Shades of Black and White: Corporations and Startups
Did you know that 25% of the population in western countries become depressed at least once in their lifetime? People who are prone to the disease tend to have negative thoughts long before they experience a full depressive episode. They tend to wear black rather than white. They go out at night, instead of during the day. They say No a lot more times than Yes. I have encountered the same depressing mood in large corporations. Negativity permeates most of the thoughts of the employees. In some cases, it also causes passive aggressive or simply aggressive behaviours. In fact, bullying could be the direct outcome of such an atmosphere. Executives isolated in their large offices are not different from the rest of the employees in the ‘villages’. It is extremely difficult to find an optimist among them. They all see […]
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I love starting a startup!
It is astonishing how many startups serial entrepreneurs make. Not all of them are successful. In fact, most of them fail quickly, a fact that gives them the opportunity to move to greener pastures. They tend to move from one idea to another at the speed of light, until they discover the one that will be profitable. Or the one that interests them the most. The one thing they like the most about this process is the excitement. Butterflies in the stomach, strong heartbeat, fluttering of the chicks. All of these are the feelings an early startup can cause to its founders. Does it remind you of other instances in life? Of course! This is exactly how we feel when we fall in love! We cannot wait to meet the man or woman of our dreams! We count the hours, […]
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Lean Startup for Small and Medium Sized companies
It is not a coincidence that lean startup has been used extensively in large corporations and startups. On one hand the term ‘lean’ reflects the methodology used by Mega corporations such as Toyota. It was employed successfully in manufacturing and it is (until today) the main way to cut waste in both time and money. On the other hand, the second term ‘startup’ reflects its application in these organisations that are still trying to find their business model. This is a highly risky phase, full of uncertainties and hard work. Lean startup has been used successfully for several years and brings astonishing results to its practitioners. Up to know, virtually no small and medium sized businesses have been using it. Why? One of the main reasons is ignorance. it has not been connected with their type of business, therefore it […]
Read MoreEasy Lean Startup: New Book
I have just finished the first draft of my next book! I worked solidly on this for the past few weeks, until I saw the blank pages transformed into a dense text. The working title of the book is Easy Lean Startup. I broke down lean startup methodology to its absolutely basic premises. I included several examples of how it works, so that the book has a practical feel. I avoided all complicated notions and terminology. Above all, Tara Roskell is illustrating it in a way that the book will become self explanatory. There are a lot of cartoons and designed-led pages to satisfy even the most demanding artist! The purpose behind this book is to allow for more startups to read it. Startups without any previous knowledge of lean methodology or business theory. Startups who are more interested in […]
Read MoreStartups within established companies
A lot has been written on the value of intrapreneurs. Even more has been written on the obstacle the face on the daily basis. It looks as if the structure of large organisations is such that it does not allow for innovation. A friend and CEO of 1500 people company recently complained that the only innovator is the 86 year old Founder. When I asked him why does he not change things, he answered that he cannot. There too many guidelines, rules and regulations embedded in the core of the company that make flexibility a forbidden fruit! And yet, we an established company in the 21st century will not survive, if it does not behave like a startup. Disruptive innovation and the advancement of technology have a definitive impact on the markets. The customers continuously change their wants and needs, […]
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Food startups are on the rise in the UK
By 2014 there were more than 2500 accelerators globally, a number that continues to grow. High demand, especially from start ups, is the main reason for the massive growth currently being experienced. The acceleration model builds on the previously used incubation model. In the 1990s startups tended to rent space in coworking places and work together under the lose supervision of a more experienced entrepreneur. The model was helpful, since it created a supportive environment for the startup. Problems became evident a few years later when entrepreneurs realised that such a model was too static(as opposed to dynamic) and did not accelerate growth. Few of these companies had a successful exit within an acceptable time-framework (5-7 years). Despite the advantages of the accelerator model, there are currently few such institutions in the UK, focussing on food startups. For example, we […]
Read MoreA brief introduction on customer development
Customer development is a new term that describes old notions. The process allows the business person to build a strong customer base, based on continuous feedback from customers and users. This sounds fairly simple but I can assure you that very few entrepreneurs participate in this exercise. And the result is failure. Failure to find the customer, failure to provide for his/ her needs, failure to keep them around. Since Steve Blank decided to codify customer development and describe the process in detail, there have been many more entrepreneurs who decided to try it out. And the results have been astonishing. In the following video I just describe the basic methodology behind customer development, as Steve Blank explains it in his book on The Four Steps to the Epiphany. Enjoy! Find the best Acceleration Programs for Startups in the UK […]
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The (mis/ab)use of suicidal startups
The recent suicide of Robin Williams may have been devastating for his family, but it also brought to the forefront important questions on the handling of depression. Some ignorant and potentially harmful people claimed that Robin Williams was a coward or that he could easily have faced the situation or that he was weak. Such statements can only damage the morale of millions of people who suffer from the debilitating disease. It could also mislead the rest of us into thinking that depression is just a state of mind and not an illness that causes immense suffering. On the other hand, his suicide became a great opportunity for mental health organisations to push forward their agenda and to ask for more support from the NHS. Although GPs tend to treat immediately and accurately physical ailments, they tend to take their […]
Read MoreHow companies can benefit from using lean methodology
Companies and startups alike can benefit greatly from using lean methodology. Some of the obvious advantages are that they will become a lot more flexible in their approach, they will be more innovative and they will reduce substantially their waste. However, these benefits are not always obvious to the recipient. This is why I decided to create a short video to explain how a company can flourish by using my favourite methodology. Take the time to go through the material and let me know, if you have any questions. Find the best Acceleration Programs for UK Startups here
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What is the main target of a startup?
All in all, if you aspire to become a successful startup, you should be aiming at product-market fit. This is the point that will differentiate you from all other startups out there. This is the turning point that will be the start of your new career as a successful businessman. Just to give you an idea of what this product-market fit is, I created this short video. Watch it, and let me know, if you have any questions. I will be more than happy to answer them. Find the best Acceleration Programs for UK Startups here
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