UX Myths. How to Survive Your Start-up's First Year. The bottom line about a startup's first year is that it's very scary. There are two aspects of fear that will trail you the whole year. The first is fear of failure. What if you tell everyone you're starting a company and then you can't and you feel stupid for years afterward? MassChallenge Startup Accelerator 2014. MassChallenge is the largest-ever startup accelerator and the first to support entrepreneurs with no strings attached.
Over $1 million in cash grants is awarded annually, along with over $10 million of in-kind benefits -- and MassChallenge doesn't take equity or place any restrictions on startups in return. MassChallenge uses a competition framework to identify the highest-potential startups. The MassChallenge application process is designed to present early-stage entrepreneurs with questions that they will face (if they haven’t already) while building their companies. Benefits for Startups include: 4-month accelerator program in the heart of Boston's Innovation District.World-class mentorship, free office space, access to funding, media & more.$1M in Cash Awards. $10M+ in-kind support.Open to all. Prize description: 4-month startup accelerator, $1.5M in cash grants, $10M in-kind support, zero equity taken Apply to MassChallenge by March 5 for the Early Bird rate. Registration. Critical chain project management.
Critical chain project management (CCPM) is a method of planning and managing projects that emphasizes the resources required to execute project tasks.
It was developed by Eliyahu M. Goldratt. It differs from more traditional methods that derive from critical path and PERT algorithms, which emphasize task order and rigid scheduling. A critical chain project network strives to keep resources levelly loaded, but requires that they be flexible in start times, and quickly switch between tasks and task chains to keep the project on schedule. Origins[edit] According to studies of traditional project management methods by Standish Group and others as of 1998, only 44% of projects typically finish on time. Details[edit] With traditional project management methods, 30% of lost time and resources are typically consumed by wasteful techniques such as bad multitasking, student syndrome, in-box delays, and lack of prioritization.[1] Critical chain is an alternative to critical path analysis. The 9 P's to Prepare for Pitching Panic. Entrepreneurs all face those moments when we have to stand up in front of a group of potential investors, customers, or other supporters and make a pitch to convince someone that our ideas will fly.
Pitch panic ensues. For many, the scariest part of this is not worries about the idea itself, rather the process of delivering the information effectively. For those that get clammy palms and feel a little shaky, here are a few tips to cope better with the process: 2014 Summer Startup Internship - Application Form. Start now, work hard. — Business Daily: Startup, Development, Management. You’ve heard this advice a thousand times before.
At first, it can be inspiring to imagine staying up until 4am every night, passionately building your startup (which will revolutionize “X”). This fantasy is what I thought was going to happen when we began FindMySong. But here’s the truth: You’ve set yourself up for at least a year of incredibly hard work, racing against the clock with no instruction manual and barely any experience or funding. Working on your idea every day is exhausting, and most of that work won’t be on revolutionary features or speaking with legendary venture capitalists. Don’t stop. When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful — Eric Thomas I want you to crush it.
Be held accountable by people you care about.Nothing pushes me harder than knowing that my team is relying on the quality of my work. If you have no team yet, then a group of your peers who are striving towards the same goals you are will work just as well. 20 of the Best Resources to Get Your Startup Off the Ground. This series is supported by Grasshopper, the Virtual Phone System designed for entrepreneurs.
Learn more about Grasshopper at Grasshopper.com. Let's face it: as an entrepreneur, the odds are stacked against you. Most businesses fail after the first few years, and even if you do manage to survive, that doesn't mean your business will redefine an industry, become profitable, or change the world. Getting off on the right foot is essential to navigating a startup from its infancy to profitability.
Luckily, there have been countless entrepreneurs that have gone through the same toils building their own businesses, and most of them are happy to share their experiences to better prepare you for the journey ahead.