Best of Entrepreneurship — July 2024

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    Article
    Avatar of communityCommunity Picks·2y

    How You Can Start a 5 Figure Side Business as Software Engineer

    Starting a successful side business as a software engineer involves several key steps. Begin by researching to ensure there's demand for your idea. Use service-based offers initially to build credibility and collect testimonials. Make compelling offers to attract customers and use social media to maintain visibility and engagement. Ads can help once your product is proven. A simple tech stack including a website, payment processing, appointment scheduling, and creative tools can keep costs low. Consider the advantages of entrepreneurship versus driving innovation in your current job for higher earnings.

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    Article
    Avatar of hnHacker News·2y

    Running One-man SaaS, 9 Years In

    Healthchecks.io, launched in July 2015, is a one-man SaaS business. With 652 paying customers and a monthly recurring revenue of 14,043 USD, it remains sustainable and focused on balancing enjoyment with work. The founder, who works on it part-time, has no plans to expand the team, raise pricing, or broaden the service's scope. Recent updates include server upgrades and new email and storage solutions.

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    Article
    Avatar of communityCommunity Picks·2y

    How to Make Wealth

    Startups provide an effective way to amass wealth quickly by working intensely on hard technical problems, often in technology. Wealth is distinct from money, as it represents creating what people want. Startups succeed by leveraging small, highly productive teams and solving challenging problems that larger companies struggle with due to their size and bureaucracy. The post discusses the economic proposition of startups, the importance of measurement and leverage in generating wealth, and how small teams or startups can be significantly more productive than large corporations.

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    Article
    Avatar of communityCommunity Picks·2y

    The Product-Market Fit Game

    Achieving product-market fit is a step-by-step process involving validating problems, engaging users, and refining your product. The guide highlights the five levels of product-market fit: identifying a significant problem, validating the problem, recruiting real users, retaining users, and securing paying customers. The article provides practical advice on executing each level, dealing with failure modes, and emphasizes the importance of rapid iteration, co-founding partnerships, and a strong, responsive approach to customer interaction. Pivoting when necessary and learning from customer feedback are crucial to the journey.

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    Article
    Avatar of cassidooCassidy's blog·2y

    Getting paid is weird and sometimes hard

    The author reflects on the challenges of getting paid for their work in the tech industry. They express frustration over projects they worked hard on but didn't earn money from, despite their contributions. They also discuss the financial challenges faced due to their startup shutting down and share insights from being part of the Big Cash Money (BCM) cohort. The post highlights the difficulty of valuing one's work and the complexities of monetizing it.

  6. 6
    Article
    Avatar of staysaasyStay SaaSy·2y

    I Like Dumb Plans

    Simplified and straightforward plans are preferred for startup growth as they are easier to execute, understand, and communicate. These plans require minimal research, avoid complex analysis, and rely on obvious, actionable goals. The focus is on determination rather than cleverness, ensuring that even in exhaustion, the team can move forward. Simple plans also circumvent the need for luck or external changes, emphasizing clear, intuitive business objectives.

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    Article
    Avatar of tcTechCrunch·2y

    17-year-old Eric Zhu’s startup was built in a high school bathroom, now it’s raised $2.3 million and is emerging from stealth

    Eric Zhu, a 17-year-old from Carmel, Indiana, launched Aviato, a private market data analytics platform, from his high school bathroom. Aviato goes beyond competitors like Crunchbase and PitchBook by offering additional metrics like company credit card revenue and employee vesting schedules. The startup has raised $2.3 million in seed funding and aims to refine private market data analytics. Zhu has since moved to San Francisco to focus on growing Aviato while completing his high school education online.

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    Article
    Avatar of swlhThe Startup·2y

    How to Build and Maintain Momentum Like Your Business Depends on It

    Momentum is crucial for startups, serving as a key factor in long-term success. Sam Altman from Y Combinator stressed that losing momentum often leads to failure after initial accelerations. Building momentum requires intentional movements and clear goals. Embracing the 50/50 rule, where 50% of the time is spent on product improvement and 50% on customer acquisition, helps sustain growth. Achieving and maintaining momentum allows a company to function like a high-speed train, hard to stop once it's moving.

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