Do startups need lawyers? Absolutely, but not as much as many first-time entrepreneurs think. Lawyers play two important roles for startups. Rules and Risks. 1- Rules. Incorporating your company, taking money from investors, and hiring employees all require compliance with a complex set of laws, codes, and regulations. The key responsibility of a business’ lawyer is to ensure the company...
You have an amazing idea. The most amazing idea of your life. An idea that will change the world. With great reluctance [mistake #1: reluctance] you tell a few trusted friends, all of whom say something between “maybe” and “nice idea”. You take all that as feedback that you are on the right track [mistake #2: happy ears]. You dip your toe into market research, and...
After a decade and a half starting and building startups, I woke up one morning with the desire to help other entrepreneurs. I thought it might be possible for them not to repeat all the mistakes I’ve made myself, and seen my friends make. I thought they might like to have a serial entrepreneur to call upon for advice. This epiphany came to me before the latest wave of entrepreneurial...
Just who am I? To answer that question, like most Americans, I need to start the answer with an explanation of what I do for a living. As of two years ago, I spend my time helping entrepreneurs with their ideas and startups. That is all I do. When you look at it through the lens of a job, for example on my LinkedIn profile, it appears not as a single entry, but a half dozen. From my daily...
