Infotrade

Have a cool startup idea, and want to get it funded? You could go the traditional route, blindly sending your pitch deck to every VC in Silicon Valley. Or you could follow investors on Twitter, hoping that through casual badinage you can win the hearts (and eventually, the wallets) of your startup's money source.  Or maybe, just maybe, you should drive for Uber. UberX Lowers The Bar Yes, Uber, the popular mobile app that connects drivers with people who need a lift. Founded in 2009 as UberCab, Uber has become the go-to app for hailing a sedan in markets like San Francisco, New York City and London. And while historically Uber operators have been commercial sedan drivers filling time between jobs their employer provides them, Uber's introduction of UberX in July 2012 has opened the service to cars and drivers of all kinds. This means that not only will you be picked up in a Toyota Prius or Volkswagen Jetta instead of a Lincoln Town Car, but you're also going...

People If you can’t get to ramen profitability with a team of 2 – 4 within six months to a year, something’s wrong. (You can choose not to be profitable, but it must be your choice, not something forced on you by the market). Split the stock between the founding team evenly. Always have a vesting schedule. Make most decisions by consensus, but have a single  CEO  whose decisions are final. Make it clear from day one. Your authority as  CEO  is earned. You start with a non-zero baseline. It grows if you have victories and dwindles if you don’t. Don’t try to use authority you didn’t earn. Morale is very real and self-perpetuating. If you work too long without victories, your investors, employees, family, and you yourself will lose faith. Work like hell not to get yourself into this position. Pick the initial team  very  carefully. Everyone should be pleasant to work with, have at least one skill relevant to the business they’re spectacular at, be e...