Better ways to sustain the(in a) startup!

I was talking about ways to sustain in a startup in BCB4 that was held in IIMB, Bangalore last week. Primarily, I talked on four major elements of the startup - would like to call it as 4C rules - the Customer, Company, Citizenry(people) and the Cash flow. Here is the summary of it.

Customer

1. Understand the target customer well.
2. Do the Customer profiling before you venture into the company.
3. Look at what customers benefit from your product/service – do not look at your product features!

Company
1. Ask yourself - What is that you want to change in the current system!
2. Do not venture into anything, just because you wannabe an entrepreneur!
3. Be unusual! Think big.
4. Go for a High risk high impact strategy! You are lucky if you have a low risk high impact strategy!
4. Always have alternate options!
5. Everything is urgent and important category - Do it now – Sense of urgency is a must!
6. Don’t expect to fly – Have a long term plan.
7. Crawl, walk, run – Fly strategy works out very well.

Citizenry
1. Too much passionate of your idea is too dangerous – Look at the flip side of it.
2. Complement your team - If you are a techie geek – don’t think that you can sell also, have a real sales man.
3. Add people, who is very passionate about your idea and ready to go for Marathon in the startup carrier.
4. Fire people – If he can not take forward the company's passion.
5. Be wary of expanding suddenly!
6. Do not take prejudiced decision – on people


Cash flow
1. Plan well according to the depth of the pocket!
2. Invest in inventory carefully!
3. Predict the fume date!
4. Maintain tighter cash flow.

Why hit “start” button to shutdown windows!

A hilarious and entertaining talk given by New York Times technology columnist David Pogue on simplicity, is one of the best TED speeches I have listened to.

Doing things simple for the customers is hard for architects. But, that is where the challenge is for any product development companies. He clearly spells out that when it comes to tech, simplicity sells.

The great example he has given for the cult of simplicity is the Apple’s iPod. There were many products that were priced less, had more features, and backed up by Microsoft but the iPod won stupendously in the market. It is simply because of its simplicity!

Don’t miss watching this…here! You will also know more about “Type a word Wizard” in this amazing speech!

oob Conference 2007

oob stands for ‘Out Of Box’, and defines the new age entrepreneurs, thinkers, idea-creators and achievers. oob, is an experience! An experience which will keep you inspired; will get you thinking; and will push you to action-mode.

oob Conference brings together; Technology Geeks, Scientists, Creative Geniuses and Business Rebels, all under one roof. As an attendee you will get an opportunity to listen to individuals who had a unique oob idea and saw it to fruition. At the annually held oob Conference you will get to see what’s new in technology, discover the latest in science, experience the process of creativity and above all else, gain the inspiration to become achievers.



Very interesting one...I would probably register for it!
You can register for this conference at
http://www.oobconference.com/register.html