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Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see vids]

Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

10 star post! thanks
 
Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

SUBS!!!!:yes: Cham is a BGOL member?
 
Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

book_hero.png

Systematically understand, design & differentiate your business model.
A handbook for visionaries, game changers and challengers.
Click to expand...

Download
Code: 
http://uploaded.to/file/vtml04s6/Osterwalder_A._-_Business_Model_Generation_-_2010.pdf
 
Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v


soulcontroller said:
book_hero.png



Download
Code: 
http://uploaded.to/file/vtml04s6/Osterwalder_A._-_Business_Model_Generation_-_2010.pdf
Click to expand...

thanks.:yes:

hope yall keep this thread alive while im gone. people need to see this stuff. be inspired to make a move.:cool:
 
Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

subbed
 
Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

Thanks for the information. I know a friend in IT and I have been trying to get him to start his own business. I will pass it along to him. He is very good and he always help others outside of the workforce. He just needs to start charging.:yes:

I just watched all the videos from Dreamit. Even if you aren't in technology they are good videos to watch and to learn from.
 
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Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

final-cover.png


Download

Most startups fail. But many of those failures are preventable. The Lean Startup is a new approach being adopted across the globe, changing the way companies are built and new products are launched.

Eric Ries defines a startup as an organization dedicated to creating something new under conditions of extreme uncertainty. This is just as true for one person in a garage or a group of seasoned professionals in a Fortune 500 boardroom. What they have in common is a mission to penetrate that fog of uncertainty to discover a successful path to a sustainable business.

The Lean Startup approach fosters companies that are both more capital efficient and that leverage human creativity more effectively. Inspired by lessons from lean manufacturing, it relies on “validated learning,” rapid scientific experimentation, as well as a number of counter-intuitive practices that shorten product development cycles, measure actual progress without resorting to vanity metrics, and learn what customers really want. It enables a company to shift directions with agility, altering plans inch by inch, minute by minute.

Rather than wasting time creating elaborate business plans, The Lean Startup offers entrepreneurs - in companies of all sizes - a way to test their vision continuously, to adapt and adjust before it’s too late. Ries provides a scientific approach to creating and managing successful startups in a age when companies need to innovate more than ever.
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Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

^
^^
^^^
^
The Lean Startup is necessary reading.
​


This cat just dropped this book and posted it free to read for 24 hrs...


READ THE ULTRALIGHT STARTUP FREE FOR 24 HOURS!
Group: On Startups - The Community For Entrepreneurs
Subject: Check out the Ultralight Startup for free from Onstartups co-author Jason L. Baptiste!
Hey Everyone,

As you might know, besides writing as a co-author for Onstartups, I’ve been writing a book over the past year. It’s basically the book every entrepreneur should have starting out to find cofounders, get press, acquire customers, and raise funding. It’s based upon case studies from companies like Twitter, Dropbox, and Foursquare. The book comes out tomorrow, but I’m giving the book away for free today to read online at theultralightstartup.com (you can read it just like a blog or from your iPad like an app). If you don’t get a chance to finish it today or want to support the book, you can always keep it forever by buying it at https://bitly.com/theultralightstartup . Thank you again for being a great community to inspire my writing and the book.

-j
Posted By Jason L. Baptiste
Click to expand...
 
Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

I just GOTTA express props to THEMAINMAN.

This is a furiously hot thread! But more importantly, it's USEFUL and INSTRUCTIVE!


That link on DESIGN is super critical (of course I'm biased with a degree in Product Design & Development). As the editorials on the site illustrate, the importance of design, both visual or physical are KEY drivers in the success of both start ups and established businesses. And I for one am glad there are resources that I can share with members of a start up, of which I'm a partner in. Explaining the importance and REAL value of an abstract field is frustratingly difficult sometimes. This helps. THANKS.


JG
 
Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

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Tested principles for transforming an idea into a fully operational company
Startup Weekend—the organization behind 54-hour events where developers, designers, marketers, and startup enthusiasts come together to share ideas, form teams, build products, and create startups—has spawned both a global initiative in entrepreneurship as well as numerous successful startups. Startup Weekend, the book, contains best practices, lessons learned, and empowering examples derived from the organization's experiences for individuals and small organizations to follow as they launch businesses. Each of the key beliefs outlined has been tested by Startup Weekend and has yielded powerful results.
The principles described in each chapter will give any business idea a greater chance for success.
Chapter topics include trust and empowerment, flexible organizational structures, the power of experiential education, action-based networking, and much more
Describes consequences for startup development as entrepreneurs and founders begin doing much more, even faster
Profiles successful Startup Weekend companies, including two powerful examples: Memolane, an application that captures a user's online life in one timeline making it easy for users to travel back in time and relive memories; and Foodspotting, a mobile and desktop app that allows users to find and share the foods they love
Apply these simple actionable principles to launch your own startup revolution.
Click to expand...

Code: 
http://filepost.com/files/ba5ddd3m/Startup_Weekend.epub/

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The phenomenal success of the iPhone and the iPod touch has ushered in a “gold rush” for developers, but with well over 100,000 apps in the highly competitive App Store, it has become increasingly difficult for new apps to stand out in the crowd. Achieving consumer awareness and sales longevity for your iPhone app requires a lot of organization and some strategic planning. This book will show you how to incorporate marketing and business savvy into every aspect of the design and development process, giving your app the best possible chance of succeeding in the App Store.
The Business of iPhone App Development was written by experienced developers with business backgrounds, taking you step-by-step through cost-effective marketing techniques that have proven successful for professional iPhone app creators—perfect for independent developers on shoestring budgets. Although there are a few iPhone app marketing books on the horizon, they appear to tackle the subject from purely a marketer’s perspective. What makes this book unique is that it was written by developers for developers, showing you not only what to do, but also how to do it, complete with time-saving resources and ready-to-use code examples. No prior business knowledge is required. This is the book you wish you had read before you launched your first app!
What you’ll learn
Transform your iPhone app into a powerful marketing tool with easy-to-use concepts and code examples.
Analyze your ideas, research the competition, and identify your audience to evaluate sales potential.
Protect your business and intellectual property and avoid potential legal hassles.
Utilize several revenue-generating business models such as in-app advertising, affiliate programs, and In-App Purchase. Includes an extensive chapter on tapping into the Store Kit API.
Build synergy with in-app cross-promotion and social networking.
Improve usability and implement effective testing, plus a comprehensive walkthrough of provisioning and ad hoc distribution.
Create a pre-release buzz online with Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and a dedicated web site promoting your iPhone app.
Successfully navigate the App Store submission process.
Execute a post-release marketing strategy by crafting effective press releases, soliciting app reviews, and leveraging the power of promotional sales and giveaways.
Who this book is for
This book is for any developer looking to build a successful business selling iPhone and iPod touch apps in Apple’s iTunes App Store. All the code examples included in this book can be downloaded from iPhoneBusinessBook.com.
Click to expand...

Code: 
http://filepost.com/files/23c5eb39
 
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Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

John_Gault said:
I just GOTTA express props to THEMAINMAN.

This is a furiously hot thread! But more importantly, it's USEFUL and INSTRUCTIVE!


That link on DESIGN is super critical (of course I'm biased with a degree in Product Design & Development). As the editorials on the site illustrate, the importance of design, both visual or physical are KEY drivers in the success of both start ups and established businesses. And I for one am glad there are resources that I can share with members of a start up, of which I'm a partner in. Explaining the importance and REAL value of an abstract field is frustratingly difficult sometimes. This helps. THANKS.


JG
Click to expand...

Definitely share. leverage BGOL for something other than gossiping like a bunch of bitches.
 
Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

Btw one of the cats I work with produces those short animated videos that explain what a company does. He averages bout $3500 per video and they may take a few hrs to do if the script is provided or a few days (and more $$) if he has to help develop the script. Just another thought for you video & animation guys.

Get one business/marketing guy that understands what needs to be communicated in the video and can act as the primary contact w/ the clients and brings in new biz. The key is you really gotta understand how to tell a compelling story...

1 or 2 animation and video pros to spearhead the actual production of the 1 or 2 minute video w/ input from the client and biz guy.

Hire professional voiceover talent for like $200 per video...

Market your services to newly formed companies. You do the math.:money::cool:

Examples here: startup videos
 
Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

themainman said:
Btw one of the cats I work with produces those short animated videos that explain what a company does. He averages bout $3500 per video and they may take a few hrs to do if the script is provided or a few days (and more $$) if he has to help develop the script. Just another thought for you video & animation guys.

Get one business/marketing guy that understands what needs to be communicated in the video and can act as the primary contact w/ the clients and brings in new biz. The key is you really gotta understand how to tell a compelling story...

1 or 2 animation and video pros to spearhead the actual production of the 1 or 2 minute video w/ input from the client and biz guy.

Hire professional voiceover talent for like $200 per video...

Market your services to newly formed companies. You do the math.:money::cool:

Examples here: startup videos
Click to expand...

:dance::dance::dance:
 
Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

Best recent posts on the bgol biz board. Hope its ok that I repost them here. Kayanation, Incogneg ... let me know its not


kayanation said:
Ignition West: How to make money in mobile apps (video)


Summary: Find out the secret to monetizing mobile apps in a very crowded market, according to the managing director of Institutional Venture Partners.

At Ignition West in San Francisco, Todd Chaffee, managing director of Institutional Venture Partners, talks about the best strategy for monetizing content on mobile devices.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/ignition-west-how-to-make-money-in-mobile-apps-video/72148
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incogneg said:
Sure some of you are aware of this and their events. If not: http://www.blackfounders.com/

The Black Founders mission is to increase the number of successful black entrepreneurs in technology.

The goal of our organization is to create an ecosystem that stimulates entrepreneurship and fosters economic growth in the community.
In 2010, the black demographic entered entrepreneurship at a rate of 0.24% and comprised 9% of the total new entrepreneurship activity in the US. (source: Kauffman Foundation)

Black entrepreneurs, however, remain underrepresented in the tech entrepreneurship space. Black entrepreneurs make up only 1% of VC-backed tech startup founders and during the period measured from January to June 2010, the median amount of funding secured by an all-black founding team was $1.3 million, compared to $2.2M for a racially mixed team, and $2.3M for an all-white team. (source: CB Insights)

The founding team of Black Founders is made up of four entrepreneurial friends who met in San Francisco and wanted to create an organization that would empower entrepreneurs and provide founders with access to advice, mentorship, and funding. Our vision for Black Founders is to develop programs that equip entrepreneurs, inspire innovation, and allow us to share resources and knowledge.
Click to expand...



kayanation said:
How to build your startup without learning code

January 30, 2012

If you can’t code but aspire to start a Web business, odds are you feel just like the ostrich.
Ostriches can’t fly, and to add insult to injury, they’re one of the largest bird species out there. They have to hobble around
looking for something to do while their avian counterparts swoop into the air in boundless directions.
Despite spending years in school and hours at the workplace, without knowing how to code you can’t create your vision. You’re left with two options: learn to code (Codeacademy is worthy investment of your time if you can fit it in), or find a programmer (an undertaking that warrants its own article). Given the frustrations, many would-be entrepreneurs give up on their vision without giving it a real chance. That’s a pity, and it doesn’t need to be that way.

Here are some tips and tool-recommendations to help you build a Web business without learning how to code.

Simulate your vision with visual tools
Recommended tools: Powerpoint, Balsamiq, iMovie
As an entrepreneur, your goal is to assemble the necessary resources to create your idea. Finding the required talent and money means selling your vision. The first knee-jerk reaction is to write a business plan. Although useful, a business plan is not the best communication tool. It can be jargony, dense, overly-complicated, and simply put, it doesn’t showcase your idea. (If you write anything, go for a 2-3 page executive summary.)

Instead, I recommend building a website mockup. Show each page’s function and simulate how they behave by linking them to one another. Powerpoint is a great tool for this since you can link buttons to each slide easily. I recommend investing in a mockup tool (my personal favorite is Balsamiq), which is very user-friendly given its drag-drop functions. If done properly, your mockups can have the look and feel of a real website. Now friends, investors, or potential co-founders can see your vision instead of reading a long, dry document. If you want to take this to the next step, make a video by “screen recording” your mockup (I use Snapz Pro) and adding some narrative and music using a basic movie editing software like iMovie.

Create a prototype using widget-based website creators Recommended tools: Weebly, Wix, WordPress, Google Analytics, Qualtrics
Prototyping is all about validating individual portions of your concept. Use widget-based website creators to quickly and easily put together a prototype. Weebly, Wix, and WordPress (just to name a few examples) can be very powerful when mixed with a little creativity.

Letting potential users interact with something will give you valuable data, which you can easily capture using data analytics. My favorite is Google Analytics because it’s free and easy to implement (it just got a great upgrade too). If you can’t capture particular data, use surveys (Qualtrics is a fantastic tool which lets you capture 250 surveys for free) to engage users.

How do you get testers?
Put the page up on your Facebook wall, send e-mail blasts, or offer a raffle or a perk (for example, first to get access to your site once it’s built). Having data in your pocket will both educate you and provide compelling information when you’re trying to recruit others or raise funds.

Brand your vision Recommended tools: CrowdSpring, 99designs, LaunchRock, Facebook, Twitter
We live in a world where the smallest startup can look and feel like one of the biggest companies out there. Make sure you snag a good domain name and create an attractive logo. You can inexpensively outsource design jobs to sites like 99designs or Crowdspring.

Once you have some visuals and an identity, cover your bases: Create a landing page for your site (LaunchRock is a good tool for that), set up a Facebook page (claim your facebook.com/yourbrand), and start developing an audience through Twitter. Family and friends will want to support you, and potential clients will be interested in learning about your company. Having an online presence gives you a stage where others can share in your journey. You’ll have a community of eager users ready to support you faster than you think.

Enjoy your launchpad and raise money Recommended tools: Kickstarter, AngelList
Your company is now live. You’ve established a presence and have powerful tools to sell your vision. If you want to hire talent, you now have somewhere to point applicants. If you need support, you can show family and friends a preview of what you want to build. If you want to raise money, you can go on Kickstarter or AngelList with a bit more credibility (and hopefully a mockup video in hand).



Tony Navarro (@hoostony) is founder and CEO of Streamcal.com, a venture that redefines the way schedules and calendars are published, shared and consumed across the web. He has an MBA from Wharton and an MPA from Harvard, and currently lives in Boston with his wife. He is also a member of The Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only nonprofit organization comprised of the country’s most promising young entrepreneurs.

http://venturebeat.com/2012/01/30/how-to-build-your-startup-w...





I used www.surveymonkey. com and embedded it in facebook as well as emailed by friends the link.

Using balsamiq to do the mockup.

Using appmobi to do prelim design

Used www.templatic.com for a $5 landing page that includes contacts, twitter feed and other social media buttons on a wordpress site.

www.odesk.com for programming initial version of site.


Hope this helps........



:D
Click to expand...

Here's a link to download/crack Balsamiq, the tool mentioned in kayas post above. Haven't tried it so download at your own risk and let us know if its safe and working when you do.
http://tronzone.blogspot.com/2012/03/download-balsamiq-mockups-crack.html
 
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Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

Man thank you..........................
 
Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

themainman said:
Btw one of the cats I work with produces those short animated videos that explain what a company does. He averages bout $3500 per video and they may take a few hrs to do if the script is provided or a few days (and more $$) if he has to help develop the script. Just another thought for you video & animation guys.

Get one business/marketing guy that understands what needs to be communicated in the video and can act as the primary contact w/ the clients and brings in new biz. The key is you really gotta understand how to tell a compelling story...

1 or 2 animation and video pros to spearhead the actual production of the 1 or 2 minute video w/ input from the client and biz guy.

Hire professional voiceover talent for like $200 per video...

Market your services to newly formed companies. You do the math.:money::cool:

Examples here: startup videos
Click to expand...

Good stuff, but voiceover talent doesn't have to be $200 per video, well depending on how long the video is. I got voiceover talent before for $5-$10 bucks a project for a commercial or automated greeting.
 
Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

cooliojones said:
Good stuff, but voiceover talent doesn't have to be $200 per video, well depending on how long the video is. I got voiceover talent before for $5-$10 bucks a project for a commercial or automated greeting.
Click to expand...

ur right. i just gave $200 as a round number. it can take them a few hours to get that 2 minutes just right but yea u can hire pro voice talent on fiverr for $5.:yes:
 
Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

soulcontroller said:
Definitely share. leverage BGOL for something other than gossiping like a bunch of bitches.
Click to expand...


Oh man, this shit has me cracking up


:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:
 
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Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

themainman said:
Best recent posts on the bgol biz board. Hope its ok that I repost them here. Kayanation, Incogneg ... let me know its not









Here's a link to download/crack Balsamiq, the tool mentioned in kayas post above. Haven't tried it so download at your own risk and let us know if its safe and working when you do.
http://tronzone.blogspot.com/2012/03/download-balsamiq-mockups-crack.html
Click to expand...



Drop them in here for sure.

:yes::yes::yes:
 
Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

Netflix for Neckwear - Tie Society- 2 brothas are cofounders


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500 Startups has plucked three more early-stage companies out of the District for its latest Mountain View, Calif., accelerator class, upping the Silicon Valley seed fund’s bet on D.C. tech.

Tie Society — a Web commerce play — is two weeks deep into the program, part of 500 Startups’ fourth accelerator batch. They received a small seed investment from the firm and will gain access to a mentor network of entrepreneurs, tech executives and investors during the four- to six-months stint.
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Keeping your tie collection fresh can cost an arm and a leg, cruelly making cool ties even more important, as you now have to draw attention away from the fact that you're just a torso. Thankfully, Netflix-for-ties is here, and it's called Tie Society.
Just-launched, District-based TS clearly stole Taco from the The League's ingenious idea for "Neckflix"! Oh wait, no one watches that show is ingenious: it's basically a giant online tie rack, allowing you to select, wear, then trade-in designer neckwear, all for way less than such gullet-fashion would cost via "traditional supply channels", meaning you can finally stop DVR-ing QVC all day. Just pick a three-, five-, or 10-items/month package, then peruse their catalog of accoutrements, with each piece being rated between one and three "slots" (presumably based on sexiness); add the stuff you want to your "closet", and it'll arrive within three days, with them paying all the shipping (what are you, the Duke of Double Windsor!? Lol, you're not!). Don't like what you end up with? Or do like it, for a period of time, but then fear it's so likable that co-workers will start noticing you're not switching things up because you like it so much? Then just send it back whenever (there're no due dates or late fees), and choose something else from amongst their 110-strong stock of collar candy, which includes designers like Barbican 1891, Bruno Piattelli, and Hart Schaffner Marx.
And if that's not enough to tie-d you over (ha! Duke of Windsor!), they also stock 25 stylish cuff links, which maybe you can just rock as earrings or something.


Read more: http://www.thrillist.com//style/washington-dc/tie-society_cufflinks_ties#ixzz1s1Owxh3o
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Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

51WD47TG0YL._SS400_.jpg


The essential book for anyone bringing a product to market, writing a business plan, marketing plan or sales plan. Step-by-step strategy of how to successfully organize sales, marketing and business development for a new product or company. The book offers insight into what makes some startups successful and leaves others selling off their furniture. Packed with concrete examples, the book will leave you with new skills to organize sales, marketing and your business for success.
Click to expand...

Code: 
http://www.stanford.edu/group/e145/cgi-bin/winter/drupal/upload/handouts/Four_Steps.pdf
 
Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

00213ad3_medium.jpeg


Starting your own business is a daunting task. No matter how talented you are, no matter how much capital you have, no matter how good your business plan is, if you're pursuing a fundamentally flawed opportunity you're heading for failure. So before spending time and money on a new enterprise it's vital to know if your idea is actually going to work in practice. The New Business Road Test shows you how to avoid the obvious mistakes that everyone else makes.
Click to expand...

Code: 
http://filepost.com/files/cfm137m2/027373279X.pdf
 
Re: Black Tech Startups: Moving from today's realities to tomorrow's wins [must see v

free business course. (online)


http://www.udemy.com/foundations-of-business-strategy/

Foundations of Business Strategy taught by Professor Michael Lenox of UVA's Darden School of Business. Professor Lenox's course covers the actual information behind the business jargon everyone pretends to understand like "strategic analysis" and "competitive positioning."

Coincidentally, Professor Lenox was named one of the Top 40 Business Professors Under 40, just like Professor Allon, who was featured in our last newsletter.
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