting out to start a company of their own.

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Greenhorn Weekly Countdown April 17-23

It's Marathon Monday weekend. Whether you're watching the Marathon, taking the day off to sleep in, or working on your startup, you're probably looking forward to another great week in the Boston startup scene. This week has over 20 startup netwoking events and office hours. We counted down the best events of the week for you. Read on to find out the can't-miss events of the week! 

/// Monday, April 18

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Dale Stephens: The Skills of a Successful Entrepreneur

What skills are requisite for success as an entrepreneur?

Motivation? Passion? Drive? Confidence? Read on to find out the skills a successful entrepreneur needs to have!
 
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You are who you surround yourself with. Who surrounds your startup?

Much has been said and written on the topic that you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with (there's over 20 million results on that Google search!?!).  When thinking about startups, that lesson must not be forgotten and may explain why some startups stall and fail.  Sometimes, getting caught up in all the startup noise you may forget this, so I'd like to explore this concept. 

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Greenhorn Weekly Events Countdown April 10-16

It's another amazing week here in Boston. Now that it actually feels like spring has arrived, the Boston startup scene is heating up fast as we head into Marathon Monday weekend. This week we have 39 networking events and office hours scheduled. It's a lot to pack in, but we can all marathon through and get some great connections going. So get out those spring clothes and head out to some great events this week! Read on to find out the *can't misss* events of the week!

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Founder's Friday: Bakodo

Who are the faces behind a company? How did the company get started? These are common question you may have about startups you see and hear about. If you don't get a chance to personally meet the founders, you're unlikely to ever know their story.

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Observations of the New York Startup Scene

Last weekend, I participated in the Lean Startup Machine, New York edition, as a mentor.  It represented the completion of a long overdue goal of making a trip down to NYC to check out their startup scene.  While I was only there for a brief, 48-hour stint, I made the most of it and learned a lot about their startup scene through the many conversations I had over the weekend.  I'd like to share some of the things I learned about the NY community. 

 

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GreenhornTV Top Boston Startup Events Weekly Countdown #66: April 3rd - 9th

 Baseball season just started again, signaling the end of a very long winter here in Boston! Although we had a freak storm last week, things should be slowly warming up, making it easier to go to all of the great startup networking events and office hours happening every day. This week shows that April means business, with over 40 networking events and office hours scheduled. 

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