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Inspiration for Entrepreneurs
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How to Achieve Startup Success from Day 1
The decision to take the leap into starting your own business is never an easy one, regardless of your experience or industry. But as venture capital (VC) firms grow, with the average seed deal growing from $1.7 million to $4.6 million in the last decade, more and more people are breaking into the startup ecosystem....
Top Detroit Startups and Tech Companies to Watch in 2022
Michigan is now the state with the highest growth in VC investment. Now many Detroit startups are on the fast track to growth. Whether it’s new funding, expansions or IPOs, it’s been an eventful year in Detroit startups. Next year is looking even better. Here are the top Detroit startups and tech companies to watch in...
5 Real Advantages for Second-Time Startup Founders
As a first-time founder, starting a startup is incredibly difficult. Raising capital, finding product-market fit and acquiring customers isn’t easy. As a second-time founder, it is a bit easier. After our first company was acquired, I knew that I wanted to start another company. Working for yourself, especially during the earliest days of founding at...
Business Leaders Need to Master These 2 Problems
Excerpt from "On Purpose Leadership: Master the Art of Leading Yourself to Inspire and Impact Others" by Dominick Quartuccio. Copyright © 2021 Dominick Quartuccio. Reproduced by permission of TCK Publishing. As someone who has worked with hundreds of leaders and teams, in both business and personal environments, I see two connected problems in...
Gen Z’s Mindset of Purpose Fuels a New Business Model
In September 2021, 4.4 million Americans quit their jobs. We’re hearing about the Great Resignation everywhere--on TikTok and Forbes and everything in between. The industries affected are vast, and the reasons are highly variable. The common denominator, however, seems to be that there is a widespread shift in mindset among American workers that may no...
5 Steps to Hypergrowth without Funding
Entrepreneurs, especially first-timers, have a knack for getting caught up in startup myths. These include, among others: Find your growth hack, you have to get venture funding, spend money to make money, move to Silicon Valley. These can all help in the right context, but if I’ve learned one thing as a successful serial entrepreneur,...
5 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Starting A Business From Scratch
We often envision the traditional startupper as either the 24/7 working lonely wolf or the adventurer enjoying long-sought freedom and flexibility. But with the hardships, pitfalls, upswings and victories that come with starting your business, it’s usually never either-or. All entrepreneurs have lessons to share on starting a business. That being said, there are still...
5 Leadership Traits No Entrepreneur Succeeds Without
Entrepreneurs have some of the hardest jobs in the world. At an established company and with a competent team, leading is mostly a matter of keeping the rudder straight. At a startup, it’s another story entirely. Entrepreneurs wear many hats: the role of marketing, sales, day-to-day operations and more all fall on your shoulders. And once...
StartupNation Radio: R. Riveter Uses Mobile Flexible Income Strategy
On this week’s episode of StartupNation Radio, Jeff speaks with Cameron Cruse of R. Riveter, a handbag company that enlists military spouses as manufacturers. During the interview, Cruse discusses: How a quarter-life crisis prompted her to pivot her career plan. How R. Riveter's business structure supports the military community. Why she and her partner chose...
StartupNation Radio: R.Riveter and Heiroom Founders Started Small
On today's episode of StartupNation Radio, Jeff Sloan interviews Cameron Cruse of R.Riveter and Chris Budnik of Heiroom about turning a kernel of an idea into a business. Tune in to the full StartupNation Radio show with Cameron Cruse and Chris Budnik here: First up is Cameron Cruse, a cofounder of R. Riveter, a...
StartupNation Radio: Pandemic Prompted Start of a Social Media Platform
On today's episode of StartupNation Radio show, Jeff Sloan talks to Chris Budnik, creator of Heiroom, a way to connect with your family, create private vaults and take a trip down the memory lane. During the segment, Budnik talks about: How the pandemic sparked his idea for a private social media platform. The investment pursuit....
How to Find the Right Business Mentor for You and Why It Matters
Throughout life, mentors provide support and valuable lessons. Nowhere is this truer than in the business world. Having someone to guide you through your career -- or part of it, at least -- can be the key to success. A mentor can be anyone from a senior colleague to a boss to a highly...
Summon Your Inner Alpha: 7 Ways Business Leaders Can Outwit the Competition
Alpha traits are key to leadership success. Business leaders can learn from these top predators how to outsmart the competition and never cede ground. In recent years, coyotes have made themselves at home across the United States, Canada and Central America. In the community and neighborhoods near Boston where I live, people see them almost...
How to Take the Leap and Change Your Life
The following is excerpted from “Jump: Dare to Do What Scares You in Business and Life” by Kim Perell, pp. 3-7 (HarperCollins Leadership, November 2021). It’s scary looking down. Especially when there’s a lot at stake. You know those decisions that make your heart race and your palms sweat? The ones that are so...
Harnessing Your Emotional Intelligence as a Female Entrepreneur
Women in the workforce hear it all the time: “You’re so emotional.” It’s a criticism levied at women (usually from men who are afraid to express their own feelings). The subtext is: “You’re too emotional to lead, to make levelheaded decisions, to be a grown-up.” It’s infantilizing, damaging and, worst of all, aims at our...
Life of Purpose: Teacher Kiarra Ambrose Thrives by Humanizing Education
As a lifelong entrepreneur, nothing motivates me to be all I can be more than the stories of fellow Detroiters who exemplify what it means to live a life in which there’s a driving sense of purpose. Given the times in which we currently live, I can’t think of anything worthier than recognizing the amazingly...
Entrepreneurial Closers Don’t Let Perfection Stand in the Way of Completion
Closers aren't just the attention getters who make the deal. I want to talk about the real deal: Closers who get things done. Everyone is in awe of closers. However, we all associate “closers” with sales. I have always loved watching the ease and grace some people seem to have in the sales process. People...
TechBytes: The Art of Turning Your Hobbies into Hustles (Episode 1)
Welcome to the premiere episode of TechBytes, a new podcast series by StartupNation and Dell Technologies! When you run a growing business, Dell Technologies is here to help with the right tech solutions. With more than 30 years of experience helping small businesses succeed, we offer technology advice that you can trust! Join us and...
Life of Purpose: Madison Bachman Followed Her Passion to Research Baboons
Rather than follow a conventional path, Madison Bachman pursued a life of passion studying human-primate co- habitation in South Africa in order to find solutions to a growing problem: The battle for existence. By sharing her story, Bachman reminds us that the power of pursuing one’s passion in life and living a life of purpose...
6 Recession-Proof Side Hustles You Can Start Today to Bring in Extra Cash
With all of the economic changes underway, you’ve probably been experiencing plenty of uncertainty recently. However, there’s still hope for aspiring entrepreneurs, as the side hustle scene is alive and well. In fact, it’s thriving! If you’re interested in testing the entrepreneurial waters, consider the following recession-proof side hustles that you can start today: Become...