Hey fellow Entrepreneurs! Thank you so much for following us on our tumblr page here. We have actually now moved our blog to another platform so that we can provide you with even more awesome content and resources (coming soon).

What can you expect?

One of the things that we value most is having great resources and content (such as advice, tips etc). To that end, you can be sure that we are continuously working to bring you content that you can use to build a successful startup and run your business. This includes interviews with successful Entrepreneurs and industry leaders as well as guest posts from leading experts in the field. Stay tuned!

So, please head on over to our blog’s new home at blog.inismo.com. We have tons of new stuff coming your way!

About Us:

INISMO.com is here to provide you with advice, tips and resources to maximize your chances at building a successful startup. INISMO.com is the world’s best platform for accredited investors and entrepreneurs to interact on in a secure environment. Be sure to follow us on twitter, join us on Facebook, Google+ and follow us on Pinterest too!

-The INISMO.com Team

Ready to build or scale your startup? Do you need someone else to help you along? Well, you may be just looking for a co-founder or partner. But how do you go about searching for the perfect partner for your business? Well, we feel the three most important traits to any successful partner or co-founder include passion, skills and connections within your industry. If they don’t believe in your startup as much as you do, have the skills you need at your startup or know the right people in the business to contact when needed, you may be looking at the wrong person. So, let’s dive in and dig deeper into these traits. Shall we?

Got Passion?

Well, obviously you had some level of interest in starting your business and the idea behind it. When it comes to finding a business partner, shouldn’t they also have an interest and be passionate about your idea and vision? Without a driving factor, such as passion, how can you be sure that your new partner will work as hard as you, if not more, to make sure the company succeeds? Passion. Passion. Passion.

Got Skills?

While passion is important to make sure you and your partner love the business, without the right skills, it will be very difficult to scale or grow a business. Is your co-founder or partner good at marketing, public relations, technology, operations, networking, sales or something else? Does he complement your skills and cover your weaknesses?

Got Connections or Contacts?

No matter what age you are starting out, networking with people is a critical skill that we have talked about before on INISMO. With that comes knowledge of key people and companies who can help you at your startup down the road. So the question to ask is whether your partner or co-founder has ever networked before to build connections. Without knowledge of people, how can you scale a company? Keep that in mind!

Personal hint of the INISMO founders: Another important trait that a successful partnership will have is endurance. You and your entire team need to know that the journey to success may include several challenges, obstacles and difficult times as well. You need to be calm and maintain your enthusiasm as you try to achieve your vision.

About Us:

INISMO.com is here to provide you with advice, tips and resources to maximize your chances at building a successful startup. INISMO.com is the world’s best platform for accredited investors and entrepreneurs to interact on in a secure environment. Be sure to follow us on twitter, join us on Facebook, Google+ and follow us on Pinterest too!

-The INISMO.com Team

Coming up with ideas or complaining about existing solutions may come to you easily but do you have any of following traits to be an “entrepreneur”? Taking an idea, scaling it into a business and scaling that into a revenue generating company takes more than just, “I can do that better!” S

So, let’s find out!

Commitment

Being committed to an idea, especially for any investor giving you their money, is critical for any entrepreneur to expand an idea into a viable business.

Passion

More than just an idea, it is the ability to feel and know the solution that you have inside and out. That takes intense passion, or love, for not only an idea but the process of expanding a business. You have to love it to succeed. It is as simple as that.

Positive Perspective

Yes, times can become tough but they will become better as well. Having the sense of positiveness to any circumstance or issue is important to persevere the toughest situations. That ability, comes in handy when building a company as well. Not every day will be sunshine…expect some rain but don’t give up.

Sharp Focus

Yes, we all would love to solve every single problem or issue we come across but having a sharp focus on just ONE issue is important to succeeding. Remember the saying, “Jack of all trades, master of none,” because that is exactly what a non-focused individual is. Be the “master” of your trade (especially if you have investor money in your company).

Personal hint from the INISMO founders: You need to be fearless which means to push forward when a problem arises and to have the persistence to find solutions for it. It is necessary that you always keep in mind that there is a way to solve your issue but stay focused. As a founder, you need to know that your vision may stay the same but how you go about achieving it with your startup may change (which is completely ok and normal!).

About Us:

INISMO.com is here to provide you with advice, tips and resources to maximize your chances at building a successful startup. INISMO.com is the world’s best platform for accredited investors and entrepreneurs to interact on in a secure environment. Be sure to follow us on twitter, join us on Facebook and Google+ too!

-The INISMO.com Team

“Knowledge is power.” - Francis Bacon

For any entrepreneur or startup founder, knowing what is happening in their given industry is critical to staying competitive. For many of those interested in social media, technology, internet startups and entrepreneurs, we have compiled a quick list of some of the top sites offering such news. In fact, some of them even have apps that you can download to view news at any time.

Mashable.com:

Mashable is the largest independent news source dedicated to covering digital culture, social media and technology. Mashable’s 20 million monthly unique visitors and 4 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Numerous studies and leading publications have declared Mashable the most influential online news outlet and a must-read site. Source: Mashable.com

TechCrunch.com:

TechCrunch is a leading technology media property, dedicated to obsessively profiling startups, reviewing new Internet products, and breaking tech news. Source: TechCrunch.com

Venturevillage.eu

VentureVillage is the most entertaining news outlet for digital innovation in Europe, reporting on the hottest startup hubs across the continent. Based in Berlin, we’re uniquely positioned to access the most promising personalities and products from Eastern and Western Europe. By providing profile pieces as well as product reviews, we’re fresh, new, and informative. Source: Venturevillage.eu

Siliconallee.com

Silicon Allee was started by a couple of expatriate Berlin-based entrepreneurs. We spent a lot of 2010 in Silicon Valley. If you’ve experienced both the American start up scene and the German start up scene, you know that they couldn’t possibly be more different. Source: Siliconallee.com

GigaOM.com:

GigaOM began as a blog by one writer in 2006, Om Malik, and has grown into one of the most credible and insightful voices at the intersection of business and technology. GigaOM is a new type of media company with a business model that leverages technology, transparency, and access to information. The company’s growth has been propelled by great writers, journalistic integrity, industry depth and audience engagement. Source: GigaOM.com

VentureBeat.com:

VentureBeat is a media company obsessed with covering amazing technology and why it matters in our lives. From the most innovative companies and the incredible people behind them to the money fueling it all, we’re devoted to exhaustive coverage of the technology revolution. Source: VentureBeat.com

Under30CEO.com:

Under30CEO is an online/offline media platform covering news, advice, trends, and events about early stage businesses, highlighting what’s next in cities across the globe. Source: Under30CEO.com

KillerStartups.com:

KillerStartups.com is a user driven internet startups community. Entrepreneurs, investors, and bloggers are staying informed on up-and-coming internet startups using our blog platform, where internet entrepreneurs submit their startup to see what others think about it. Source: KillerStartups.com

Readwriteweb.com

ReadWriteWeb is a Web technology blog launched in 2003. ReadWriteWeb covers Web 2.0 and Web technology in general, and provides industry news, reviews, and analysis.

So, stay ahead and stay informed! The startup world is not only exciting fiercely competitive as well. Knowing what is happening elsewhere in the industry will profoundly help you adjust your tactics and business strategies as well.

Personal Hint of the INISMO founders: We have a lot to do, helping entrepreneurs getting off the ground with their business and idea. So, we’re a friend of websites that keep us up-to-date with news and stories from various sources. Feed Readers are an option, but we like to browse news sites for the latest updates and news on startups etc. One of our favorites is, EuroStartupBlogs.com!

About Us:

INISMO.com is here to provide you with advice, tips and resources to maximize your chances at building a successful startup. INISMO.com is the world’s best platform for accredited investors and entrepreneurs to interact on in a secure environment. Be sure to follow us on twitter, join us on Facebook and Google+ too!

-The INISMO.com Team

Building the right team is definitely one of the most important factors towards scaling a successful startup but having the right ecosystem is just as crucial. What does that mean to you? Well, it means that you must take away all of the things that are coming in the way of your employees, their work etc. Are they going out to get coffee a few blocks away or grab a snack because they are hungry? Why not offer free coffee and snacks in the office as an option? 

Small Steps

Making small steps towards making your employees’ lives easier will take your startup much farther. It is very similar to the saying, “treat others the way you want to be treated”. Right? So make small efforts such as offering snacks, perhaps vacation days, coffee etc. so that your startup is known for being friendly and open to the needs of the people working there. Wouldn’t you like to work for such as company that values your needs?

Although making such changes may not have a major impact on making a startup more appealing to an investor, it will make it more appealing to great talent looking for appreciation. As a result, better talent means better productivity and product or service that you startup offers (at which point it does affect the investor does care).

Personal hint of the INISMO founders: Creating a pleasant and supporting working environment will attract better talent and help build a successful team. There may only be a few minor issues that make a huge difference when it comes to chosing a working environment for a prospective employee. Younger individuals want to work in fun and entertaining environment while others may want have families with different needs or wants. 

About Us:

INISMO.com is here to provide you with advice, tips and resources to maximize your chances at building a successful startup. INISMO.com is the world’s best platform for accredited investors and entrepreneurs to interact on in a secure environment. Be sure to follow us on twitter, join us on Facebook and Google+ too!

-The INISMO.com Team

For many people, summer is the time to relax and sit back in the sun. For other, those who want to take advantage of the time, find ways to stay productive and charge ahead with their business, idea or startup project. 

Manage Your Time

Unlike money, time can not be recovered or gained back which means it’s important that you value the time you have, the free minutes or seconds, to do productive work. We don’t just mean work all day long but work on a project that you are passionate about and love to do (that isn’t work then…it’s your passion).

Stay Active. Be “Un-Lazy” 

As Peter Shankman suggests in his recent blog post, “Reach out! If summer means people are chilling, that also means less work for you…” He is completely right which means attend more events within your industry, find more people to network with, host more classes to teach others what you know etc. etc. etc. Stay active!

While all this is a great way to spend your time productively during the summer, we must also ask how does it help you as an entrepreneur, right? Well, for people who can manage their time effectively have a better chance of managing their time and investment when building a startup. That said, it’s critical that you imbibe these skills and show to your future investors that you understand what their time and money mean to you (because you value your time and money too).

Personal hint of the INISMO founders: Be sure to spend time wisely not only during the summer but throughout the year. Get up early and do your basic work such as checking emails, scheduling meetings, phone calls etc. so that you are set for the next few hours and days. Arrange meeting and meetups at coffee shops or small restaurants with clients or partners. Be sure to also invite the closest ones to dinner once in a while. All in all, take time off to relxz but don’t forget that work is important as well (if it’s your passion, then it’s not really “work”). Best of luck! :)

About Us:

INISMO.com is here to provide you with advice, tips and resources to maximize your chances at building a successful startup. INISMO.com is the world’s best platform for accredited investors and entrepreneurs to interact on in a secure environment. Be sure to follow us on twitter, join us on Facebook and Google+ too!

-The INISMO.com Team

We have heard from so many investors, venture capitalists and experienced serial entrepreneurs that building the initial team is critical to any startup’s success. But does it really matter whether you are a tech or business founder? Opinions seem to be mixed when it comes to who you are actually asking.

Business

While business founders often times get bashed for not playing a vital role in a startup, it can be challenging running a business when it comes to vision, marketing and business development. Unlike coders or people with a tech background, business founders can easily lay out a strategy from a business perspective but are unable to, in many cases, actually build a product (for which they need to reach out to a tech person).

Technology

Founders with a technology background can definitely build a product by themselves or at least a working prototype to get the wheel turning. As opposed to business founders, tech founders can begin working on their idea immediately instead of looking for someone else to code and bring an idea to fruition.

A Mix?

Yes, as with anything in life, there is always a yin and yang. So imagine if you could take the best of the business founder and best of the tech founder and combined them. Eureka! So many successful startups have scaled because each founder focused on their core strengths whether that concerned coding, marketing, business development, accounting etc.

So let us ask you: What kind of a founder are you? :)

Personal hint of the INISMO founders: It doesn’t matter which type of founder you are. The most important issue that you need is to have the courage to start. If you are a business founder, you can’t start coding, but you can start planning your product, the business model and strategy. If you are a coder you still need to plan your product first and think of how you will scale your operations in the long run. So, no matter what type of entrepreneur you are, get started NOW with your idea and the people who are interested in helping out will eventually follow.

About Us:

INISMO.com is here to provide you with advice, tips and resources to maximize your chances at building a successful startup. INISMO.com is the world’s best platform for accredited investors and entrepreneurs to interact on in a secure environment. Be sure to follow us on twitter, join us on Facebook and Google+ too!

-The INISMO.com Team

We all know that building a business is not for everyone especially since it can be time consuming and involve a lot of hard work as well. But is it ever too early to start your own venture? We think any age is appropriate to get ahead of the curve by building your own startup. Building a startup, even failing at it, can be a valuable experience that can help you in your next project. For many investors, when asked what are some indications of a potentially successful entrepreneur, most will say “past experience with startups.” Does it matter if you failed? NO! Investors want to see that you have made an effort to innovate and take a risk.

How Old are you Again?

Doesn’t matter! High school and college students are taking the plunge into the world of entrepreneurship with enthusiasm and passion. Age no longer matters because kids now have the resources and benefit of reduced cost for launching a business in today’s world. Unlike decades before, for many people all you need is a simple website, perhaps some coding knowledge, and a small budget for domain and hosting (of course passion and willingness to work hard goes into the mix as well).

So What You Failed?

Failing helps drive the human mind into analyizing what went wrong and making sure to prevent that mistake from happening again in the future. Sound cool? Yes, it’s true that we  are constantly learning from our mistakes. Remember when babies try to learn how to walk? You probably fell your first time as well and learned slowly. Startups are very much similar and can be a valuable experience to carry into corporate life or with your next business venture.

Personal hint of the INISMO founders: Becoming self-employed is a great way to not only realize your dreams, but also to help develop our society with innovative efforts and risk taking. Entrepreneurship is the pillow of prosperity with the ability to advance traditional ways of thinking that challenge people to think different. Best of luck! 

About Us:

INISMO.com is here to provide you with advice, tips and resources to maximize your chances at building a successful startup. INISMO.com is the world’s best platform for accredited investors and entrepreneurs to interact on in a secure environment. Be sure to follow us on twitter, join us on Facebook and Google+ too!

-The INISMO.com Team

Did you finally receive an invitation to meet an investor or chat with one? Well, congratulations! But the journey of fund raising isn’t over just yet. How you present your idea, your startup, your team etc. are going to be critical in the decision making process for any investor. So, here are three quick tips to get you started.

1. Know Who You are Speaking To (Do Your Homework!)

Yes, remember back in school when you had to research a topic before presenting it? Well, you still have to research the market before presenting it but also do some research on the investor. What kinds of companies do they investor in usually? How long have they been investing in startups? Small details will add up to a meaningful and fruitful conversation (it might also help to know what interests them outside of the world of startups…sports? wines? etc.). 

2. Tell a Story

Yes, “once upon a time”-style stories are great for telling the investor how you got started, what interested you to get into this field and why he should give you a check. What sets a part one startup from the next is in many cases the compelling story of a passionate and dedicated entrepreneur behind their idea. Those people are often the ones who convince investors that they are the ones who will work tirelessly to succeed. Boom!

3. Listen

Yes, less talk and more listening. That doesn’t mean you don’t say anything but say just enough to get the point across. Someone who talks on endlessly will most likely seem as if they don’t have focus (since they can’t explain in short amounts of words what the market is, who they are etc). 

All in all, getting a chance to pitch to an investor should be taken seriously as many don’t get that opportunity. So, follow these tips whether you are meeting in person or chatting on the phone, first impression counts!

Personal hint of the INISMO founders: Of course investors have requirements, but you as an entrepreneur need to have them too. Make a list of goals that your business has to reach in order to get to the next step and move towards your vision. Be confident and say what you expect from them as well as ask if they can meet your requirements upfront. If not, be polite, thank them and ask for recommendations to other potential investors.

About Us:

INISMO.com is here to provide you with advice, tips and resources to maximize your chances at building a successful startup. INISMO.com is the world’s best platform for accredited investors and entrepreneurs to interact on in a secure environment. Be sure to follow us on twitter and join us on Facebook too!

-The INISMO.com Team

For an entrepreneur, building a startup from scratch is by far the most difficult step in deciding to take a risk. But what do you do when it comes to selling that business that you have nurtured, cared for and watched grow (as a baby)? Well, we feel for you and want to offer two two quick tips to consider before selling your startup.

Are you truly “Done” with it?

When selling a company, most people think that entrepreneurs sell just for the large check but really, they want to move on to something bigger. Yes, the money is a great cherry topping but most entrepreneurs know exactly when they have done as much as possible at their current startup and when to move on. Are you done with your startup? You will know when you feel that you have taken the company as far as possible or your team can handle the roles of running a company that you once had.

Can you start something new?

So, don’t sell a company to only find yourself with no source of income but rather sell your company to help you work on something new. Take the check you just recieved and invest it into building another project that interests you. Ask any serial entrepreneur who has built and sold several companies. They know the importance of allocating resources, especially resources attained from previous projects, into doing something bigger and better than before.

Personal hint of the INISMO founders: From the start, make a long-term plan for your entrepreneurial journey (and yes, it will change and that’s ok). Set goals and specific milestones that you would like to achieve. Figure out what type of “entrepreneur” you are and how it affects your environment, personal development. After that, plan your life around it the “plan” you have come up with. A lot of things might change or evolve in different ways, but a “master plan” helps you to stay on track. Best of luck to you!

About Us:

INISMO.com is here to provide you with advice, tips and resources to maximize your chances at building a successful startup. INISMO.com is the world’s best platform for accredited investors and entrepreneurs to interact on in a secure environment. Be sure to follow us on twitter and join us on Facebook too!

-The INISMO.com Team