A source (and friend) lets me in on a new business venture he's joined.
It's Enloop, a service being unveiled this week at the Finovate Conference.
Enloop is aimed at startup entrepreneurs.
"We help small to mid-size business owners create a business plan through a step-by-step process. We use industry data to 'score' their business and tell them the likelihood of success," wrote Elliot Tomaeno, director of communications for the new company.
"We are FREE for everyone. We just had a woman in Ethiopia use our tool to build and score her idea for a deli," he added.
Sounds like another in the series of free or low-cost online innovations that have come up in the past couple of years, aimed at helping entrepreneurs start and run their companies.
Check it out - and let me know what you think.
Showing posts with label startup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label startup. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Monday, November 22, 2010
Strap On Those Boots
Are you bootstrapping a start up company - or thinking about it?
If so, you may want to check out this experiment in transparent bootstrapping by a couple entrepreneurs named Jared and Adam.
They read a column I wrote about bootstrapping and contacted me:
They promise to be honest and upfront about their business efforts, including "exposing our internal workings more than most companies would be comfortable doing." Sounds interesting.
My initial feedback, which I'll send them directly, is that the blog is tough to read on my monitor. The type is small and the white/red on black makes it worse.
Do you have any advice for them, or thoughts about their experiment?
If so, you may want to check out this experiment in transparent bootstrapping by a couple entrepreneurs named Jared and Adam.
They read a column I wrote about bootstrapping and contacted me:
We're in the process of bootstrapping a company and we decided that we want to make our experiences as visible and tangible as possible so as to potentially help future bootstrappers.
They promise to be honest and upfront about their business efforts, including "exposing our internal workings more than most companies would be comfortable doing." Sounds interesting.
My initial feedback, which I'll send them directly, is that the blog is tough to read on my monitor. The type is small and the white/red on black makes it worse.
Do you have any advice for them, or thoughts about their experiment?
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Fleecing The Sheep
Aside from a televangelist addict with a pension, there's no one more vulnerable than a budding entrepreneur with a nest egg.
Worried about someone stealing your idea? You should be much more worried that someone will steal your money while you're pursuing your idea.
There are an abundance of crooks preying on folks who come up with new ideas. Patent scams, marketing scams, start-your-own-business scams - everywhere new entrepreneurs turn, they run into them.
And if they're not careful, rather than competitors, they'll bump into someone who'd love to take their funds before they have a chance to even invest in their businesses.
How to avoid being robbed - and profoundly embarrassed? Get educated. Be cautious. Do your research. Do not send anyone money in advance. For anything.
It sounds simple, but you'd be surprised how many bright people fall for dumb schemes. They're anxious to cash in on their great ideas, but they're more likely to stumble on the way to the bank.
Worried about someone stealing your idea? You should be much more worried that someone will steal your money while you're pursuing your idea.
There are an abundance of crooks preying on folks who come up with new ideas. Patent scams, marketing scams, start-your-own-business scams - everywhere new entrepreneurs turn, they run into them.
And if they're not careful, rather than competitors, they'll bump into someone who'd love to take their funds before they have a chance to even invest in their businesses.
How to avoid being robbed - and profoundly embarrassed? Get educated. Be cautious. Do your research. Do not send anyone money in advance. For anything.
It sounds simple, but you'd be surprised how many bright people fall for dumb schemes. They're anxious to cash in on their great ideas, but they're more likely to stumble on the way to the bank.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Dreaming the American Dream
Lots of wanna-be entrepreneurs looking for advice on going into business for themselves these days. Take this future interior designer.
I've also answered questions recently from an aspiring sports merchandiser and a someday ex-pat jeweler.
Wait, don't let me forget the soon-to-be luggage designer looking for a domestic manufacturer!
It's funny, but I never get tired of investigating these folks' dilemmas and finding good advice for them. The questions are endlessly interesting to me and the information is so readily - and satisfyingly - accessible online.
I hope it is helpful to my readers as well.
I've also answered questions recently from an aspiring sports merchandiser and a someday ex-pat jeweler.
Wait, don't let me forget the soon-to-be luggage designer looking for a domestic manufacturer!
It's funny, but I never get tired of investigating these folks' dilemmas and finding good advice for them. The questions are endlessly interesting to me and the information is so readily - and satisfyingly - accessible online.
I hope it is helpful to my readers as well.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Business Boot Camp
I defy you to find a better bargain than the one being offered through the Women In Business program this year at the Women's City Club of Pasadena.
They're putting together a "Dream Business Program" that takes entrepreneurs through all the building blocks of starting, growing and operating a business. It's a 26-week course that will help you write a business plan, come up with an elevator pitch for your business and go through a "fast-pitch" program with a group of your peers.
The cost? $50 to cover materials and the purchase of a textbook. You also have to do your homework and get the best out of the time and work you put into the course.
Can you imagine? You can't afford to miss out on this, if you want to start a business or even if you already have a business and you need to go back and do some foundational work that you may have glossed over during start up.
Donna Chaney is organizing the course, so contact her for more information. She's Donna at ChaneyFinancialServicesInc dot com.
They're putting together a "Dream Business Program" that takes entrepreneurs through all the building blocks of starting, growing and operating a business. It's a 26-week course that will help you write a business plan, come up with an elevator pitch for your business and go through a "fast-pitch" program with a group of your peers.
The cost? $50 to cover materials and the purchase of a textbook. You also have to do your homework and get the best out of the time and work you put into the course.
Can you imagine? You can't afford to miss out on this, if you want to start a business or even if you already have a business and you need to go back and do some foundational work that you may have glossed over during start up.
Donna Chaney is organizing the course, so contact her for more information. She's Donna at ChaneyFinancialServicesInc dot com.
Monday, June 1, 2009
I Get Questions ...
Entrepreneurs are notorious optimists - they almost have to be, to take the risks required to start their own ventures.
I'm an optimist too, but I temper my sunny outlook with a large dose of realism. (It doesn't always save me from making dumb decisions, but it helps.)
I love assisting people who want to start their own businesses, and particularly relish hearing from those who took my advice and have succeeded beyond their wildest expectations.
But some of the inquiries I get seem to come from untempered optimists who need a reality check, or those who are so focused on bootstrapping that they may fall into the "penny-wise, pound-foolish" category.
My Smart Answers column this week deals with the latter possibility: A couple who run two businesses merged under one financial and legal umbrella. That's not a good idea, and not even necessary in this era of cheap, easy entity formation available online.
I recently got another question from a would-be entrepreneur who wants to start not one, but two companies: One in the television and film industry and the other in food production.
Ambitious, but tough. Starting one business is difficult enough, as any entrepreneur will tell you. And both the entertainment and the food industries are costly and complex to break into, particularly for those with no experience in or ties to existing businesses. It can be done, but it's not wise to do it simultaneously.
Another would-be entrepreneur wrote me to ask about starting a social networking site, tossing out as an afterthought: "Oh yeah, I have no money."
Well, it's easier to start a home-based, online company with no resources than it is to open a brick-and-mortar firm. However, it's always smart to save, beg or borrow startup capital before starting a company.
The number one reason businesses fail, the experts say, is because they don't have enough money to get them through the year (or more) it may take to become profitable. In most cases, it's better to hold off your startup until you get the information you need, do the research that will improve your odds and amass the cash that will allow you to set your company up right.
I'm an optimist too, but I temper my sunny outlook with a large dose of realism. (It doesn't always save me from making dumb decisions, but it helps.)
I love assisting people who want to start their own businesses, and particularly relish hearing from those who took my advice and have succeeded beyond their wildest expectations.
But some of the inquiries I get seem to come from untempered optimists who need a reality check, or those who are so focused on bootstrapping that they may fall into the "penny-wise, pound-foolish" category.
My Smart Answers column this week deals with the latter possibility: A couple who run two businesses merged under one financial and legal umbrella. That's not a good idea, and not even necessary in this era of cheap, easy entity formation available online.
I recently got another question from a would-be entrepreneur who wants to start not one, but two companies: One in the television and film industry and the other in food production.
Ambitious, but tough. Starting one business is difficult enough, as any entrepreneur will tell you. And both the entertainment and the food industries are costly and complex to break into, particularly for those with no experience in or ties to existing businesses. It can be done, but it's not wise to do it simultaneously.
Another would-be entrepreneur wrote me to ask about starting a social networking site, tossing out as an afterthought: "Oh yeah, I have no money."
Well, it's easier to start a home-based, online company with no resources than it is to open a brick-and-mortar firm. However, it's always smart to save, beg or borrow startup capital before starting a company.
The number one reason businesses fail, the experts say, is because they don't have enough money to get them through the year (or more) it may take to become profitable. In most cases, it's better to hold off your startup until you get the information you need, do the research that will improve your odds and amass the cash that will allow you to set your company up right.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Investors (Still) Open For Business
Credit is tight, or non-existent. Friends and family are tapped out. What's an inventive, determined entrepreneur to do?
The good news is that although private investment has dropped sharply, it is still available from specialized sources.
I talk to a few folks who are still ponying up money for enterprising startups in my Smart Answers column this week.
In the podcast, I interview one of those determined enterpreneurs, Eileen Gould - a female general contractor working in a man's world. Eileen is a long-time source whom I interviewed for the L.A. Times back in the '90s, when her business was booming.
Things aren't so good right now, but Eileen hasn't given up. Her pluck and creativity inspire me and remind me why I love writing about small business owners!
Speaking of the Times, my In Box column this week answers questions about finding startup clients, improving cash flow and whether having a helper hubby on the job is a problem.
The good news is that although private investment has dropped sharply, it is still available from specialized sources.
I talk to a few folks who are still ponying up money for enterprising startups in my Smart Answers column this week.
In the podcast, I interview one of those determined enterpreneurs, Eileen Gould - a female general contractor working in a man's world. Eileen is a long-time source whom I interviewed for the L.A. Times back in the '90s, when her business was booming.
Things aren't so good right now, but Eileen hasn't given up. Her pluck and creativity inspire me and remind me why I love writing about small business owners!
Speaking of the Times, my In Box column this week answers questions about finding startup clients, improving cash flow and whether having a helper hubby on the job is a problem.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Business Startups
Lots and lots of people are thinking about starting companies right now. Some have been laid off, others are retiring early, all have long had the entrepreneurial bug. My email is jammed with startup questions.
I address two of them in my LA Times In Box column this week.
Having had a couple of relatives crash and burn with startups - with dire consequences for their finances and even their marriages, sadly! - I try hard to instill some common sense into my answers. If I can steer clueless newbies to a prudent, research-based approach to starting their companies, I feel that I've done both my job and a public service.
My Smart Answers podcast this week is all about how to evaluate a bank and move your accounts if you can upgrade the relationships and services involved.
I address two of them in my LA Times In Box column this week.
Having had a couple of relatives crash and burn with startups - with dire consequences for their finances and even their marriages, sadly! - I try hard to instill some common sense into my answers. If I can steer clueless newbies to a prudent, research-based approach to starting their companies, I feel that I've done both my job and a public service.
My Smart Answers podcast this week is all about how to evaluate a bank and move your accounts if you can upgrade the relationships and services involved.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
No Wiggle Room
In a flush economy, startup entrepreneurs can sometimes scrap and scrape their way into profitability even as they learn on the job and make rookie mistakes.
But in today's climate, a small business owner has to obsess about every penny spent. One of the areas with the greatest potential for hidden costs is inventory, says Bill Harrison, the guest on my Smart Answers podcast this week.
As a former small business owner himself, Bill has some great advice not only on inventory control but on pricing and customer service as well. Check it out.
But in today's climate, a small business owner has to obsess about every penny spent. One of the areas with the greatest potential for hidden costs is inventory, says Bill Harrison, the guest on my Smart Answers podcast this week.
As a former small business owner himself, Bill has some great advice not only on inventory control but on pricing and customer service as well. Check it out.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Help From The Feds
My Smart Answers column today outlines some ways that government is reaching out to small business owners during this tough time.
Another must-read on Businessweek.com's Small Biz page today is Jason Calacanis's essay on failing startups. It's a long but riveting account of the tough choices an entrepreneur must make when a business is teetering on the edge. Calacanis - founder of the Silicon Alley Reporter - details the nitty-gritty with the verve and black humor that only a small business owner could love.
Another must-read on Businessweek.com's Small Biz page today is Jason Calacanis's essay on failing startups. It's a long but riveting account of the tough choices an entrepreneur must make when a business is teetering on the edge. Calacanis - founder of the Silicon Alley Reporter - details the nitty-gritty with the verve and black humor that only a small business owner could love.
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