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Closing the Skills Gap: Addressing the Surge in Demand for Digital Marketing Experts

Talks On Productivity: Evgeniya Malina - Head of Processes and Automation at Whizz 

From X to the Online World As I landed on X December last year, I encountered a dynamic community of entrepreneurs sharing content, exchanging insights, narrating their experiences, and marketing their products. The sheer volume of activities made it challenging to stay abreast of everyone's endeavors and the content they shared. Unlocking X’s Potential Viewed through the lens of an independent entrepreneur, the platform offers the distinct advantage of a rich learning environment. Despite the varying degrees of relevance in the shared content, a noteworthy aspect is the "Give vs. Ask" ethos, expounded upon in the insightful piece titled "Promoting on Reddit (or Anywhere) By Giving Before Asking," penned by Bill Prin. Here, the act of entrepreneurs sharing their learnings, data, or product statistics represents a 'Give,’ while the promotion of their product is an 'Ask'’ The true value of time spent on X hinges on the prevalence of 'Give' content. But, the reality is that the recurrence of similar ideas dilutes the impact of the platform. The Double-Edged Sword of X If this is the benefit of X, the downside is that you become one among many entrepreneurs. If you want people to notice your stuff, you have to do a lot of giving and always be honest. I don't mind being honest and giving, but the thing is, it takes up a lot of time. Marc Louvion said in one of the promotional videos that he spends 5 hours a day on X. I’m pretty sure this can be a valid approximation, and I don’t want to spend that much time on X. I decided to add a website tracker extension on Google Chrome and Firefox. This tool aims to provide insights into my time spent on browsers, helping me make informed decisions to maximize my productivity. Strategic Spots for Startup Promotion In this X journey, I stumbled upon this tweet: Guess what? Some entrepreneurs out there are selling lists of places to promote your startup. I did some detective work on Google and found a bunch of websites sharing these lists. Check out the ones I looked into: 500+ Places to Promote Your Startup


75+ Places to Promote Your Startup for Free


Top 20 Sites to Submit Your Startup to Promote It in 2024


Top 14 Sites to Promote Your Startup


89 Places to Promote Your Startup My goal throughout this journey was to amplify the reach of my projects without breaking the bank. While paid promotion options exist, I decided to steer clear, considering my budget constraints. These lists I found have a mix of everything—some duplicates, some websites that aren't around anymore, and some with dark patterns like making you fill out a bunch of info and then springing a surprise payment on you. I spent quite a few hours sorting through all of this to figure out which websites let you submit your startup. I hope that I can save some time for folks who want to get their app out there. I've even included the ones that want you to pay for a speedy listing or make you wait for months before they showcase your startup. Here's the list: https://alternativeto.net/ https://apprater.net/ https://appsumo.com/ https://awesomeindie.com/ https://betalist.com/ https://crazyaboutstartups.com/ https://ctrlalt.cc/ https://fazier.com/ https://feedmystartup.com/ https://financesonline.com/ https://launched.io/ https://lazyhunt.com/ https://microlaunch.net/ https://owwly.com/ https://peerlist.io/ https://pitchwall.co/ https://portal.10words.io/ https://sell.g2.com/create-a-profile https://startupbase.io/ https://startupbuffer.com/ https://startupinspire.com/ https://startupstash.com/ https://wellfound.com/ https://www.affordhunt.com/ https://www.allstartups.info/ https://www.betabound.com/ https://www.betafy.co/ https://www.crunchbase.com/ https://www.f6s.com/ https://www.feedough.com/ https://www.gartner.com/en/digital-markets/basic-listing https://www.indiehackers.com/ https://www.insanelycooltools.com/ https://www.launchingnext.com/ https://www.producthunt.com/ https://www.saasprojects.com/ https://www.sideprojectors.com/#/ https://www.slant.co/ https://www.startupranking.com/ https://www.startups.fyi/ https://www.trustpilot.com/ https://www.uneed.best/ Those lists also include Reddits, but heads up, all links posted on Reddit are "no follow" (here is a perfect article on why this is important). But since Bill Prin had a good experience starting to promote on Reddit, I'm thinking of giving it a shot sometime soon. Here's the list of reddits: r/advancedentrepreneur r/advertising r/alphaandbetausers r/announcements r/AskMarketing r/Business_Ideas r/Businessideas r/coupons r/CrazyIdeas r/digitalnomad r/Emailmarketing r/Entrepreneur r/EntrepreneurRideAlong r/growinpublic r/growmybusiness r/GrowthHacking r/ideas r/indiebiz r/indiehackers r/InternetIsBeautiful r/Lightbulb r/MadeThis r/marketing r/microsaas r/NicheWebsites r/Plugyourproduct r/ProductHunters r/programming r/projects r/roastmystartup r/SaaS r/sales r/SideProject r/smallbusiness r/socialmedia r/startup r/startups r/startups_promotion r/sweatystartup r/webmarketing There are also Facebook groups and communities, but for now, as I decided to stay away from Facebook, there's no plan to check those out for now. Tracking Success with Bonetflix Implementing this strategy, I've promoted my project, Bonetflix, on all these platforms. In a past issue, I shared some metrics about it, and I expect these numbers to evolve in the following weeks. Stay tuned to witness positive transformations in this journey. Thanks for reading David's Indie Hacker Journey! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Also published here. From X to the Online World As I landed on X December last year, I encountered a dynamic community of entrepreneurs sharing content, exchanging insights, narrating their experiences, and marketing their products. The sheer volume of activities made it challenging to stay abreast of everyone's endeavors and the content they shared. Unlocking X’s Potential Viewed through the lens of an independent entrepreneur, the platform offers the distinct advantage of a rich learning environment. Despite the varying degrees of relevance in the shared content, a noteworthy aspect is the "Give vs. Ask" ethos, expounded upon in the insightful piece titled "Promoting on Reddit (or Anywhere) By Giving Before Asking," penned by Bill Prin . Here, the act of entrepreneurs sharing their learnings, data, or product statistics represents a 'Give,’ while the promotion of their product is an 'Ask'’ The true value of time spent on X hinges on the prevalence of 'Give' content. But, the reality is that the recurrence of similar ideas dilutes the impact of the platform. "Promoting on Reddit (or Anywhere) By Giving Before Asking," Bill Prin The Double-Edged Sword of X If this is the benefit of X, the downside is that you become one among many entrepreneurs. If you want people to notice your stuff, you have to do a lot of giving and always be honest. I don't mind being honest and giving, but the thing is, it takes up a lot of time. Marc Louvion said in one of the promotional videos that he spends 5 hours a day on X. Marc Louvion I’m pretty sure this can be a valid approximation, and I don’t want to spend that much time on X. I decided to add a website tracker extension on Google Chrome and Firefox. This tool aims to provide insights into my time spent on browsers, helping me make informed decisions to maximize my productivity. Strategic Spots for Startup Promotion In this X journey, I stumbled upon this tweet: Guess what? Some entrepreneurs out there are selling lists of places to promote your startup. I did some detective work on Google and found a bunch of websites sharing these lists. Check out the ones I looked into: 500+ Places to Promote Your Startup 75+ Places to Promote Your Startup for Free Top 20 Sites to Submit Your Startup to Promote It in 2024 Top 14 Sites to Promote Your Startup 89 Places to Promote Your Startup 500+ Places to Promote Your Startup 500+ Places to Promote Your Startup 500+ Places to Promote Your Startup 75+ Places to Promote Your Startup for Free 75+ Places to Promote Your Startup for Free 75+ Places to Promote Your Startup for Free Top 20 Sites to Submit Your Startup to Promote It in 2024 Top 20 Sites to Submit Your Startup to Promote It in 2024 Top 20 Sites to Submit Your Startup to Promote It in 2024 Top 14 Sites to Promote Your Startup Top 14 Sites to Promote Your Startup Top 14 Sites to Promote Your Startup 89 Places to Promote Your Startup 89 Places to Promote Your Startup 89 Places to Promote Your Startup My goal throughout this journey was to amplify the reach of my projects without breaking the bank. While paid promotion options exist, I decided to steer clear, considering my budget constraints. These lists I found have a mix of everything—some duplicates, some websites that aren't around anymore, and some with dark patterns like making you fill out a bunch of info and then springing a surprise payment on you. I spent quite a few hours sorting through all of this to figure out which websites let you submit your startup. I hope that I can save some time for folks who want to get their app out there. I've even included the ones that want you to pay for a speedy listing or make you wait for months before they showcase your startup. Here's the list: https://alternativeto.net/ https://alternativeto.net/ https://apprater.net/ https://apprater.net/ https://appsumo.com/ https://appsumo.com/ https://awesomeindie.com/ https://awesomeindie.com/ https://betalist.com/ https://betalist.com/ https://crazyaboutstartups.com/ https://crazyaboutstartups.com/ https://ctrlalt.cc/ https://ctrlalt.cc/ https://fazier.com/ https://fazier.com/ https://feedmystartup.com/ https://feedmystartup.com/ https://financesonline.com/ https://financesonline.com/ https://launched.io/ https://launched.io/ https://lazyhunt.com/ https://lazyhunt.com/ https://microlaunch.net/ https://microlaunch.net/ https://owwly.com/ https://owwly.com/ https://peerlist.io/ https://peerlist.io/ https://pitchwall.co/ https://pitchwall.co/ https://portal.10words.io/ https://portal.10words.io/ https://sell.g2.com/create-a-profile https://sell.g2.com/create-a-profile https://startupbase.io/ https://startupbase.io/ https://startupbuffer.com/ https://startupbuffer.com/ https://startupinspire.com/ https://startupinspire.com/ https://startupstash.com/ https://startupstash.com/ https://wellfound.com/ https://wellfound.com/ https://www.affordhunt.com/ https://www.affordhunt.com/ https://www.allstartups.info/ https://www.allstartups.info/ https://www.betabound.com/ https://www.betabound.com/ https://www.betafy.co/ https://www.betafy.co/ https://www.crunchbase.com/ https://www.crunchbase.com/ https://www.f6s.com/ https://www.f6s.com/ https://www.feedough.com/ https://www.feedough.com/ https://www.gartner.com/en/digital-markets/basic-listing https://www.gartner.com/en/digital-markets/basic-listing https://www.indiehackers.com/ https://www.indiehackers.com/ https://www.insanelycooltools.com/ https://www.insanelycooltools.com/ https://www.launchingnext.com/ https://www.launchingnext.com/ https://www.producthunt.com/ https://www.producthunt.com/ https://www.saasprojects.com/ https://www.saasprojects.com/ https://www.sideprojectors.com/#/ https://www.sideprojectors.com/#/ https://www.slant.co/ https://www.slant.co/ https://www.startupranking.com/ https://www.startupranking.com/ https://www.startups.fyi/ https://www.startups.fyi/ https://www.trustpilot.com/ https://www.trustpilot.com/ https://www.uneed.best/ https://www.uneed.best/ Those lists also include Reddits, but heads up, all links posted on Reddit are "no follow" ( here is a perfect article on why this is important). But since Bill Prin had a good experience starting to promote on Reddit, I'm thinking of giving it a shot sometime soon. Here's the list of reddits: here Bill Prin r/advancedentrepreneur r/advancedentrepreneur r/advertising r/advertising r/alphaandbetausers r/alphaandbetausers r/announcements r/announcements r/AskMarketing r/AskMarketing r/Business_Ideas r/Business_Ideas r/Businessideas r/Businessideas r/coupons r/coupons r/CrazyIdeas r/CrazyIdeas r/digitalnomad r/digitalnomad r/Emailmarketing r/Emailmarketing r/Entrepreneur r/Entrepreneur r/EntrepreneurRideAlong r/EntrepreneurRideAlong r/growinpublic r/growinpublic r/growmybusiness r/growmybusiness r/GrowthHacking r/GrowthHacking r/ideas r/ideas r/indiebiz r/indiebiz r/indiehackers r/indiehackers r/InternetIsBeautiful r/InternetIsBeautiful r/Lightbulb r/Lightbulb r/MadeThis r/MadeThis r/marketing r/marketing r/microsaas r/microsaas r/NicheWebsites r/NicheWebsites r/Plugyourproduct r/Plugyourproduct r/ProductHunters r/ProductHunters r/programming r/programming r/projects r/projects r/roastmystartup r/roastmystartup r/SaaS r/SaaS r/sales r/sales r/SideProject r/SideProject r/smallbusiness r/smallbusiness r/socialmedia r/socialmedia r/startup r/startup r/startups r/startups r/startups_promotion r/startups_promotion r/sweatystartup r/sweatystartup r/webmarketing r/webmarketing There are also Facebook groups and communities, but for now, as I decided to stay away from Facebook, there's no plan to check those out for now. Tracking Success with Bonetflix Implementing this strategy, I've promoted my project, Bonetflix, on all these platforms. In a past issue , I shared some metrics about it, and I expect these numbers to evolve in the following weeks. Stay tuned to witness positive transformations in this journey. In a past issue Thanks for reading David's Indie Hacker Journey! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Also published here. Also published here . here

Online Spaces Where Your Startup Could Thrive

UI Throwback: Creating a Retro Progress Bar for iOS using CALayers

UI থ্রোব্যাক: CALayers ব্যবহার করে iOS-এর জন্য একটি রেট্রো প্রোগ্রেস বার তৈরি করা

UI-Rückblick: Erstellen einer Retro-Fortschrittsleiste für iOS mit CALayers

Retroceso de la interfaz de usuario: creación de una barra de progreso retro para iOS usando CALayers

Retour sur l'interface utilisateur : création d'une barre de progression rétro pour iOS à l'aide de CALayers

यूआई थ्रोबैक: CALayers का उपयोग करके iOS के लिए एक रेट्रो प्रोग्रेस बार बनाना

UI スローバック: CALayers を使用した iOS 用のレトロ プログレス バーの作成

UI 후퇴: CALayer를 사용하여 iOS용 레트로 진행률 표시줄 만들기

Retrocesso da IU: criação de uma barra de progresso retrô para iOS usando CALayers

Возврат к пользовательскому интерфейсу: создание ретро-индикатора выполнения для iOS с помощью CALayers

Kullanıcı Arayüzü Gerilemesi: CALayers'ı kullanarak iOS için Retro İlerleme Çubuğu oluşturma

Phản hồi giao diện người dùng: Tạo Thanh tiến trình Retro cho iOS bằng cách sử dụng CALayers

UI 复古：使用 CALayers 创建 iOS 复古进度条

I have 9 years of experience as a venture investor, and I can confirm that one of the most important things in a startup’s early stages is the team. Therefore, whether or not I decide to invest in a project largely depends on my meeting with its founder. In addition to convincing me with figures, he/she needs to build trust. While I might feel ready to invest after the first meeting, I often take some weeks to reflect. These are the qualities that influenced my decision. Industry Knowledge and Experience As a founder, you must know the ins and outs of any industry you want to venture into. For example, a fintech entrepreneur with prior experience in the banking sector will offer invaluable expertise. This is a quality I appraise, as it means you have a firsthand understanding of the industry's pain points and nuances. As an investor, I also consider the educational background of the founder. I inquire about their academic achievements, including grades and thesis topics. A solid educational foundation adds credibility to the founder's qualifications. Entrepreneurial Background Entrepreneurship is a rare talent; from my experience, only about 2% of individuals inherently possess it. In most cases, experience is the best teacher. Therefore, I value founders who have gained experience in large corporations before embarking on their own ventures. Additionally, I have greater confidence in founders who have undergone 1-2 unsuccessful projects. In my view, success alone doesn't provide valuable lessons; it's the mistakes and setbacks that offer profound learning opportunities. It's crucial that a founder evaluates these experiences and learns from them. Willingness to Admit Mistakes and Accept Change Periodically, I meet founders who don’t take criticism well. They find it difficult to admit mistakes and often accept a single hypothesis as the truth. But to make an idea work, you need to test 5-10 hypotheses, adapt the model, and possibly make a pivot. Instead, they're stuck on one idea and keep forcing it; even if it's not improving. Beyond the product itself, there are external factors necessary for growth. Hiring the right team, building a marketing strategy, finding enablers, and so on. Experienced investors with foresight can discover potential pitfalls and highlight blind spots, but not every founder is an open listener. As much as I value entrepreneurial experience and industry expertise, founders need to remain flexible so that their experience helps, and not hinders, the startup's growth. Honesty I value honesty right from early communication with the founder. My confidence in a project grows when founders openly discuss challenges, setbacks, and whatever isn’t working. Sometimes, initial hypotheses don't pan out, but determined founders continue to explore and iterate. Other times, customer acquisition costs may be prohibitively high, prompting them to experiment with new acquisition or investment channels. Being candid about what's not working demonstrates integrity, resilience, and a commitment to finding solutions. On the other hand, if founders withhold information about their challenges, it diminishes my confidence in the project. As long as I believe in the vision, I’m always open to offering solutions where possible. Passion Building a startup often spans a decade-long journey. Passion is needed to drive the commitment to see this long path through. Therefore, I look at how passionate a founder is about his/her project, and how deeply immersed they are in the topic. I also prioritize understanding a founder's commitment level and endgame aspirations — whether they are ready to dedicate themselves fully to the project, aiming for a profitable exit, or seeking to establish a lasting legacy for future generations. For instance, one founder candidly expressed a desire to exit the startup within 3-5 years. In response, I adjusted my expectations accordingly and focused on realistic growth targets rather than aiming for astronomical returns. Conclusion Successful tech entrepreneurs have a fine blend of unique skills, industry expertise, and unwavering passion. In my view, to achieve success, a founder must be 120% committed to their startup, whether it’s for the short or long term. They must also be adaptable and not overlook potential challenges. A final word to the upcoming innovators and industry disruptors: When engaging with investors, demonstrate your expertise and unwavering motivation. To build trust, be transparent in your dealings and forthright about the obstacles you face. Substantiate your claims with solid data to crown your efforts. Adopting this approach will significantly enhance your prospects of securing funding. I have 9 years of experience as a venture investor, and I can confirm that one of the most important things in a startup’s early stages is the team. Therefore, whether or not I decide to invest in a project largely depends on my meeting with its founder. In addition to convincing me with figures, he/she needs to build trust. While I might feel ready to invest after the first meeting, I often take some weeks to reflect. These are the qualities that influenced my decision. Industry Knowledge and Experience Industry Knowledge and Experience As a founder, you must know the ins and outs of any industry you want to venture into. For example, a fintech entrepreneur with prior experience in the banking sector will offer invaluable expertise. This is a quality I appraise, as it means you have a firsthand understanding of the industry's pain points and nuances. As an investor, I also consider the educational background of the founder. I inquire about their academic achievements, including grades and thesis topics. A solid educational foundation adds credibility to the founder's qualifications. Entrepreneurial Background Entrepreneurial Background Entrepreneurship is a rare talent; from my experience, only about 2% of individuals inherently possess it. In most cases, experience is the best teacher. Therefore, I value founders who have gained experience in large corporations before embarking on their own ventures. Additionally, I have greater confidence in founders who have undergone 1-2 unsuccessful projects. In my view, success alone doesn't provide valuable lessons; it's the mistakes and setbacks that offer profound learning opportunities. It's crucial that a founder evaluates these experiences and learns from them. Willingness to Admit Mistakes and Accept Change Willingness to Admit Mistakes and Accept Change Periodically, I meet founders who don’t take criticism well. They find it difficult to admit mistakes and often accept a single hypothesis as the truth. But to make an idea work, you need to test 5-10 hypotheses, adapt the model, and possibly make a pivot. Instead, they're stuck on one idea and keep forcing it; even if it's not improving. Beyond the product itself, there are external factors necessary for growth. Hiring the right team, building a marketing strategy, finding enablers, and so on. Experienced investors with foresight can discover potential pitfalls and highlight blind spots, but not every founder is an open listener. As much as I value entrepreneurial experience and industry expertise, founders need to remain flexible so that their experience helps, and not hinders, the startup's growth. Honesty Honesty I value honesty right from early communication with the founder. My confidence in a project grows when founders openly discuss challenges, setbacks, and whatever isn’t working. Sometimes, initial hypotheses don't pan out, but determined founders continue to explore and iterate. Other times, customer acquisition costs may be prohibitively high, prompting them to experiment with new acquisition or investment channels. Being candid about what's not working demonstrates integrity, resilience, and a commitment to finding solutions. On the other hand, if founders withhold information about their challenges, it diminishes my confidence in the project. As long as I believe in the vision, I’m always open to offering solutions where possible. Passion Passion Building a startup often spans a decade-long journey. Passion is needed to drive the commitment to see this long path through. Therefore, I look at how passionate a founder is about his/her project, and how deeply immersed they are in the topic. I also prioritize understanding a founder's commitment level and endgame aspirations — whether they are ready to dedicate themselves fully to the project, aiming for a profitable exit, or seeking to establish a lasting legacy for future generations. For instance, one founder candidly expressed a desire to exit the startup within 3-5 years. In response, I adjusted my expectations accordingly and focused on realistic growth targets rather than aiming for astronomical returns. Conclusion Conclusion Successful tech entrepreneurs have a fine blend of unique skills, industry expertise, and unwavering passion. In my view, to achieve success, a founder must be 120% committed to their startup, whether it’s for the short or long term. They must also be adaptable and not overlook potential challenges. A final word to the upcoming innovators and industry disruptors: A final word to the upcoming innovators and industry disruptors: When engaging with investors, demonstrate your expertise and unwavering motivation. To build trust, be transparent in your dealings and forthright about the obstacles you face. Substantiate your claims with solid data to crown your efforts. Adopting this approach will significantly enhance your prospects of securing funding.

Which Founders Do Investors Trust? Insights From a Business Angel Who Invested in 52 Startups

Artificial intelligence (AI) changes the playing field for many industries. Companies may be well-advised to purchase an AI startup to expand their capabilities or increase revenue by serving others in their industry. If you’re acquiring a brand already in place, you must consider a few factors to create a successful transition when merging the AI startup with your current operations. Evaluate Intellectual Property (IP) AI startups have increased in value, with a 60% higher cost than non-AI counterparts. You’ll be investing a lot of money, but these startups have little physical property to analyze. Instead, you must look at IP to evaluate the strength of proprietary data. Does the startup have unique algorithms with copyrights, trademarks, and patents? Ownership: Does the startup own the intellectual property rights? If it licenses an idea or software from another entity, it could create a bottleneck in acquiring the technology you most want.
Patents: Look at what patents the company owns. They should be crucial to how thestartup operates. Patents that are pending or missing that are vital to processescould add expense or create issues.
Competitors: Do any of the company’s processes or services impact competitorsnegatively? Perhaps another brand has a very similar patent to one pending by thestartup. Before acquiring an AI startup, do your due diligence to ensure it’s the deal you think it is. Analyze Scalability Machine learning technology is still a rapidly changing field. Make sure anything you invest in can scale with company growth and industry changes. Analyze performance based on likely scenarios.
See if the technology integrates with current systems.
Consider additional expenditures to create infrastructure during the next five years. If a company’s assets become outdated shortly after you buy them, the acquisition costs might not be worth the investment. Strategic buyers likely want to acquire the company because of a need the startup meets. Will the software perform as well in the future? Retain Top Talent The skilled people who got the company going are part of the benefit of buying a startup. How can you keep the best employees after you buy it? Offer competitive salaries and benefits if they stay.
Give them a chance for personal growth and pay for skills development.
Create a clear path to promotion. Before acquiring another brand, ensure you offer an inclusive workplace with a strong company culture that embraces newcomers. With the high demand for specialists, keeping the most skilled workers is crucial to acquisition success. Comply With Data Privacy Laws When you acquire a startup, you must ensure you are complying with the data privacy laws they fall under. Compliance varies by industry and depends on the people you serve. Some regulations you may need to consider include: General Data Regulation Protection (GDPR) Act, which applies if you serve European Union members


California Consumer Privacy Act


Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act for health care entities Be transparent with customer data gained through acquisition and allow them to opt-out if desired. Plan the Integration Plan the transition when you’re closer to the purchase date and closing. Create a team to welcome new employees and reach out to customers.


Keep stakeholders apprised of the process.


Set and track deadlines for integration. A seamless merger requires careful planning and pivoting when needed as bottlenecks occur. AI Startup Acquisition Is Worth the Effort Companies that must implement AI capabilities into what they already offer their customers or to better manage client relationships are better served working with a startup already adept at navigating AI. Acquiring a company and integrating its processes into what you already do requires careful planning and effort but will be beneficial in the long run. You’ll gain talented people who know about technologies current workers don’t know about, and they’ll gain a more secure job with an already established brand. Artificial intelligence (AI) changes the playing field for many industries. Companies may be well-advised to purchase an AI startup to expand their capabilities or increase revenue by serving others in their industry. If you’re acquiring a brand already in place, you must consider a few factors to create a successful transition when merging the AI startup with your current operations. Evaluate Intellectual Property (IP) AI startups have increased in value, with a 60% higher cost than non-AI counterparts. You’ll be investing a lot of money, but these startups have little physical property to analyze. Instead, you must look at IP to evaluate the strength of proprietary data. Does the startup have unique algorithms with copyrights, trademarks, and patents? 60% higher cost than non-AI 60% higher cost than non-AI Ownership: Does the startup own the intellectual property rights? If it licenses an idea or software from another entity, it could create a bottleneck in acquiring the technology you most want. Patents: Look at what patents the company owns. They should be crucial to how thestartup operates. Patents that are pending or missing that are vital to processescould add expense or create issues. Competitors: Do any of the company’s processes or services impact competitorsnegatively? Perhaps another brand has a very similar patent to one pending by thestartup. Ownership: Does the startup own the intellectual property rights? If it licenses an idea or software from another entity, it could create a bottleneck in acquiring the technology you most want. Patents: Look at what patents the company owns. They should be crucial to how the startup operates. Patents that are pending or missing that are vital to processes could add expense or create issues. Competitors: Do any of the company’s processes or services impact competitors negatively? Perhaps another brand has a very similar patent to one pending by the startup. Before acquiring an AI startup, do your due diligence to ensure it’s the deal you think it is. Analyze Scalability Machine learning technology is still a rapidly changing field. Make sure anything you invest in can scale with company growth and industry changes. Analyze performance based on likely scenarios. See if the technology integrates with current systems. Consider additional expenditures to create infrastructure during the next five years. Analyze performance based on likely scenarios. See if the technology integrates with current systems. Consider additional expenditures to create infrastructure during the next five years. If a company’s assets become outdated shortly after you buy them, the acquisition costs might not be worth the investment. Strategic buyers likely want to acquire the company because of a need the startup meets. Will the software perform as well in the future? acquire the company because of a need acquire the company because of a need Retain Top Talent The skilled people who got the company going are part of the benefit of buying a startup. How can you keep the best employees after you buy it? Offer competitive salaries and benefits if they stay. Give them a chance for personal growth and pay for skills development. Create a clear path to promotion. Offer competitive salaries and benefits if they stay. Give them a chance for personal growth and pay for skills development. Create a clear path to promotion. Before acquiring another brand, ensure you offer an inclusive workplace with a strong company culture that embraces newcomers. With the high demand for specialists , keeping the most skilled workers is crucial to acquisition success. high demand for specialists high demand for specialists Comply With Data Privacy Laws When you acquire a startup, you must ensure you are complying with the data privacy laws they fall under. Compliance varies by industry and depends on the people you serve. Some regulations you may need to consider include: General Data Regulation Protection (GDPR) Act, which applies if you serve European Union members California Consumer Privacy Act Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act for health care entities General Data Regulation Protection (GDPR) Act, which applies if you serve European Union members General Data Regulation Protection (GDPR) Act, which applies if you serve European Union members California Consumer Privacy Act California Consumer Privacy Act Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act for health care entities Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act for health care entities Be transparent with customer data gained through acquisition and allow them to opt-out if desired. Plan the Integration Plan the transition when you’re closer to the purchase date and closing. Create a team to welcome new employees and reach out to customers. Keep stakeholders apprised of the process. Set and track deadlines for integration. Create a team to welcome new employees and reach out to customers. Create a team to welcome new employees and reach out to customers. Keep stakeholders apprised of the process. Keep stakeholders apprised of the process. Set and track deadlines for integration. Set and track deadlines for integration. A seamless merger requires careful planning and pivoting when needed as bottlenecks occur. AI Startup Acquisition Is Worth the Effort Companies that must implement AI capabilities into what they already offer their customers or to better manage client relationships are better served working with a startup already adept at navigating AI. Acquiring a company and integrating its processes into what you already do requires careful planning and effort but will be beneficial in the long run. You’ll gain talented people who know about technologies current workers don’t know about, and they’ll gain a more secure job with an already established brand.

Navigating the Complexities of an AI Startup Acquisition

Cracking the Code of Organic Reach: A Startup's Guide to Sustainable Growth

Global startup funding has hit its lowest level in five years, according to Crunchbase. Rather than prioritizing rapid growth, founders are now concentrating on achieving profitability quickly. Merging traditional VC approaches with venture lending could provide a flexible solution for cash-strapped businesses, says Andrey Lebedev. As a venture partner at U.S.-based VC funds, such as Amadeo Global, he is working on ad-hoc financing strategies for innovative companies. Venture capital has become expensive for tech founders who don’t want to give away substantial equity, says Lebedev. “Also, high interest rates have made it more challenging for venture funds to invest in startups,” he added. Lebedev emphasizes a shift in focus for startups. “Tech companies are looking to diversify financing sources, including bank loans and fintech platforms,” he said. In Europe, for example, state programs provided around 60 billion euros in 2023 to tech founders. In contrast, venture-funded platforms are more prominent in the U.S. Another popular strategic tool – venture debt – supports sustainable growth and long-term success for startups and their investors. The Future of Venture Debt After SVB “SVB's failure in March 2023 raised concerns about the future of venture debt, a product SVB had championed,” Lebedev said. Venture debt is designed specifically for startups and high-growth companies that have already secured VC equity funding. It provides these companies with access to additional capital without diluting the ownership stakes of their founders and investors. “However, SVB's demise was not due to the inherent flaws of venture debt but rather it was a result of a classic bank run, exacerbated by the high concentration of its customer base in startups and VC funds,” Lebedev noted. Despite this setback, venture debt remains a compelling and vital financing tool for startups.” Typically, venture debt is used to extend the runway between equity rounds, finance capital expenditures, or provide a buffer during periods of uncertainty. Despite SVB’s collapse, the fundamental advantages of venture debt remain intact. The demand for non-dilutive capital solutions continues to grow, driven by startups' need for flexible financing options that support their growth without compromising ownership and control. “As the market evolves, we can expect increased diversification, innovation, and risk management to further bolster the appeal of venture debt,” Lebedev said. Moreover, other financial institutions and specialized venture debt providers are well-positioned to fill the void left by SVB. The Hybrid Model: A New Approach Amadeo’s hybrid venture-credit model combines venture debt with mezzanine financing. This approach allows for shorter investment horizons (2-3 years) compared to traditional venture capital (5-7 years), and with similar return expectations. “Mezzanine financing and debt financing options, including securitization via options, provide control over loan repayment and offer a more attractive proposition for startups and investors alike,” Lebedev said. Similar investment firms use the DSE (Deposit, Account, Control) system, which facilitates automatic loan repayments by debiting money from a company's account upon receipt.  While this system is relatively new to the U.S., similar mechanisms have long been in use globally, says Lebedev. He compares the U.S. venture financing environment with Europe’s. “Advanced payment systems and financial discipline offer unique advantages to investors,” he said. “In the U.S., credit ratings and reputational risks play a significant role in business development, making the hybrid venture-credit model more appealing as it provides a structured approach to funding.” The Evolution of Venture Financing Lebedev believes that the hybrid venture-credit model is the future of startup investment. “This model effectively addresses the need for flexible funding and rapid business expansion, without significant equity dilution for founders,” he said. As technology advances and AI-driven financial analysis becomes more prevalent, funds that adopt these innovative practices gain a competitive edge. SVB’s collapse precipitated a wave of innovation and new entrants into the venture debt space. New players are often more agile and better equipped to understand the unique needs of startups, providing customized solutions that can offer even greater value. “Amadeo’s hybrid venture-credit model offers a compelling alternative to traditional venture capital, providing flexible and growth-oriented funding solutions,” Lebedev added. This innovative approach has the potential to steer the evolution of venture financing, more effectively catering to the needs of startups and small businesses in a tough economic environment. Global startup funding has hit its lowest level in five years, according to Crunchbase. Rather than prioritizing rapid growth, founders are now concentrating on achieving profitability quickly. Global startup funding has hit its lowest level in five years, according to Crunchbase. Rather than prioritizing rapid growth, founders are now concentrating on achieving profitability quickly. Global startup funding has hit its lowest level in five years, according to Crunchbase . Rather than prioritizing rapid growth, founders are now concentrating on achieving profitability quickly. according to Crunchbase according to Crunchbase Merging traditional VC approaches with venture lending could provide a flexible solution for cash-strapped businesses, says Andrey Lebedev. As a venture partner at U.S.-based VC funds, such as Amadeo Global, he is working on ad-hoc financing strategies for innovative companies. Venture capital has become expensive for tech founders who don’t want to give away substantial equity, says Lebedev. “Also, high interest rates have made it more challenging for venture funds to invest in startups,” he added. Lebedev emphasizes a shift in focus for startups. “Tech companies are looking to diversify financing sources, including bank loans and fintech platforms,” he said. In Europe, for example, state programs provided around 60 billion euros in 2023 to tech founders. In contrast, venture-funded platforms are more prominent in the U.S. Another popular strategic tool – venture debt – supports sustainable growth and long-term success for startups and their investors. The Future of Venture Debt After SVB The Future of Venture Debt After SVB “SVB's failure in March 2023 raised concerns about the future of venture debt, a product SVB had championed,” Lebedev said. Venture debt is designed specifically for startups and high-growth companies that have already secured VC equity funding. It provides these companies with access to additional capital without diluting the ownership stakes of their founders and investors. “However, SVB's demise was not due to the inherent flaws of venture debt but rather it was a result of a classic bank run, exacerbated by the high concentration of its customer base in startups and VC funds,” Lebedev noted. Despite this setback, venture debt remains a compelling and vital financing tool for startups.” Typically, venture debt is used to extend the runway between equity rounds, finance capital expenditures, or provide a buffer during periods of uncertainty. Despite SVB’s collapse, the fundamental advantages of venture debt remain intact. The demand for non-dilutive capital solutions continues to grow, driven by startups' need for flexible financing options that support their growth without compromising ownership and control. “As the market evolves, we can expect increased diversification, innovation, and risk management to further bolster the appeal of venture debt,” Lebedev said. Moreover, other financial institutions and specialized venture debt providers are well-positioned to fill the void left by SVB. The Hybrid Model: A New Approach The Hybrid Model: A New Approach Amadeo’s hybrid venture-credit model combines venture debt with mezzanine financing. This approach allows for shorter investment horizons (2-3 years) compared to traditional venture capital (5-7 years), and with similar return expectations. “Mezzanine financing and debt financing options, including securitization via options, provide control over loan repayment and offer a more attractive proposition for startups and investors alike,” Lebedev said. Similar investment firms use the DSE (Deposit, Account, Control) system, which facilitates automatic loan repayments by debiting money from a company's account upon receipt.  While this system is relatively new to the U.S., similar mechanisms have long been in use globally, says Lebedev. He compares the U.S. venture financing environment with Europe’s. “Advanced payment systems and financial discipline offer unique advantages to investors,” he said. “In the U.S., credit ratings and reputational risks play a significant role in business development, making the hybrid venture-credit model more appealing as it provides a structured approach to funding.” The Evolution of Venture Financing The Evolution of Venture Financing Lebedev believes that the hybrid venture-credit model is the future of startup investment. “This model effectively addresses the need for flexible funding and rapid business expansion, without significant equity dilution for founders,” he said. As technology advances and AI-driven financial analysis becomes more prevalent, funds that adopt these innovative practices gain a competitive edge. SVB’s collapse precipitated a wave of innovation and new entrants into the venture debt space. New players are often more agile and better equipped to understand the unique needs of startups, providing customized solutions that can offer even greater value. “Amadeo’s hybrid venture-credit model offers a compelling alternative to traditional venture capital, providing flexible and growth-oriented funding solutions,” Lebedev added. This innovative approach has the potential to steer the evolution of venture financing, more effectively catering to the needs of startups and small businesses in a tough economic environment.

Shaping the Future of Startup Funding With a New Hybrid Venture-Credit Model

একটি নতুন হাইব্রিড ভেঞ্চার-ক্রেডিট মডেলের মাধ্যমে স্টার্টআপ ফান্ডিং এর ভবিষ্যত গঠন করা

Die Zukunft der Startup-Finanzierung mit einem neuen hybriden Venture-Credit-Modell gestalten

Dando forma al futuro de la financiación inicial con un nuevo modelo híbrido de riesgo y crédito

Façonner l’avenir du financement des startups avec un nouveau modèle hybride de crédit-risque

नए हाइब्रिड वेंचर-क्रेडिट मॉडल के साथ स्टार्टअप फंडिंग के भविष्य को आकार देना

新しいハイブリッドベンチャークレジットモデルでスタートアップ資金調達の未来を形作る

새로운 하이브리드 벤처-신용 모델로 스타트업 자금 조달의 미래 형성

Moldando o futuro do financiamento de startups com um novo modelo híbrido de crédito de risco

Формирование будущего финансирования стартапов с помощью новой гибридной модели венчурного кредитования

Yeni Hibrit Girişim-Kredi Modeli ile Startup Finansmanının Geleceğini Şekillendirmek

Định hình tương lai của nguồn tài trợ khởi nghiệp với mô hình tín dụng mạo hiểm kết hợp mới

通过新的混合风险信贷模式塑造初创企业融资的未来

How Startups Can Bolster Defenses as Cyber Threats Loom in Cloud Era

So You Want To Be On A Startup Board of Directors

I used to believe that software for creators was somewhat oversaturated — and upon doing more research, I found out that I was wrong. The Evolution of the Creator Economy First, let’s get the definition out of the way — the “Creator Economy” is not about dancing TikTokers or Instagram influencers partying on yachts. In fact, the largest share of content creators are small businesses. Thus, the “Creator Economy” refers to independent businesses and side-hustles launched by individuals who are looking to earn an income off of their knowledge and skills through digital mediums. To give you an idea of how fast the sector has grown since 2011, take a look at how much creators have earned on Gumroad as of 2020 👇 This growth is being driven by: how we create and consume content
access to new software and media platforms that empower creators
new ways of making money from your work Social Media and The Rise of Creators Initially, social media enabled people to build large audiences and monetization came from brand deals or view count. In this old web economy, earning a living from your work was only possible if you could reach millions. Therefore, it was all dependent on scale. The Move towards Direct Monetization Through social media, creators owned nothing, their content belonged to the platforms. As a result, creators began splitting their efforts across multiple mediums (e.g.newsletters, courses, podcasts) to monetize their audiences directly, without being solely reliant on brand deals and ad revenue. This is when things started shifting. Creators as Owners Through alternative ways to monetize their audience, creators began to realize if they owned the distribution, they could monetize much more differently. In the old world (e.g. instagram, youtube, tiktok), the economics were different. You previously needed thousands, if not millions, of followers to earn $1,000/month. Through direct monetization on new platforms (e.g. Twitch, Discord, OnlyFans, Patreon) you could achieve the same result with a much smaller audience. More and more of these new platforms are offering new ways for creators to make money by going straight to the end-user and offering something of value in exchange for their money. The Creator Economy Landscape Goldman Sachs estimates that the creator economy will double to $480 billion by 2027. Technology has and will continue to play a huge role in this, as it has lowered the barriers to content creation. Individuals are now free to choose which kind of work they take on (e.g. newsletters, livestreams, podcasts). “Earning a living as a creator is an evolution of the so-called gig economy facilitated by companies like Uber and TaskRabbit.”
-Sam Yam, Co-Founder of Patreon This has fueled demand, not only for content platforms, but also new services and tools that help creators manage their business. The Opportunity for Startups in the Creator Economy The shift towards diversified revenue streams and content ownership has resulted in the birth of a myriad of solutions and opportunities for creators, founders, and VCs. Creators have access to new technologies and platforms through which they can engage their audiences and monetize their content. Founders and VCs, recognizing the value of direct audience relationships, have focused on investing and developing tools to facilitate content creation, distribution, and monetization. Some of the business models that VCs are paying attention to are: B2B Services: this includes analytics tools, tools for managing communities and fan relationships, and services that help creators with operations (e.g. legal, accounting, or financing)


Premium Fan Experiences: platforms that facilitate the creation of unique, high-touch experiences for superfans. These can include virtual meet-and-greets, personal shout-outs, exclusive content, and more.


Education and Courses: Creators with specific expertise in can develop and sell courses or offer coaching and consulting services. One of the most overlooked characteristics of the creator economy is that creators are in fact media companies, and these companies require services, tech, and infrastructure to operate. So, do I think startups should build more software for creators? Definitely, yes. If you enjoyed this article, and you’d like to see more content like this, sign up for my newsletter here! I used to believe that software for creators was somewhat oversaturated — and upon doing more research, I found out that I was wrong. The Evolution of the Creator Economy First, let’s get the definition out of the way — the “Creator Economy” is not about dancing TikTokers or Instagram influencers partying on yachts. In fact, the largest share of content creators are small businesses. Thus, the “Creator Economy” refers to independent businesses and side-hustles launched by individuals who are looking to earn an income off of their knowledge and skills through digital mediums. To give you an idea of how fast the sector has grown since 2011, take a look at how much creators have earned on Gumroad as of 2020 👇 This growth is being driven by: how we create and consume content access to new software and media platforms that empower creators new ways of making money from your work how we create and consume content access to new software and media platforms that empower creators new ways of making money from your work Social Media and The Rise of Creators Initially, social media enabled people to build large audiences and monetization came from brand deals or view count. In this old web economy, earning a living from your work was only possible if you could reach millions. Therefore, it was all dependent on scale. The Move towards Direct Monetization Through social media, creators owned nothing, their content belonged to the platforms. As a result, creators began splitting their efforts across multiple mediums (e.g.newsletters, courses, podcasts) to monetize their audiences directly, without being solely reliant on brand deals and ad revenue. This is when things started shifting. Creators as Owners Through alternative ways to monetize their audience, creators began to realize if they owned the distribution, they could monetize much more differently. In the old world (e.g. instagram, youtube, tiktok), the economics were different. You previously needed thousands, if not millions, of followers to earn $1,000/month. Through direct monetization on new platforms (e.g. Twitch, Discord, OnlyFans, Patreon) you could achieve the same result with a much smaller audience. More and more of these new platforms are offering new ways for creators to make money by going straight to the end-user and offering something of value in exchange for their money. The Creator Economy Landscape Goldman Sachs estimates that the creator economy will double to $480 billion by 2027. Goldman Sachs Goldman Sachs Technology has and will continue to play a huge role in this, as it has lowered the barriers to content creation. Individuals are now free to choose which kind of work they take on (e.g. newsletters, livestreams, podcasts). “Earning a living as a creator is an evolution of the so-called gig economy facilitated by companies like Uber and TaskRabbit.” -Sam Yam, Co-Founder of Patreon “Earning a living as a creator is an evolution of the so-called gig economy facilitated by companies like Uber and TaskRabbit.” “Earning a living as a creator is an evolution of the so-called gig economy facilitated by companies like Uber and TaskRabbit.” -Sam Yam, Co-Founder of Patreon This has fueled demand, not only for content platforms, but also new services and tools that help creators manage their business. The Opportunity for Startups in the Creator Economy The Opportunity for Startups in the Creator Economy The shift towards diversified revenue streams and content ownership has resulted in the birth of a myriad of solutions and opportunities for creators, founders, and VCs. Creators have access to new technologies and platforms through which they can engage their audiences and monetize their content. Founders and VCs, recognizing the value of direct audience relationships, have focused on investing and developing tools to facilitate content creation, distribution, and monetization. Some of the business models that VCs are paying attention to are: paying attention to paying attention to B2B Services: this includes analytics tools, tools for managing communities and fan relationships, and services that help creators with operations (e.g. legal, accounting, or financing) Premium Fan Experiences: platforms that facilitate the creation of unique, high-touch experiences for superfans. These can include virtual meet-and-greets, personal shout-outs, exclusive content, and more. Education and Courses: Creators with specific expertise in can develop and sell courses or offer coaching and consulting services. B2B Services: this includes analytics tools, tools for managing communities and fan relationships, and services that help creators with operations (e.g. legal, accounting, or financing) B2B Services: this includes a nalytics tools, tools for managing communities and fan relationships, and services that help creators with operations (e.g. legal, accounting, or financing) B2B Services: a Premium Fan Experiences: platforms that facilitate the creation of unique, high-touch experiences for superfans. These can include virtual meet-and-greets, personal shout-outs, exclusive content, and more. Premium Fan Experiences: platforms that facilitate the creation of unique, high-touch experiences for superfans. These can include virtual meet-and-greets, personal shout-outs, exclusive content, and more. Premium Fan Experiences: Education and Courses: Creators with specific expertise in can develop and sell courses or offer coaching and consulting services. Education and Courses: Creators with specific expertise in can develop and sell courses or offer coaching and consulting services. Education and Courses: One of the most overlooked characteristics of the creator economy is that creators are in fact media companies, and these companies require services, tech, and infrastructure to operate. So, do I think startups should build more software for creators? Definitely, yes. If you enjoyed this article, and you’d like to see more content like this, sign up for my newsletter here ! here here

Are Startups Building Enough for the Creator Economy?

There are hundreds — if not thousands — of regional and global startup competitions and pitch days held every year. These competitions range from local events organized by universities or business communities to high-profile international contests hosted by renowned industry players. Founders can use these events to showcase their startups and secure a grant or attract venture money. The winner of the Startup Battlefield by TechCrunch, for example, receives a $100,000 equity-free prize; the winner of the Startup World Cup gets $1 million in investment. Having a good idea and a product that sells isn’t enough, though. It’s more about the art of presenting. I’ve been a judge at the Infoshare Contest, and here are my three tips to increase your chances of winning a pitch competition. Tip #1 Find Out Details About Venue, Adjust Pitch Find out where exactly you’ll be performing: the size of a venue and the expected number of guests. Ask about the screen that will be used for presentations and other stage arrangements, including lighting and sound equipment. If the venue is small and intimate, you should focus on creating a more conversational and interactive presentation style, whereas in a larger venue, you may need to use more impactful visuals. By aligning your presentation with the technical setup, meanwhile, you can avoid potential glitches or distractions during the pitch. If there’s an opportunity to rehearse in the actual venue, make your team know the space and test the equipment, take it. During the Infoshare Contest, some startups had long presentations overloaded with small-print text. I couldn’t see everything clearly from my seat, and it was hard to read so much while staying focused on the pitch. It’s always better to have a simple presentation with eye-catching visuals, especially if the venue is big and you’re short on time. Also: Please, speak up. Tip #2. Check Contest Criteria Look through the website of a competition and its social media and talk to organizers. Your goal is to find out the criteria that juries will use to assess startups. The judges will be looking for these specific criteria, and if you don’t tailor the presentation to highlight them, you will just miss your chance to win. Similarly, this will help you identify your potential weaknesses. Perhaps, on paper, you don’t appear to be the ideal winner for the organizers of this particular competition: Your company might not meet one of the criteria. However, you may still prepare an argument that can convince the jury that it isn’t critical in your case. The Infoshare Contest, for example, listed four main criteria on its website: business potential, team, product innovation level, and performance. Participants should have read about them and addressed them in their presentations, both verbally and visually. Unfortunately, not every startup did so. The organizers also said startups would have 3 minutes for a presentation and 2 minutes to answer questions. Some teams failed to complete their pitch within the given time frame, losing the chance to finish their story. So, practice making your pitch fit within a specified time limit. Tip #3. Try to Stand Out Dozens or sometimes hundreds of teams pitch their startups at contests. That’s why, by the time the last startup presents its pitch, the jury might have already forgotten about the companies that presented at the beginning of the day. One of the most important tasks is to capture the attention of the audience and the jury and do something memorable. I still remember the founders of the startup Genotic who came onto the Infoshare Contest stage in chemical protective suits. Their project was related to biology and chemistry, and their attires created the right atmosphere and were memorable. Another startup, upLIFT, produces clothes that support the musculoskeletal system, and its team showcased the wearables using a manikin. Yes, it’s simple, but it helps (Genotic and upLIFT took 1st and 2nd place in the contest). There are hundreds — if not thousands — of regional and global startup competitions and pitch days held every year. These competitions range from local events organized by universities or business communities to high-profile international contests hosted by renowned industry players. Founders can use these events to showcase their startups and secure a grant or attract venture money. The winner of the Startup Battlefield by TechCrunch, for example, receives a $100,000 equity-free prize; the winner of the Startup World Cup gets $1 million in investment. $100,000 $1 million Having a good idea and a product that sells isn’t enough, though. It’s more about the art of presenting. I’ve been a judge at the Infoshare Contest, and here are my three tips to increase your chances of winning a pitch competition. Tip #1 Find Out Details About Venue, Adjust Pitch Tip Find out where exactly you’ll be performing: the size of a venue and the expected number of guests. Ask about the screen that will be used for presentations and other stage arrangements, including lighting and sound equipment. If the venue is small and intimate, you should focus on creating a more conversational and interactive presentation style, whereas in a larger venue, you may need to use more impactful visuals. By aligning your presentation with the technical setup, meanwhile, you can avoid potential glitches or distractions during the pitch. If there’s an opportunity to rehearse in the actual venue, make your team know the space and test the equipment, take it. During the Infoshare Contest, some startups had long presentations overloaded with small-print text. I couldn’t see everything clearly from my seat, and it was hard to read so much while staying focused on the pitch. It’s always better to have a simple presentation with eye-catching visuals, especially if the venue is big and you’re short on time. Also: Please, speak up. Tip #2. Check Contest Criteria Tip Look through the website of a competition and its social media and talk to organizers. Your goal is to find out the criteria that juries will use to assess startups. The judges will be looking for these specific criteria, and if you don’t tailor the presentation to highlight them, you will just miss your chance to win. Similarly, this will help you identify your potential weaknesses. Perhaps, on paper, you don’t appear to be the ideal winner for the organizers of this particular competition: Your company might not meet one of the criteria. However, you may still prepare an argument that can convince the jury that it isn’t critical in your case. The Infoshare Contest, for example, listed four main criteria on its website: business potential, team, product innovation level, and performance. Participants should have read about them and addressed them in their presentations, both verbally and visually. Unfortunately, not every startup did so. The organizers also said startups would have 3 minutes for a presentation and 2 minutes to answer questions. Some teams failed to complete their pitch within the given time frame, losing the chance to finish their story. So, practice making your pitch fit within a specified time limit. 3 minutes 2 minutes Tip #3. Try to Stand Out Tip Dozens or sometimes hundreds of teams pitch their startups at contests. That’s why, by the time the last startup presents its pitch, the jury might have already forgotten about the companies that presented at the beginning of the day. One of the most important tasks is to capture the attention of the audience and the jury and do something memorable. I still remember the founders of the startup Genotic who came onto the Infoshare Contest stage in chemical protective suits. Their project was related to biology and chemistry, and their attires created the right atmosphere and were memorable. Another startup, upLIFT, produces clothes that support the musculoskeletal system, and its team showcased the wearables using a manikin. Yes, it’s simple, but it helps (Genotic and upLIFT took 1st and 2nd place in the contest).

Here’s How to Win Startup Pitch Competitions: 3 Tips From a Jury Member

Painkillers, Vitamins, or Dopamine - Which One is Your Startup, and What Strategy Should You Choose?

ব্যথানাশক, ভিটামিন, বা ডোপামিন - কোনটি আপনার স্টার্টআপ, এবং আপনার কোন কৌশল বেছে নেওয়া উচিত?

Schmerzmittel, Vitamine oder Dopamin – was ist für Ihr Startup geeignet und welche Strategie sollten Sie wählen?

Analgésicos, vitaminas o dopamina: ¿cuál es su startup y qué estrategia debería elegir?

Analgésiques, vitamines ou dopamine : laquelle est votre startup et quelle stratégie devriez-vous choisir ?

दर्द निवारक, विटामिन या डोपामाइन - आपका स्टार्टअप कौन सा है और आपको कौन सी रणनीति चुननी चाहिए?

鎮痛剤、ビタミン、ドーパミン - あなたのスタートアップはどれですか? また、どのような戦略を選択すべきですか?

진통제, 비타민 또는 도파민 - 귀하의 스타트업은 무엇이며 어떤 전략을 선택해야 합니까?

Analgésicos, vitaminas ou dopamina – qual é a sua startup e qual estratégia você deve escolher?

Обезболивающие, витамины или дофамин — какой ваш стартап и какую стратегию выбрать?

Ağrı Kesiciler, Vitaminler veya Dopamin – Hangisi Girişiminiz ve Hangi Stratejiyi Seçmelisiniz?

Thuốc giảm đau, Vitamin hoặc Dopamine - Bạn nên khởi nghiệp bằng loại nào và bạn nên chọn chiến lược nào?

止痛药、维生素还是多巴胺——哪一个是您的初创企业，您应该选择哪种策略？

Frontend Architecture Pitfalls in Startups: Lessons From Experience

For startups and midsize organizations, flat structures allow you to be efficient and innovative Some people say flat structures cause chaos in organizations. And while that can certainly be true, my experience has been different. After years of working for horizontal and vertical hierarchies, I realized I prefer the former. At Nokia, for example, agreeing on the simplest matters involved several offices and many meetings. Since I’ve always wanted to found a tech company, when I did it back in 2005, I opted for horizontal management. Ten years later, I started another company with the same organizational style, and I never looked back. While flat organizational structures are not for everyone, they do work. In this article, I’ll explain what makes a successful flat organization structure, who thrives in it, and share examples of positive business outcomes. Why it works Flat structure organizations allow employees to have a say in how they do the work and provide more opportunities to showcase their talents. And that’s exactly what motivates people from within. According to self-determination theory, all of us have innate psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. And we can fulfill those needs, we feel happier and can sustain our motivation for a long time. Looking back, I see how the principles of autonomy, competence, and relatedness are reflected in our corporate culture. These might be the very foundations of a successful flat-structure organization. Let’s dig deeper and see how each principle contributes. Autonomy Flat structure organizations give people much more autonomy in their jobs. Autonomy leads to increased accountability, making employees feel more important and involved in their company. While it’s not always possible to allow employees to choose tasks (after all, someone has to do the grunt work) or the people to work with, we can give them freedom over how and when they complete them. I’m not the leader who tells employees how to do their jobs: they’re the experts, so they should know better. As long as they can deliver results, I don’t care what their workflow looks like. I also believe employees’ schedules should be flexible. Let them work when they’re most productive or have an opportunity. They are humans. They may need that slow morning walk with their dog to improve their mental health. Competence The human urge to improve and learn is another intrinsic motivator. People are motivated by the sense of accomplishment and progress they experience as they develop their skills. Because a flat structure organization has few levels of middle management or none, it’s easier to recognize team members’ talents. As a result, managers can assign projects that speak to the team members’ strengths while encouraging growth. Employees can also easily champion their ideas. An engineer who has been with us for several years felt a little stagnated in her role. She proposed sharing her testing expertise on YouTube to HR. The marketing team jumped in on the same day. By the next week, we released our first video. This wouldn’t have been possible if our organization was an unwieldy bureaucratic machine where teammates were reluctant to promote ideas from the bottom up. Relatedness Fulfilling employees’ needs for relatedness  is about making them feel supported, appreciated, and involved. That’s when they feel like what they do is significant to the rest of the team and organization. Unlike hierarchical models, flat organizational structures eliminate rigid divisions, encouraging open communication and collaboration. Team members feel valued as contributors, not cogs in a machine. This fosters a sense of belonging and teamwork. How we do it It’s important to note that a flat structure doesn’t work for everyone. It does for us, but we do have to have the following in place: Crystal clear job titles and descriptions
There’s no confusion about whom to contact and who’s accountable for what. We’re not a holacracy where roles are flexible. While there are no department heads at Redwerk, we do have some employees in managerial positions. This helps keep things in order and reduces the number of people messaging me, the founder, for trivial matters.


Well-documented workflows
While they can change with new people bringing fresh ideas, it’s important to document these innovations and ensure there’s an up-to-date and easily accessible resource hub.


Being selective about who we hire
Hiring becomes more difficult because you need experts with particular soft skills, such as self-reliance, initiative, and superb organization. When we hire, we look for those who are comfortable managing their time and workload without a supervisor constantly checking in. Final Thoughts Flat organization structures are a great fit for startups and midsize businesses that want to be fast and innovative. They offer a natural breeding ground for the principles of autonomy, competence, and relatedness that are key for keeping your employees committed long-term. But they come with a catch, and it’s up to you to tackle or forgo it. Image source: Cine Insomnia/Pexels For startups and midsize organizations, flat structures allow you to be efficient and innovative Some people say flat structures cause chaos in organizations. And while that can certainly be true, my experience has been different. After years of working for horizontal and vertical hierarchies, I realized I prefer the former. At Nokia, for example, agreeing on the simplest matters involved several offices and many meetings. Since I’ve always wanted to found a tech company, when I did it back in 2005, I opted for horizontal management. Ten years later, I started another company with the same organizational style, and I never looked back. While flat organizational structures are not for everyone, they do work. In this article, I’ll explain what makes a successful flat organization structure, who thrives in it, and share examples of positive business outcomes. Why it works Flat structure organizations allow employees to have a say in how they do the work and provide more opportunities to showcase their talents. And that’s exactly what motivates people from within. According to self-determination theory, all of us have innate psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. And we can fulfill those needs, we feel happier and can sustain our motivation for a long time. Looking back, I see how the principles of autonomy, competence, and relatedness are reflected in our corporate culture. These might be the very foundations of a successful flat-structure organization. Let’s dig deeper and see how each principle contributes. Autonomy Flat structure organizations give people much more autonomy in their jobs. Autonomy leads to increased accountability, making employees feel more important and involved in their company. While it’s not always possible to allow employees to choose tasks (after all, someone has to do the grunt work) or the people to work with, we can give them freedom over how and when they complete them. I’m not the leader who tells employees how to do their jobs: they’re the experts, so they should know better. As long as they can deliver results, I don’t care what their workflow looks like. I also believe employees’ schedules should be flexible. Let them work when they’re most productive or have an opportunity. They are humans. They may need that slow morning walk with their dog to improve their mental health. Competence The human urge to improve and learn is another intrinsic motivator. People are motivated by the sense of accomplishment and progress they experience as they develop their skills. Because a flat structure organization has few levels of middle management or none, it’s easier to recognize team members’ talents. As a result, managers can assign projects that speak to the team members’ strengths while encouraging growth. Employees can also easily champion their ideas. An engineer who has been with us for several years felt a little stagnated in her role. She proposed sharing her testing expertise on YouTube to HR. The marketing team jumped in on the same day. By the next week, we released our first video. This wouldn’t have been possible if our organization was an unwieldy bureaucratic machine where teammates were reluctant to promote ideas from the bottom up. Relatedness Fulfilling employees’ needs for relatedness  is about making them feel supported, appreciated, and involved. That’s when they feel like what they do is significant to the rest of the team and organization. Unlike hierarchical models, flat organizational structures eliminate rigid divisions, encouraging open communication and collaboration. Team members feel valued as contributors, not cogs in a machine. This fosters a sense of belonging and teamwork. How we do it It’s important to note that a flat structure doesn’t work for everyone. It does for us, but we do have to have the following in place: Crystal clear job titles and descriptions
There’s no confusion about whom to contact and who’s accountable for what. We’re not a holacracy where roles are flexible. While there are no department heads at Redwerk, we do have some employees in managerial positions. This helps keep things in order and reduces the number of people messaging me, the founder, for trivial matters. Well-documented workflows
While they can change with new people bringing fresh ideas, it’s important to document these innovations and ensure there’s an up-to-date and easily accessible resource hub. Being selective about who we hire
Hiring becomes more difficult because you need experts with particular soft skills, such as self-reliance, initiative, and superb organization. When we hire, we look for those who are comfortable managing their time and workload without a supervisor constantly checking in. Crystal clear job titles and descriptions
There’s no confusion about whom to contact and who’s accountable for what. We’re not a holacracy where roles are flexible. While there are no department heads at Redwerk, we do have some employees in managerial positions. This helps keep things in order and reduces the number of people messaging me, the founder, for trivial matters. Crystal clear job titles and descriptions There’s no confusion about whom to contact and who’s accountable for what. We’re not a holacracy where roles are flexible. While there are no department heads at Redwerk, we do have some employees in managerial positions. This helps keep things in order and reduces the number of people messaging me, the founder, for trivial matters. Crystal clear job titles and descriptions holacracy Well-documented workflows
While they can change with new people bringing fresh ideas, it’s important to document these innovations and ensure there’s an up-to-date and easily accessible resource hub. Well-documented workflows While they can change with new people bringing fresh ideas, it’s important to document these innovations and ensure there’s an up-to-date and easily accessible resource hub. Well-documented workflows Being selective about who we hire
Hiring becomes more difficult because you need experts with particular soft skills, such as self-reliance, initiative, and superb organization. When we hire, we look for those who are comfortable managing their time and workload without a supervisor constantly checking in. Being selective about who we hire Hiring becomes more difficult because you need experts with particular soft skills, such as self-reliance, initiative, and superb organization. When we hire, we look for those who are comfortable managing their time and workload without a supervisor constantly checking in. Being selective about who we hire Final Thoughts Flat organization structures are a great fit for startups and midsize businesses that want to be fast and innovative. They offer a natural breeding ground for the principles of autonomy, competence, and relatedness that are key for keeping your employees committed long-term. But they come with a catch, and it’s up to you to tackle or forgo it. Image source: Cine Insomnia/Pexels Image source: Cine Insomnia/Pexels

Why Flat Organizational Structures Drive Innovation in Startups

Overcoming Common Challenges Faced by Tech Startups

Tackling API Testing Challenges in a Fast-Paced Startup Environment With Keploy

If you watch a market hibernate long enough, eventually, you will witness its awakening, followed by the emergence of new projects. Something similar has been happening to the blockchain market for the past few months. This situation is typical for any market entering its bullish phase: Market capitalization goes up, and updated multipliers attract the interest of investors and developers alike. Startup owners flood the market with new ideas and products. A new era begins. Poetic statements aside, creating a fresh startup might leave its owner with nothing but a shirt on their back. There are five mistakes that can ruin your product before it launches. For a detailed study of this topic, I recommend the book INSPIRED: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love by Marty Cagan. Five Fatal Mistakes In Bullish Development 1. Failure Of Leadership A team is only as good as its leader. Still, you can always benefit from someone else’s expertise, and you will absolutely have tasks to delegate. Your right-hand person in this quest is your blockchain product manager, so choose wisely. Your PM needs to have a solid understanding of blockchain technology, markets, and the regulatory landscape. But the most valuable asset is the ability to identify opportunities that offer real value to a customer. A value that transcends mere hype: Every market still has hundreds, if not more, unsolved issues. Knowing how to locate them and offer a solution is what we all look for in a PM. 2. I Can Sell Anything Just because you want to innovate something doesn’t mean you should. We have two words for you: New Coke. This is, hands down, the most disastrous example of a product failure, when something nobody asked for made its way to the market. Believe that you don’t want your product to become the New Coke of the blockchain market. Choosing the right product to build is arguably the most important call you will ever have to make. Product discovery is a whole discipline that combines elements of marketing, development, and sociology. Before rolling out a product or even an idea, you must spend time researching. Any book would suggest figuring out the pain points and needs of users. When it comes to the blockchain space, it’s the knowledge and user experience that can play a crucial part. How well do you and your PM know what a regular person from your target audience experiences when they interact with it? Use surveys, interviews, and prototype testing with potential users active in trading and investing—or use blockchain for other tasks. The issues may include security, wallet usability, transaction fees, trading strategies, and so on. Make sure your product truly answers the requests of the community. 3. What Works For Me Works For Everyone User-centric design is more of an issue than more of us realize. It’s crucial to remember who you are building the product for. It’s not just your team. Back in the day, Myspace was a huge platform that catered to the needs of the tech-savvy community. It offered personalization and complex UX design with many features. Yet, it couldn’t survive the competition when far less complicated Facebook and Twitter came around. Indeed, when it comes to products, the comfort of many will prevail over the individuality of a few. A user-friendly interface will go a long way, and it’s even more valid when we talk blockchain. This space is intimidating enough for newcomers. If you don’t believe it, just consider how many advantages it offers, yet it’s still not commonly adopted. Yes, we might revel in our technical knowledge, but if we create the product for ourselves, we would be the only ones using it. That is a UI/UX/design failure. Make sure to test the product with your target audience. If you want an average person to be comfortable with it, let them try it, let them explore it, and listen to the feedback. 4. Let’s Spend It All in One Place While the leadership team behind ScaleFactor attributes its problems to Covid-19, many former employees have said that the company focused on costly marketing strategies instead of responding to the customers’ expectations. To avoid the need to blame a global pandemic, concentrate on lean product development. Your minimum viable product has to address the core functionality. It can be a secure wallet or a user-friendly trading platform. When that’s done, continue improving the product gradually, according to the feedback. Prototype and test rapidly, mostly paying attention to the features and seeing what works best. All the improvements have to align with your key value proposition. When you have a core group of users, you will be able to provide agile and continuous delivery. Because the tech market and blockchain, in particular, develop rapidly, you will have to regularly update your product and add new features. But always start small. 5. Develop Now, Promote Later Here’s the pièce de résistance: marketing. It’s last but not least. Quite the contrary, marketing channels and potential should be studied prior to developing the product. You have to go into development knowing how, when, and where you are planning to market your product. Only then you will be free to focus on MVPs and roadmaps. It’s a simple case of “Who am I doing this for?” This is a question that every startup in blockchain or any other market has to face eventually. And it’s best to answer it right away. If you don’t find your audience and marketing channels now, you certainly won’t find them later. Applying this framework to the development of a blockchain product allows you to create a solution that not only takes advantage of the unique capabilities of the technology but also addresses user needs, fosters innovation, and adapts to the ever-changing landscape of the market. At the same time, it’s these five simple facts that help manage your initial funds and even save some for a pivot in case the original product falls short of your expectations. Follow me on LinkedIn. Check out my website. If you watch a market hibernate long enough, eventually, you will witness its awakening, followed by the emergence of new projects. Something similar has been happening to the blockchain market for the past few months. This situation is typical for any market entering its bullish phase: Market capitalization goes up, and updated multipliers attract the interest of investors and developers alike. Startup owners flood the market with new ideas and products. A new era begins. Poetic statements aside, creating a fresh startup might leave its owner with nothing but a shirt on their back. There are five mistakes that can ruin your product before it launches. There are five mistakes that can ruin your product before it launches. For a detailed study of this topic, I recommend the book INSPIRED: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love by Marty Cagan. INSPIRED: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love Five Fatal Mistakes In Bullish Development 1. Failure Of Leadership A team is only as good as its leader. Still, you can always benefit from someone else’s expertise, and you will absolutely have tasks to delegate. Your right-hand person in this quest is your blockchain product manager, so choose wisely. Your PM needs to have a solid understanding of blockchain technology, markets, and the regulatory landscape. But the most valuable asset is the ability to identify opportunities that offer real value to a customer. A value that transcends mere hype: Every market still has hundreds, if not more, unsolved issues. Knowing how to locate them and offer a solution is what we all look for in a PM. 2. I Can Sell Anything Just because you want to innovate something doesn’t mean you should. We have two words for you: New Coke . This is, hands down, the most disastrous example of a product failure, when something nobody asked for made its way to the market. Believe that you don’t want your product to become the New Coke of the blockchain market. New Coke Choosing the right product to build is arguably the most important call you will ever have to make. Product discovery is a whole discipline that combines elements of marketing, development, and sociology. Before rolling out a product or even an idea, you must spend time researching. Any book would suggest figuring out the pain points and needs of users. When it comes to the blockchain space, it’s the knowledge and user experience that can play a crucial part. How well do you and your PM know what a regular person from your target audience experiences when they interact with it? Use surveys, interviews, and prototype testing with potential users active in trading and investing—or use blockchain for other tasks. The issues may include security, wallet usability, transaction fees, trading strategies, and so on. Make sure your product truly answers the requests of the community. 3. What Works For Me Works For Everyone User-centric design is more of an issue than more of us realize. It’s crucial to remember who you are building the product for. It’s not just your team. Back in the day, Myspace was a huge platform that catered to the needs of the tech-savvy community. It offered personalization and complex UX design with many features. Yet, it couldn’t survive the competition when far less complicated Facebook and Twitter came around. Indeed, when it comes to products, the comfort of many will prevail over the individuality of a few. Facebook Twitter A user-friendly interface will go a long way, and it’s even more valid when we talk blockchain. This space is intimidating enough for newcomers. If you don’t believe it, just consider how many advantages it offers, yet it’s still not commonly adopted. Yes, we might revel in our technical knowledge, but if we create the product for ourselves, we would be the only ones using it. That is a UI/UX/design failure. Make sure to test the product with your target audience. If you want an average person to be comfortable with it, let them try it, let them explore it, and listen to the feedback. 4. Let’s Spend It All in One Place While the leadership team behind ScaleFactor attributes its problems to Covid-19, many former employees have said that the company focused on costly marketing strategies instead of responding to the customers’ expectations. ScaleFactor To avoid the need to blame a global pandemic, concentrate on lean product development . Your minimum viable product has to address the core functionality. It can be a secure wallet or a user-friendly trading platform. When that’s done, continue improving the product gradually, according to the feedback. product development Prototype and test rapidly, mostly paying attention to the features and seeing what works best. All the improvements have to align with your key value proposition. When you have a core group of users, you will be able to provide agile and continuous delivery. Because the tech market and blockchain, in particular, develop rapidly, you will have to regularly update your product and add new features. But always start small. 5. Develop Now, Promote Later Here’s the pièce de résistance: marketing. It’s last but not least. Quite the contrary, marketing channels and potential should be studied prior to developing the product. You have to go into development knowing how, when, and where you are planning to market your product. Only then you will be free to focus on MVPs and roadmaps. It’s a simple case of “Who am I doing this for?” This is a question that every startup in blockchain or any other market has to face eventually. And it’s best to answer it right away. If you don’t find your audience and marketing channels now, you certainly won’t find them later. Applying this framework to the development of a blockchain product allows you to create a solution that not only takes advantage of the unique capabilities of the technology but also addresses user needs, fosters innovation, and adapts to the ever-changing landscape of the market. At the same time, it’s these five simple facts that help manage your initial funds and even save some for a pivot in case the original product falls short of your expectations. Follow me on LinkedIn . Check out my website . LinkedIn website

Five Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Blockchain Startup Before It Launches

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