24 hints for building a lean startup
TRANSCRIPT
24 Hints to Build a Super Lean Start-upDorian Selz – Squirro
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Namics (Leading CH/D Web Consultancy)
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http://www.local.chlocal.ch (local search)
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Memonic.com
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Get insights fasterSquirro is the most powerful solution for search-based data discovery and advanced analytics.
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Squirro: A business transformation solution
AnalyticsAutomatically extract insights, e.g. customer engagement
VisualizationMake your data accessible for anyone in your organization
Cognitive A learning system providing relevant information in-context
PredictiveAnomaly and trend detection to automate processes
SearchCombine all your data and search in all your data
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The startup challenge
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A journey starts…
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§ Simple goals and a simple planà Focus on getting things done
§ At local.ch: Best local search in Switzerland
§ Squirro:Automate Data
Squirro provides the right information at the rightmoment in context of your workplace – automatically.
1 - Start with a simple plan
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§ Rule 1 – Customer First, always!§ Rule 2 – A great team is great people§ Rule 3 – The solution is the team§ Rule 4 – Long term over shortterminism§ Rule 5 – And yet we count the time in months not years§ Rule 6 – We're optimistic§ Rule 7 – Creativity and communication are key§ Rule 8 – Errors are ok, if...§ Rule 9 – Getting things done§ Rule 10 – Be nice!
2 - A few commonly shared rules
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§ Why?àMoney matters...
§ A techie is per se not credible with a business person & vice versa
§ You need somebody to manage the (growing) organization
§ 3a: Select intensely (as with all appointees)
3 - Get a business person into the team
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§ Why?àMoney matters...
§ Cash is king§ The first due diligence looms on the horizon§ The first (tax, social security, VAT, etc.)
audit is just around the corner§ In the end you’ll sell your business
based on Excel not on code
4 - Get a professional bookkeeper
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§ Why?àMoney matters...
§ What we put into the contract:- Act as one team- Pay-out if somebody leaves the team (voluntarily or not)- Obligations (What happens to your shares if you divorce)- Price of shares when sold internally- Right of first refusal, pre-emptive right
- Basically it’s a prenuptial agreement ... ;-)
5 - Start with a good founding contract
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§ Your largest spending position: Hardwareà Frugality pays
§ Save on salaries:- In case of founders funds: Already taxed money…
§ Save on equipment:- Ikea will do,- Standard pizza box servers, too
6 - Don‘t spend money
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§ Time is your most precious resourceà Spend time wisely
§ It’s not about control, it’s about an allocation decision of your most precious resource
7 - Time tracking pays
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8 - Atlassian Starter LicensesBest 10 bucks you’ll ever spend
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No upfront investment, way more flexibility
9 - Use Cloud Computing
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A call two days before the quarter ends…
10 - NEVER buy hardware at list prices
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11- Cheat a little... (where you can get away with it)
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100 MB1st year free
85.-
Private
Business20 MB
150.- setup98.-
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12- Use Virtualization
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VMware ESX is a superb product and is free.
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§ One single-fits-everything-system is prone to failàAvoid a Titanic effect
13- Split your system in blocks
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Yesterday all my backups seemed so far away…
14 - Forget tapes, do online backups
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15 - Don’t waste time on stuff that others do much better for free or almost free...
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16 - Get early agreement, do mockups
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Before the launch that is.
17 - Do usability testing
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The truth comes out (e.g. Scrum)
18 - Consider using Agile Development
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18a – Correct errors fast
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Automated server management lets you sleep
19 - Use puppet!
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This initial additional effort means less downtime
20 - Automated testing
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21 - Catch those warning, use ELK
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22 - 80% of success is showing up
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§ A start-up experience is an expedition to unchartered territoryàKeep up good spirits
§ Apply the Stockdale Principle: “Unwavering believe in a positive outcomeyet face the brutal facts of your current position”
23 - Learn to live with the ups and downs
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Success = HardWork * Opportunity * Luck
24 – Erfolg ist wenn harte Arbeit auf Opportunität trifft
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