Entrepreneur Corner: Motivating employees and leveraging the human cloud

Here’s the latest from VentureBeat’s Entrepreneur Corner.

Why governments don’t get startups – Government entrepreneurship policies might sound like a good idea, but serial entrepreneur Steve Blank notes they’re generally doomed to failure, since (with one exception) governments fail to define the different types of startups in the market.

5 ways to motivate employees (beyond stocks and salary) – With the ongoing economic crisis, many companies have had to cut back on salary bumps and … Continue Reading

Entrepreneur Corner: Unusual promotion and tapping into big markets

Here’s the latest from VentureBeat’s Entrepreneur Corner.

Should you use an investor’s lawyer? – It’s not uncommon in Silicon Valley for investors to suggest their clients to simply use their attorney – and it’s not illegal, either. However, attorney Scott Edward Walker notes there are some practical reasons why this is a bad idea.

4 ways to tap into the big contract market – Start-ups can earn some much needed capital from government agencies and … Continue Reading

Entrepreneur Corner: Google+ as intranet and fundraising secrets

Here’s the latest from VentureBeat’s Entrepreneur Corner.

Can Google+ replace your company’s intranet? – Google+ is one of the hottest social networks to hit the scene in a long time, but is it something that can replace how your company communicates internally? Attorney Curtis Smolar looks at the legal risks that accompany this service for businesses.

6 secrets of fundraising success – Finding venture capital in today’s economic environment is hard to do. Jon Olafsson, … Continue Reading

Why do big companies get stuck?

Everyone knows they need to engage with growth, but the resistance companies face in moving resources from areas that work into new areas is tremendous. This is why big companies are so slow to innovate, says Geoffrey Moore, author and venture partner at MDV. In this Entrepreneur Though Leader Lecture at Stanford University, he explains that while there are no shortage of great, groundbreaking ideas at big companies – including many that could threaten startups … Continue Reading

Entrepreneur Corner: Marketing truths and a primer on networking

Here’s a roundup of the latest posts from VentureBeat’s Entrepreneur Corner.

VC Roundtable: What makes a great founder? — OpenView Partners surveyed several venture capitalists, asking them to share their vision on what qualities make for a good founder and to weigh in on whether those founders should extract equity upon receiving funding. Hear thoughts from Phin Barnes, Brad Feld, Rob Go and Alex Taussig in this roundtable discussion.

6 social marketing truths executives must … Continue Reading

Shotgun networking is no way to make contacts

Networking is a critical part of the business world, but it’s something that precious few people do well. Mark Verge, serial entrepreneur and founder of PerfectBusiness.com talks about the importance of listening, rather than selling yourself, as you talk with someone who can potentially help your company – as well as the critical nature of following up. Also, rather than trying to meet everyone in the room, focus on a critical few and really get … Continue Reading

Entrepreneur Corner: Marketing with Google+ and employee/customer altercations

Here’s the latest from VentureBeat’s Entrepreneur Corner.

Fight! Fight! Are you liable when your employees and customers mix it up? – Altercations between customers and employees are PR nightmares, but they could be legal ones as well. Attorney Curtis Smolar looks at ways to protect your employees and your company.

7 ways to get an industry leader you don’t know to mentor you – Mentorship is critical for many startups, but finding experienced market leaders … Continue Reading

Reid Hoffman discusses surviving the pivot

There’s a point in the lives of most startups where a radical shift has to occur in order for them to hit the next level. If done right, it can be transformative – but too many startup owners cling to their original ideas and drag their companies down in the process.

Linked In co-founder Reid Hoffman, in this Endeavor Entrepreneur Summit address, pulls examples from his days at PayPal and LinkedIn to share how a … Continue Reading

Entrepreneur Corner: Power VC roundtable and the role of luck in startups

Here’s the latest from Venturebeat’s Entrepreneur Corner.

Roundtable: VC legends give their best advice for founders and CEOs – OpenView Partners surveyed several venture capitalists, asking them to share the advice to they most often give to (and the mistakes they most often see from) the CEOs and founders in their portfolios. Hear thoughts from Phin Barnes, Brad Feld, Rob Go and Alex Taussig in this roundtable discussion.

5 skills entrepreneurs can learn from engineers… Continue Reading

3 ways to become more likeable

No matter how good your product is, if you’re running a startup, you need to be likable. Entrepreneur and author Guy Kawasaki lays out three ways to become more enchanting to the people you meet – both investors and customers – in this Entrepreneur Thought Leader Lecture given at Stanford University.

In the end, he says, it comes down to having a genuine smile (as opposed to the fake one of flight attendants), knowing how … Continue Reading

Entrepreneur Corner: Spying on employees and evaluating partnerships

Here’s the latest from VentureBeat’s Entrepreneur Corner.

Where are the lines in employee surveillance? – Hollywood shows companies spying on their employees all the time, but in the real world, it’s something that can land you in a world of trouble. Attorney Curtis Smolar runs down the legal cans and can’ts of keeping tabs on your employees – even when you suspect them of stealing trade secrets.

5 ways to boost your freemium conversion rates… Continue Reading

Innovation can’t be taken for granted

Innovation is a chief driver of the economy, but it doesn’t come easy. Jlabs CEO Judy Estrin, in this 2008 Entrepreneur Thought Leader Lecture at Stanford University, notes that real innovation often takes decades – and both society and the business world have become extremely short-sighted. As a result, they settle on incremental advances, rather than significant ones. In addition, as companies become more risk averse, support for real innovation has dwindled, which ultimately is … Continue Reading

Entrepreneur Corner: Customer tell signs and Reid Hoffman’s rules for success

Here’s the latest from VentureBeat’s Entrepreneur Corner.

What are the rights of minority stockholders? – State law rights aren’t something many entrepreneurs are familiar with, but for minority stockholders, these non-contractual rights can be their best friend in a pinch. Attorney Scott Edward Walker looks at three significant rights of these shareholders.

What do customers really say when they are going to buy? – Finding people who are excited about your idea isn’t all that … Continue Reading

Reid Hoffman’s entrepreneurial rules of thumb

As the co-founder of popular business social network LinkedIn, Reid Hoffman knows a thing or two about successfully launching a startup. In this Entrepreneur Thought Leader Lecture given at Stanford University, he details the rules he has historically used when creating a venture: Look for disruptive change, aim high, build a network around your company, plan for good and bad luck and maintain flexible persistence. Most importantly, he says, remember these rules are just rules … Continue Reading

Entrepreneur Corner: New rules for the bubble and incorporation choices

Here’s the latest from VentureBeat’s Entrepreneur Corner.

Where should you incorporate your LLC? – The lures and temptations of certain states are like a siren song to some entrepreneurs, but attorney Curtis Smolar warns that there are some important factors you’ll need to keep in mind before leaping to a decision on the matter.

4 ways to create innovative business software that sticks – For every piece of business software that finds a userbase, there … Continue Reading

Entrepreneur Corner: Inspiring ideas and arguing in favor of outsourcing

Here’s the latest from VentureBeat’s Entrepreneur Corner.

Demystifying the VC term sheet: Redemption rights – Attorney Scott Edward Walker continues his ongoing series looking at the often dense language of VC term sheets, this week focusing on redemption rights, which can put founders in the crosshairs, if they’re not careful.

Smart marketing in the era of agile commerce – As the need for agility grows at eCommerce startups, marketing departments need to extend their reach … Continue Reading

Education’s entrepreneurial opportunities

There’s a ton of research and development in the pharmaceutical sector – but in the education system, which is just as large, there’s virtually none. 17 percent of pharma’s revenues are reinvested in R&D – but with education, the figure is just 0.1 percent. Aneesh Chopra, Chief Technology Officer of the United States, calls this a missed opportunity – and notes that Washington is trying to spur startups to focus on this – in this … Continue Reading

Entrepreneur Corner: Legal pitfalls and mistakes to learn from

Here’s the latest from VentureBeat’s Entrepreneur Corner.

4 legal pitfalls startup owners must face – Legal barriers vary from company to company, depending on the industry they choose and how they operate, but for startup owners, there are some common headaches. Attorney Curtis Smolar looks at four of the most pressing.

The essential qualities of a great CEO – Jeanne M. Sullivan, General Partner at StarVest Partners, has met a lot of CEOS – and … Continue Reading