As a serial entrepreneur, I get the question a lot on how I got through not only one company but multiple. Did I have great mentors? Did I learn from someone? Did I learn in school? I think most entrepreneurs have different journeys of how they got to where they are today and what inspired them. What makes us all unique is we have our own stories, our own journeys, and our … [Read more...]
How Not To Fund Your Startup Using Credit Cards
I attended a startup event the other day. It was a fireside chat with an accomplished business founder who now owns over 350 locations, worldwide. As this founder was going over his entrepreneur journey, he mentioned how he funded his startup using credit cards and how he applied for 15 of them. This is not the first time I’ve heard of an entrepreneur funding his/her company … [Read more...]
From Startup to Standout: Funding Your Women-Owned Businesses
Sponsored by Kabbage Inc.: Working capital is the fuel that turns women-owned startups, small businesses, and sole proprietorships into standouts. Here are four funding tips for female entrepreneurs. Overall, women-owned businesses account for nearly one-third of all businesses in the country. Of the nearly 10 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., a disproportionate … [Read more...]
Best Practices to Help Your Startup Business Take Off (Part 1 of 2)
If even established companies encounter occasional catastrophes, startups just getting a handle on their businesses will definitely experience a few bumps along the way. In fact, venture capital database CB Insights found that nine out of 10 startups fail due to practical reasons. These include the lack of a market need, financial instability, and cost issues. These cold … [Read more...]
4 Ways Startups can Support Work-Life Balance
A startup employee who works 9 to 5, Monday - Friday, with a half-hour lunch break every day is, in my opinion, the modern-day equivalent of a mermaid. People say they exist, but I know I’ve never met one. Working for a startup can be a lot of pressure, but it can also be incredibly exciting. Watching a business grow from humble beginnings, and contributing directly to its … [Read more...]
Find Reliable Business Feedback by Avoiding Nay Sayers and the Yes Group
When you are starting or growing a business, you typically can’t do it all alone---even in the early stages where the first steps might be proof of concept and customer validation, which are fancy ways of saying you're finding out if your idea is as great as you think it is and getting an idea of the demand for your idea in the market. This may mean conducting a survey or … [Read more...]
Root Causes of Working IN Your Business, Not ON Your Business
One of the most common issues facing my solo-entrepreneur clients is frustration, often followed swiftly by fatigue. Suddenly swamped by so many roles, so many decisions, so many tasks, while trying to conserve expenditure – weariness sets in. What started as a dream business idea, to hone and drive further, has now become a 24/7 job, with no escape route. You realize you’re … [Read more...]
Are You Ready to Turn Your “Side Hustle” into a Business?
Side hustles are generally born out of necessity or passion. They tend to maximize our skills and capacities or release our creativity. Converting a side hustle into a business is often a slippery slope because whether your side hustle is born out of necessity or born out of passion, the realities of formalizing a business can be disheartening. A side hustle that generates … [Read more...]
Connecting Women to Investors at Capital W: The Boston Women’s Venture Summit
Investor and businesswoman Sheryl Marshall started working with women-owned businesses and women venture funding in 1999 after spending years working in financial services where she fielded tons of calls from women looking for capital. She recalls, “Back then, only 2% of venture funding went to women-owned businesses, and most of that 2% went to iVillage.” This lack of … [Read more...]
How to Find and Hire the Greatest Talent for Your Startup
If the time has come to add more talented bodies to your startup, you know this added responsibility comes with many new areas of uncertainty. Where do you go to find the best talent? How much should you pay? The hiring process comes with many questions and gray areas. Consider the following 6 tips for finding and hiring the best talent for your startup. Create a Company … [Read more...]