Startup Grind Reading List - November 2015

As we return to offices nationwide with turkey and pumpkin pie still not totally out of our systems, many in Silicon Valley and beyond are already thinking of the next holiday. Many founders here won't be taking the time off -- but regardless, we're in the season now, folks with festive lights lining the streets even in sunny California.

If you've been grinding this month to make those pre-Thanksgiving deadlines, here are 5 things you missed:

1. Payments co Square completed its down-then-up IPO, now resting near $12 per share of $15.46 share price paid by last private investors. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey remains in a leading position with Square.

2. Jeff Bezos's first Tweet came alongside his space company's first rocket landing, though competitor Elon Musk at SpaceX was quick to point out the difference between space and orbit, convenient summarized by XKCD's What If.

3. Jet, the new Costco of the Internet, is betting big with $350 million in new capital raised, with a target as high as $500 MM supported by Fidelity, Alibaba, Bain Capital Ventures, and Google Ventures.

4. On-demand food delivery company DoorDash also seeks to join the Unicorn Club with a new round of funding.

5. In global news, Chinese hardware goliath Xiaomi's $45 billion valuation cools as growth weakens, while In London, Candy Crush developers King has been acquired by Activision-Blizzard.

Now you know. But want to get really educated? Here are our 7 favorite stories from the Startup Grind community from this November.

Best of Startup Grind - November 2015

5 Things to Consider Before Joining an Accelerator by Roxane Jurkovskaja

"The saturation of accelerator programs is beginning to reach an all time high, to the point where I stumble on a new “innovative” or “disruptive” program offering "the best training, mentoring, seed capital, amazing office space, and founder snacks" on a monthly basis. Not to be left out of the party, many major corporations are now offering their own incubation programs, including Vodafone, Microsoft, VISA, MasterCard, and others.

But are these opportunities equally good for the business, and the founders as equity-holding participants?"

Roxane digs into the things every founder should do before giving up his or her time and equity. Don't apply without it.

12 Ways You Can Be Better at Content Marketing for Your Business by John Rampton

"Small business owners can now compete on an (almost) level playing field with big brands by applying the principles of content marketing. Regardless of the size of the business, the goal is the same: use relevant content to attract qualified buyers.

While the basic concept behind content marketing isn't difficult, achieving optimal results through content creation and promotion can be. This post will look at 12 ways you can take your content marketing to the next level."

A contributing to a handful of major publications and a respected SEO expert, John is just the guy to help you get your content marketing in order in this piece.

Three Reasons Why I Became an Entrepreneur by Alex Rodriguez Bacardit

"Being an active member of the entrepreneurial ecosystem of a big city gives you a lot of exposure. Not only that, but you get to meet all sorts of people: crazy solopreneurs, big business mavens, tech gurus, investors with shitloads of money, government people and those in all walks of life.

I always ask them what their story is because I believe that everybody’s got a story to tell. In return, I sometimes get asked about myself. The more people I talk to, the more I get the following question: why did you decide to become an entrepreneur?"

Read Alex's full personal story of why he became an entrepreneur. Spoiler: it wasn't the original plan.

Loved it? Come around for one of his events: Alex is host to Startup Grind in Barcelona.

5 Strategies to Bring Your Business to the Web by Josh MacDonald

"One of the difficulties of getting started in the digital sphere is that it can be a confusing process if you’ve spent most of your business career gaining customers through a store-front and face-to-face interaction. Fortunately, here are several resources to help get you started and guide you in the right direction."

This piece dives into five ways to take a traditional business to the web for greater reach and sales, offering tips on everything from eCommerce to content marketing acquisition tactics. Not to be missed for entrepreneurs making to traditional to digital transition.

The Simple Question Every Founder Must Answer: What's My Story? by Georgina Miranda

"Our stories -- layered with meaning and inflection points that have brought us to what we are compelled to do today -- have great power. In our social interactions, stories create opportunities to relate to one another, loyalty, and memorability. The same is true in business, and knowing one's story is vital when setting off on building a startup. These stories will inspire others to join our teams, invest in our companies, and support our businesses. It's time to take a break from the hustle,  and dive a little deeper into the power of your story and what it means for your business."

Want to be a leader that knows the mission and inspires others to follow you there? Nail your story first, with Georgina's guide, then follow with Margarita's piece, below.

These Skills will Transform You from Entrepreneur to Leader by Margarita Hakobyan

"As an entrepreneur, you need to develop a broad set of skills: show off your elevator pitch, wear a whole bunch of different hats, and easily step in and fill any roll in your burgeoning organization.

When your business successfully takes off, your role changes. While the skills necessary to being a great leader and a great entrepreneur certainly have some cross-over, they're far from the same. Today, let's talk about what skills leaders need, and how they can grow out of the skills that you've developed to succeed at entrepreneurship."

A founder does not, by default, make for a great leader. The difference is the five skills Margarita describes. Read on to get your edge before your company gets too big and its culture too locked-in.

How an Startup Accelerator can Help Your Business by Debra Carpenter

"If your startup needs funding and you’re not sure where to turn, you may feel overwhelmed. After all, there are a myriad of ways to get cash for your startup, and none seem particularly easy. However, one of the best ways to advance your startup and find funding is through an accelerator in your area.

At an accelerator, founders learn what it takes to convince potential investors that their business idea and plan are solid. Read on to learn exactly how an accelerator could help your startup become successful."

With your to-dos from Roxane's piece on accelerators checked off, it's time to start planning! Here's what you should prepare your company for on entry into a quality accelerator program.


Did we miss your favorite? Let us know in the comments.