Getting Started.

I recently helped a technology start-up, go from an idea scribbled on the back of an envelope to developing the product feature list, often called the Product Backlog. The team is made up of experienced Java and C# programmers. The company plans to focus on mobile applications that live in the cloud and take advantage of the elasticity features the cloud offers.

The initial worry was cost. We're self funding, so we're watching every penny. During this week's kick off meeting I mentioned Microsoft's BizSpark program, they had not heard about it.

Microsoft BizSpark is a global program that helps software startups succeed by giving them access to Microsoft software development tools, connecting them with key industry players, including investors, and providing marketing visibility to help entrepreneurs starting a business. It's a well kept secret, yet as Entrepreneurs we should all know about it and take advantage of the FREE services it offers.

Software

Get immediate access to current full-featured Microsoft development tools, platform technologies, and production licenses of server products (including Windows Azure Platform) for use in developing and bringing to market innovative and interoperable solutions.  For you tech heads, we're talking about a full MSDN subscription just for signing up. No software costs in year one. No borrowing copies of Visual Studio from your friends. Microsoft wants you to develop your new idea using their tools, so take advantage of it!  This is a great way to get your hands on legal copies of Visual Studio Ultimate with MSDN, Windows 7, Microsoft Expression and SQL Server. You can also get specific tools to help you write for Microsoft Mobile, XBox and KINECT.

Windows Azure

Develop and deploy applications to the Windows Azure platform, an Internet-scale cloud computing and services platform hosted in Microsoft data centers. Build, host and scale applications in Microsoft datacenters with no up-front expenses and no long term commitment. This will save you almost $4k alone.

Support

• Receive business development and technical training at highly subsidized costs or in many cases, no costs.
• Receive two technical support incidents per startup. Each incident is managed by Microsoft until they are resolved, no matter how many calls it takes.
• Receive access to MSDN Ultimate managed newsgroups, online library, and so on.
• Get connected to BizSpark Network Partners around the world—incubators, investors, advisors, government agencies, and hosters—that are equally involved and vested in software-fueled innovation and entrepreneurship, and who will provide a wide range of support resources, including expert mentoring.

Other benefits include access to special offers, training and access to their partner network.  Once you've created your company profile on BizSpark, they'll also give you access to their investor network.

Click here to learn more.

...Jim

Steve Blank on Customer Development, with additional comments by Eric Ries.

This is from 2009, but it is still very relevant today.

Steve Blank, founder of E.piphany, author of Four Steps to the Epiphany, and creator of Customer Development methodology (slides). Steve will speak about Speed & Tempo for Startups, a discussion about decision-making.

Steven Gary Blank is a retired serial entrepreneur with over thirty years of experience in high technology companies and management. He teaches entrepreneurship at both Stanford and UC Berkeley, and his Google Tech talk The Secret History of Silicon Valley (video) is one of the definitive views on early Silicon Valley innovation (updated clip from Computer History Museum).

You can find more on Customer Development by visiting http://SteveBlank.com

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Google hosts Eric Ries author of, "The Lean Startup"

We're going to be discussing Eric Ries's book during our Venture Launch educational series. I found this high quality video filmed at Google and thought you might enjoy it.

The Lean Startup movement is taking hold in companies both new and established to help entrepreneurs and managers do one important thing: make better, faster business decisions. Vastly better, faster business decisions. Bringing principles from lean manufacturing and agile development to the process of innovation, the Lean Startup helps companies succeed in a business landscape riddled with risk. This book shows you how.

Eric is the author of the popular blog Startup Lessons Learned and the creator of the Lean Startup methodology. He co-founded and served as CTO of IMVU, his third startup, which has today has over 40 million users and 2009 revenue over $22 million. An entrepreneur in residence at Harvard Business School and a frequent speaker at business events, he advises startups on business and product strategy using the Lean Startup approach.