February 2010

GreenhornTV Ep. 15: Mass Mobile Month Kickoff

Believe it or not, it's March already and there are over 30 different entrepreneur networking events and office hours this week. This week marks the kickoff of Mass Mobile Month, a celebration of the mobile industry with tons of events this month. You can learn more about the month at the site MassMobileMonth.com.  Check out the show and notes below to find out all about them and all the other great happenings in the community this week.

Josh Bob: Is Your Life on Shuffle?

Are you living life on Shuffle, waiting for something good to happen to you, or are you making your own playlist? It’s a question most people think they know the answer to, until they actually take the time to analyze how they make their decisions. And when they find the truth, it’s often one that they don’t like hearing.

 

The Uncertainty Principle: The Four Types of People in Innovation

There are few stereotypes that fit entrepreneurs well.  Some are short, some are tall.  Some have Ivy League degrees, others never finished high school. Some have parents who are entrepreneurs, while others have no ties to startups in their family.  Despite all these differences, there is one thing that they all share: a high tolerance for uncertainty.

 

Cort Johnson: Never Late for an Appointment

 ‘Never late for an appointment Salmon Chase had no patience for the sin of tardiness which stole precious minutes from the life of the man left waiting.’ - Said of Salmon Chase (6th Chief Justice of the United States and Treasury Secretary under Lincoln) in 

Answering the Tough Questions

So you have a company that’s generating revenue and you get a knock on your door; it’s a Venture Capitalist.  They are interested in making an investment into your company but you have to answer the tough questions to make them feel comfortable. The following are a few items that you must be able to address in your first conversation that can help you secure funding: 

GreenhornTV Ep. 14: The State of Massachusetts

It's the last week in February and there are over 40 different events this week. The highlights of the week are definitely the big state events celebrating entrepreneurship with the governor coming to the CIC and the State recognition of 4 local young entrepreneurs.  Check out the show and notes below to find out all about them and all the other great happenings in the community this week.

Miguel Danielson: Getting Your IP in Shape: a legal fitness guide for entrepreneurs - Part II

On Tuesday, Miguel Danielson told us about the importance of managing your IP surrounding Trademarks, Copyright and Patents.  In part II of his guide, he's covering Employee Agreements, Licensing issues and Trade Secrets. 

 

10 Reasons You Should Start Your First Company in College

College is a time for growing up, trying new things and learning many of life’s lessons both inside and out of the classroom.  Your plate may already seem full with all your courses and extracurriculars, but it’s really the best time to start your first business.  There are quite a few distinct advantages to doing so, and so I’d like to highlight a few here.

 

Miguel Danielson: Getting Your IP in Shape: a legal fitness guide for entrepreneurs

At the core of any technology focused startup is the intellectual property of the business.  Potential investors, buyers, and other business partners know this well.  Whenever you are nearing a relationship with such parties, you can rest assured that they will want to carefully scrutinize your IP.  Making sure your IP is in order is important not just so you look good to investors or others, but so you can

GreenhornTV Ep 13: Vacation Week

It's vacation week for students in Boston, and the entrepreneurial community is taking a bit of a breather as well.  However, there are still quite a few great events this week and plenty of office hours.  There's MIT Sloan's IdeaStorm, DartBoston's #PokinHoles is on the road at SCVNGR and the HBS Entrepreneurship Conference are all this week.

Building a Presentation 101

Recently I wrote a blog highlighting the key components of making a killer pitch and the 10/20/30 Rule which focuses on the number of slides, time, and layout.

This week, we will take a closer look at each slide and its contents.

Fan Bi: How to Build Advisor Relationships

Lately, if you're a first time entrepreneur, you're in luck; one of the key features available to a rookie founder is the access to mentors and advisors especially thanks to programs like theMassTLC unConference.