Startup CTO for Growth

It’s not always easy being the eager beaver, especially after all the punches startup life throws at you, it’s only human to get overwhelmed and want to give up trying. But in those hard times, that’s where the good stuff happens, where people show their true colors, what they’re made of and move forward. Today I want to talk about motivation and how to hold on it throughout your startup journey.

Last week we took a look at the situation of a startup founder I mentored that had credited all of his first cash’s success to his personal image rather than to the merit of his product. This week we’re picking up where we left off and tackling how you should start building your personal brand, and to what extent should it lead your startup’s image.

I recently mentored a certain startup, a very smart SaaS platform for the consulting industry. They were able to generate their first $10,000 fairly quickly, which led me to ask the founder: “Did your clients sign up for the service because of the product or because of you?” His answer: “Because of me.” Is this a good or a bad thing?

We’ve all heard how risky building a startup can be. So it might be a little confusing to hear that startups have a better chance of success when innovating than regular companies. However, it proves itself to be true, and today I want to break down how startups have the upper hand when it comes to achieving success through innovation.

A startup founder’s time is the most valuable thing he or she has, and unfortunately, it is also the most wasted resource in early-stage startups. When you’re striving to provide an innovative product or service, you need to make sure your time in doing so is well spent. So today I bring you five areas on which to focus your efforts when innovating, and the tools to set you on the right path.