Ask HN: Tips for a first time startup?

2 pointsnikentic12y ago2 comments

I am planning to start a company of my own later this year. Do you have some tips for me? I have no experience of starting a company of my own, even though I work in a start-up.

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abstein212y ago

Are you ready to not sleep for god knows how long? Have you thought about how you'll make money until your start up actually makes money? Do you have hundreds of connections? Because in reality that is how you grow - it's all about who you know and how you leverage those relationships. Best of luck to you - been there and it's a long, but exhilarating ride.

mindcrime12y ago

Tips? Not as such, since I don't know anything about you or your business. But I can share some reading suggestions - things that helped me and that I consider valuable:

The Four Steps to the Epiphany - Steve Blank

The Art of the Start - Guy Kawasaki

The Lean Startup - Eric Ries

Blue Ocean Strategy - W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne

Crossing the Chasm - Geoffrey Moore

The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing - Al Ries & Jack Trout

Positioning - Al Ries & Jack Trout

Repositioning - Jack Trout (with Steve Rivkin)

Differentiate or Die - Jack Trout (with Steve Rivkin)

The Ultimate Marketing Plan - Dan S. Kennedy

The Ultimate Sales Machine - Chet Holmes

All Marketers Are Liars - Seth Godin

The Purple Cow - Seth Godin

And add in one generic "Marketing 101" textbook. Find something at a used bookstore or order used on Amazon. Something like this, or similar:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0132177153/ref=sr_1_4...

I guess there actually is a tip embedded in all that... "learn as much as you can about marketing". I'm still learning myself, and I've only learned enough to have a vague notion of how much I don't know, but I've gained a real appreciation for the importance of this stuff.

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