Forums Search

It’s true. Startup accelerators are awesome.

In fact, the right accelerator for your startup can not only provide some much-needed cash but also connect you with a network that will help your company grow. But, how can you figure out which accelerator is right for you and your startup?

Zack Weisfeld, head of Microsoft for Startups and founder of the Microsoft Accelerator says the first step to locating the right startup accelerator happens before you even google “startup accelerators.”

“Have clearly defined goals,” Weisfeld tells Startups.co “Envision what your startup is trying to achieve and have clear ways to measure your achievements. Then, find an accelerator that is aligned with your startup’s value and goals.”

In other words, don’t ...

In this digital age it can be easy to convince yourself that all your business needs can be met online, from the comfort of your home office. But the reality is that meeting people face-to-face will never go out of style. Be sure you’re making the time and taking the effort to meet new people and keep in touch with your existing social and professional networks.

We’ve combed through various studies and surveys to share with you some of the most revealing stats about networking, as well as our top tips for making every networking event a success. Check out the infographic below to learn more about the impact networking could have on your business!

Have any other tips to share? Give us a shout out at @startupsco.

A few years back I was having lunch with a fellow Founder who had started a company that was #1 on the Inc 500 list. He had launched the startup from the basement of his girlfriend’s house with zero capital and had built into a massive company.

We were eating lunch at an exclusive country club he had just joined and were walking out to the parking lot where his shiny new Ferrari was parked. Clearly things were going well for him.

I asked him a simple question “What do people say now when they see you in that new Ferrari?”

He said “They say: ‘It must be nice.’”

Ahhh! “It must be nice” – The most popular refrain us Founders get when the outside world sees what we have – without seeing what it took to get there.

This isn’t for the people who h...

"What's your plan for selling this business? What's your exit plan?"

Ah, the popular refrain from investors, employees, advisors and just about anyone else that's banking on our stock to make them a few dollars. We all know that there's a possibility of selling our company, but how much planning can we really do to make that happen?

Does it matter if I don't "prepare to sell?"

While it's possible to consider specific acquisition targets, that's really only a small part of the plan.

The real plan simply maps back to the execution of our idea. Knowing that we might be a good fit for a big company is great, but unless our product has incredible value (that came through execution) then "preparing to sell" doesn't mean much.

What if I don't wa...

What matters most to your employees?

This is the third time we are asking that question, because what could be more rewarding and fruitful than fostering a supported and thriving workforce?

Every year we review the Society for Human Resource Management’s Employee Job Satisfaction and Engagement Report, an enormous undertaking that produces nearly sixty pages of data on what employees want most, how responsive their employers are, and what they need to be engaged in their work. This year, we are including the infographic below, courtesy of our friends at Venngage.

The 2016 report was based on responses collected from 600 randomly selected employees between November and December of 2015. SHRM found these themes topped the list of those that ...

More than 50 years ago, Motown transformed the music landscape forever. Berry Gordy, a music lover who cut his teeth on Detroit’s automobile business, transferred his blue-collar tenacity into building a record label that featured the unique sounds emerging from the so-called Paris of the West: Detroit.

Gordy’s moxie propelled him and fresh artists like Diana Ross and The Supremes, The Jackson 5, and Smokey Robinson and The Miracles to superstardom. Today, his legacy is woven into the fabric of Americana, and we all relish the smooth, upbeat, and personal stories those songs told.

Why am I waxing nostalgic about Berry Gordy? Well, I was born and raised in Detroit, and despite its economic ups and downs, it remains a proud city that retains ...

The decision between hiring a recent college graduate and an established professional might seem like a no-brainer, but for the sake of your startup, you should think twice. I wouldn’t argue against hiring experienced employees altogether, but better results often come from workers with little to no relevant experience, or “green” employees.

As companies have moved out of the recession and into another tech boom, finding great candidates has become quite a challenge. Almost half of employers in a survey expressed difficulty with hiring right now, bemoaning a lack of talent.

The overabundance of college degrees means experience might set candidates apart — but directly relevant experience doesn’t automatically translate to the best fit for a...

Here’s the short version:

I created Startups.co as my dream job. There wasn’t any magic to it – but I had to be painfully honest about how I really wanted the rest of my life to play out.

This is how I did it.

Imagine this: as of today, you are now working at your dream job.

What would that look like?

Get really detailed with it: How would every hour of the day go? What would you get to do? What would you never, ever, ever, ever have to do again? Have you written all of this down and made a plan around it?

Yeah, neither did I – for about 18 years in a row.

And then I did, and it was the most profound and relatively simple change I ever made. So much so that I have dedicated the rest of my life to helping my fellow Founders align what they ...

For a growing product startup, there is no better triumph than seeing your product on the shelves and online store of a billion-dollar retailer. It provides incredible social proof, validates your concept, and shows you’ve got what it takes to scale into a profitable business.

Unfortunately, for many startup founders, there exists a veil of mystery over what it actually takes to stand out to retailers in a crowded sea of established product companies and competing product startups.

Fortunately for you, we have the inside scoop from Rick Rommel, a partner at Sprosty Network and founder of RetailXelerator. Rick is a former Best Buy SVP, and was founder of its Exclusive Brands private-label business. He spent a decade both selecting and develo...

Question: What is your current favorite startup-related newsletter or website and why?

The following answers are provided by members of Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched StartupCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.

Lewis Howes’ Podcast

I really like reading and listening to the Lewis Howes podcast on School of Greatness. He interviews some of the top minds on the Internet about what it takes to become big. A close second would be Startup Grind podcast. You can’t beat the amazing stories you’ll hear.

– Peter Daisyme
Hosting

Help Scout’...