Start a Company Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em. If any founders out there are thinking about quitting, please don't automatically assume it's the worst possible option for you. Only you can decide when this chapter ends, so don't forget to look after number one.
Start a Company Solo founder or cofounder - what's better? If you're thinking about launching a company, you may be debating whether to go it alone or try to find a cofounder. So what's the best option?
Start a Company How to avoid a startup train-wreck. There are many different ways to launch a startup, and, unfortunately, most of them lead to failure. In this article we've tried to distill the process our founders go through into 15 steps.
Early-Stage Capital 8 ways to guarantee you raise a Series A. Peng Ong is co-founder and managing partner at Monk’s Hill Ventures in Singapore. Previously he co-founded companies including Electric Classifieds (today known as Match.com), which today generate over USD$1 billion in annual revenues. These tips are his.
Early-Stage Capital Do you REALLY want VC funding? Attracting funding from a VC seems like the first major milestone many startup aim to achieve, but this is rarely the best approach. Non-dilutive capital, like grants and revenue, are better for the business, the founder, and are generally easier to come by.
Updates Update: July 2023 Here's an update for DQ investors, supporters, founders and anyone interested in investing and entrepreneurship. Please share and give feedback. If it's not for you, please unsubscribe.
Start a Company How to build high-performing teams. "We hire you for your opinions." How Reed Hastings, Marc Randolph, Ted Sarandos and the Netflix executive team created a winning culture of performance.
Build a Product Practical tips for user interviews. It's never too early to start interviewing potential users of your product, and most founders place far too little emphasis on doing so. Aim to build user interviews into all aspects of your business, and throughout the customer journey. Here's how we do it...
Early-Stage Capital What are the most critical factors to startup success? If you’re a founder, who spends every waking hour at your computer, don’t underestimate the importance of random opportunity. You don’t need to be at a desk for it to count as work. Get out and talk to people.
Start a Company Everything you need to know about selling a sub-$50 million SaaS company. Chris Kern has been doing M&A deals for the last 20 years. In a recent podcast with entrepreneur and show host, Greg Head, he gave a brilliant summary of the do's and don'ts for SaaS founders working towards a sub-$50m acquisition.
Updates Is this the best startup job application ever? Here's the story of how and why we came to be working with the amazing Leanne Beesley. It's far from a standard recruitment process and Leanne's approach taught us a lot about how to land a job you really want.
Early-Stage Capital I want to invest in startups, should I pick deals or invest in a VC fund? For anyone thinking about getting into early-stage investing, don't just look for startups to back. Consider investing in an emerging VC fund, and letting a professional invest on your behalf. Here's why...
Early-Stage Capital Investor cold email template. Do investors read cold emails? Sure, many of them do. Thanks to the power law, most investors' biggest concern is missing out on the next big thing. So they have a vested interest to look at EVERYTHING that comes their way, just to be sure...
Updates Update: March 2023 The financial world is giving very mixed signals - banks failing, inflation still ripping, yet oil prices and down, along with startup valuations. But here at DQ we're making progress, with 10 companies now and counting. Here's our latest update.
Start a Company Why do so many people want to become a startup CEO? Being a startup CEO is a lonely, complex, and often unfulfilling job, so why do so many people yearn for it, and is there a better way? We think there is.
Start a Company Future founders, do this before resigning. Too many founders quit their day job too soon. There are many simple steps you can take that can save you months of wasted time, giving your startup a headstart and saving you thousands. Here are some examples.
Start a Company How to reward startup advisors - a framework. It's easy to hand out equity in your startup and impossible to get it back. Here are some tips on how to manage startup advisor relationships, and how to reward advisors based on performance.
Start a Company Are the best entrepreneurs risk takers or risk averse? Although there are successful founders of all kinds, research shows that being more risk averse may increase your chances of success by up to one third. Here's what you can do to avoid unnecessary risks.
Updates Advice for my kids after 20 years of startup life. At least two of my business partners, past and present, are self-made multimillionaires. I've also invested in, worked with, learned from, and collaborated with dozens of hugely wealthy, successful people. Here are 42 pieces of advice I've collected along the way.
Build a Product What to use for startup products: problem statements or user stories? It's easy to rush into building a software product for your startup before you truly understand the user's need. This is a common problem, which often results in a complete redesign. You can avoid this with problem statements, user stories, and user interviews.
Early-Stage Capital 15 startup lessons I wish I'd learned sooner. When you try anything new, it's good to be forewarned of some of the common pitfalls and mistakes you should aim to avoid. After a decade of investing in startups and launching my own, here are 15 lessons I could have done with knowing sooner!
Build a Product An MVP is not software. No matter what your friendly software development company might tell you (because clearly they have a vested interest), an MVP should not be software.
Start a Company 4 ways to go from idea to startup. Many first-time founders assume that VCs are out there just waiting to be bowled over by their idea, but the reality is quite different. VCs generally want to back companies that are already proven. Not ideas. So what are the options?
Start a Company What should first-time founders know about shares and legal docs? If you're setting up a company, talk to a lawyer. The information below does not constitute legal advice and represents the views and opinions of the author, James Green only. Nothing expressed here should be construed as the view or opinion of DQventures, or as legal advice of any kind.
Early-Stage Capital Growth versus profit. High-growth software companies have boomed in the last decade, powered by investors' thirst for capital appreciation. But it might just be that this era is coming to an end, to be replaced by a renewed focus on profitability and yield. Here's how I'm thinking about my investments.
