New recipe for success: less intelligence and optimism, more grit and pessimism?
When you visualize the quintessential startup, you probably see intelligent and optimistic people working together to solve big challenges. After all, a group of individuals usually has to be somewhat smart to get a new business off the ground and the group probably has to be relatively optimistic to find the motivation to face big challenges and succeed.
But forget what you think you know about the characteristics it takes to succeed. They just might not be accurate.
Q&A: Robin Brattel of Inapub.co.uk
Inapub.co.uk is a website that allow users to search and find out what is happening in their local pub, while landlords can publicise upcoming events.
The website was originally launched in 2007 by Robin Brattal, and has recently undergone a redesign. I've been talking to Robin about the site and the challenges of getting the project off the ground.
Q&A: Tom Harrow on childcare search site Findababysitter.com
Findababysitter.com has been going for around two years now, and recently relaunched the site after receiving a second round of funding.
The site works allows parents to search for nannies and childminders in their local area, and to advertise on the site when they require childminding services. I've been talking to owner Tom Harrow, who runs the website with his wife Vanessa...
Q&A: Rogan Angelini-Hurll of PROfoundersCapital
PROfoundersCapital is a venture capital fund established for entrepreneurs in the digital media space, and backed by investors including Brent Hoberman and Michael Birch.
I've been talking to General Partner Rogan Angelini-Hurll about the aims of the fund, and what he will be looking for in entrepreneurs seeking investment...
Q&A: Lingo24 founder Christian Arno
Lingo24 is a company which offers online translation services to a range of clients, including Orange, BP, Bloomberg, RBS and T Mobile.
It was founded In Aberdeen by Christian Arno in 2001, has grown steadily since then, and now employs staff all around the world.
I've been talking to Christian about the growth of the company, and the challenges of translating sales and marketing messages for foreign language audiences.
The internet is dead (as an investment), long live the internet
Less than a year ago, it would have been hard to imagine that Google would be trudging along, eking out bottom line growth primarily by cutting expenses. And it would have been hard for some to believe that the hottest startups would seemingly be no closer to solving their monetization questions.
The reality: the internet economy is a lot like the rest of the global economy.
Twitter hack: insight into a hot startup that may be losing its edge
When Michael Arrington of TechCrunch decided to publish confidential Twitter corporate documents obtained by a hacker, I wasn't impressed. It's a bad decision that's hard to justify ethically.
But what's done is done and instead of admonishing him for using a different brand of moral compass, I thought there'd be more value in using the opportunity, no matter how unfortunate, to make some observations about one of the internet's hottest startups.
Just-Eat gets big money for fast food
Just-Eat, a company that serves as an online ordering provider for takeaways and restaurants, has just raised £10.5 million from prominent European VC firm Index Ventures.
It's the first institutional funding for the UK-based startup, which has 6,000 takeaway and restaurant partners throughout Europe.
Netscape founder launches new VC firm
If you're an entrepreneur looking for VC funding, times have been better. The dour economy has caused many VCs to tighten the financing spigots and raise their standards.
But that's only part of the story. The truth is that venture capital, like so many industries, is undergoing some major changes. Marc Andreessen, a veteran entrepreneur who is most widely recognized for helping create the Mosaic web browser and founding Netscape, is hoping his entrepreneurial prowess that has served him so well in creating startups can give him a leg up in the world of funding them.
The myth of the 20-something founder
When you think of the word 'entrepreneur', who do you see? You might be inclined to think of a hungry 20-something who dropped out of college to follow his or her dream.
But according to a study (PDF) released by the Kauffman Foundation, it's not young people who are driving entrepreneurial activity in the United States. No, it's Baby Boomers.
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Web 2.0
Graham Charlton
Strategy & Planning
