Entrepreneurship for Software Engineers
You might be an entrepreneur if… You can visualize solutions without a requirements doc UX/UI is important to you, even if it’s not your job You code in C# or Java, because your job requires it, but you learned RoR or Python to see what it could do You care about what customers want
The Paul Graham Test You take work a little too seriously You are genuinely smart You get s*&t done People can stand to be around you You are willing to say, “I don’t know.”
You get frustrated… When your employer responds slowly to customer needs If there is a better way to build it (quickly) Impact ≠ Reward People around you “punch a clock”
…and you’re doing something about it You contribute to open source projects You participate in meet-ups, hackerspaces, blog, or contribute to discussion groups You’re helping a start-up on the side You’ve built a functional prototype
But do you have a company? Is your product a feature, product, or business? Is it a product or services business?
Do you have a customer? Does your technology solve a current or future need? Is it a big or small market?* What do you know about the customer, the competition, technology and market trends? Do you offer a “complete solution”?**
There is only one way to find out Build a minimally viable product (MVP) Architect in a way that allows for rapid prototyping, iteration and flexibility Get customer feedback through interaction Do it with the least possible $$$
Build MVP and get some validation first Your funding strategy depends on answers to the questions: Feature, product or company? Small or big addressable market Success requires lots of help (read: $$$) Marketing team, advisors, investors and employees To get big fast requires giving up control (usually) Fundraising
Read: Read: dna/ dna/ Visit for more information on available resources and to applywww.jumpstartnetwork.org Talk to Kendall Wouters If that sounds fun to you…
Or, Go Work For A Start-up
What Start-ups Are Looking For Core Values Technical Skills Adaptive Excellence
What Start-ups Are Looking For Core Values Match Technical Skills Match Has Adaptive Excellence
What Are Core Values? Set of shared principles that unite a team Reinforced each time someone is hired, rewarded or fired Non-negotiable, do not change, even when strategies change You either have them or you don’t
What is Culture? Where core values = how you do things
What Start-ups Are Looking For Core Values Match Technical Skills Match Has Adaptive Excellence
“Less than 2% of the population has what it takes to succeed in a high- growth technology business” - Adeo Ressi, The Founder Institute It Sounds Hard, Because It Is
Will You Get Paid? Probably less than you make now, but hopefully not for long Equity participation Non-monetary benefits: Impact Autonomy Mastery
What You Can Expect Long hours Uncertainty and dynamic/fluid strategy No rule book Accountability - nowhere to hide Start-ups are risky, but…
Visit for a list of open jobs at NEO technology start-upshttp://bit.ly/jHnNEF Connect with entrepreneurs and help them in your spare time (try before you buy) If that sounds fun to you…