bjones53

Thanks sherm8n. Happy to chat to anyone about best practices, but our platforms lets you set commission and make payouts.

GrowSumo (YC S15) | Toronto, ON | Full Time | ONSITE

GrowSumo makes it easy for SaaS companies to generate revenue through people that recommend products they love.

We’re looking to hire a full stack web developer; as the first technical hire, you’ll help shape the company as it grows. You’ll make significant decisions about the product and will be looked upon as a leader as the company scales.

We use Python/Flash, JavaScript/AngularJS/Node.js, Postgres, Redis, and run on AWS.

Reach out if you have any questions (bryn at growsumo dot com) or apply directly at http://bit.ly/1PQ6WMI. Cheers!

There's no success state on your contact form.

https://joinpod.com

Pod's a group organization tool -- we're like a more functional Facebook Groups. Users organize teams around Pods and people can create tasks, schedule meetings or events, or post in forums.

Demo http://youtube.com/watch?v=LY2DzXf8WwI

Way ahead of you on this -- on-campus students groups will have access to the platform for free. However, large organizations like students' unions, regional, and national groups will have to pay.

We've received similar feedback from other users; calendar sync should be integrated in the next few weeks.

Fair point -- we're still testing, so for now it is free. Our longterm strategy to adopt a pricing model similar to Github; make the platform free for public groups, provide users 1-2 free private groups, and charge users to create additional private groups.

I will make the changes, but I hope that provides some clarity.

Validation is often oversimplified.

Driving traffic to a landing page validate's that you're good at marketing; signups validate interest from consumers; feedback provides insight for product development. However, none of these actions validate your idea.

Product demo videos provide people the context they require to properly assess the value of your idea. The best demo videos quickly describe the value of the product and then provide a use case which creates context for the audience. Finally, they end with a QUICK walk-through.

Drew Houston launched Dropbox with a product demo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QmCUDHpNzE. Try to think of validation as an ongoing process and product demos as the next step.

I understand this is easier said than done, but stop living in the future and start enjoying the present. One way this can be achieved is by setting short term realistic goals; learn a skill, volunteer, help others, meet new people, etc.

This might sound cheesy, but fulfillment and happiness are usually achieved in the process of working towards your goal, and are rarely found after an accomplishment.

Chris Dixon does a great job at explaining vesting schedules for founders and employees http://cdixon.org/2009/04/21/founder-vesting/.

If he feels like a co-founder then you should be able to have a conversation with him about equity; if things go poorly then the partnership was never meant to be. Use this as an opportunity to discuss commitments and expectations; will he quit his job? how about cover costs?

Some people suggest that equity should be awarded based on set milestones, but I think this strategy makes people feel more like employees than co-founders.

Based your the description you've provided you shouldn't split anything, but I'd need more information to answer your question.

Has your co-founder brought in any sales? Does he have any industry expertise? A strong network of customers/advisors/investors? Is he leaving a high paying job? If the answer to all of the above is no, then it's hard to justify giving him much...

It sounds like you've done all the heavy lifting, but understand there's a lot more to come; ask yourself whether you want to do this on your own; ask yourself whether you want to do this with anyone else.

No one wants to leave their job for anything less than 10% (with no salary). Also, if he's 'your guy,' make sure he feels like a co-founder; someone who can share the pain.

Finally, make sure you sign an agreement wherein the shareholders earn equity after a specific date (this is called a cliff, it typically occurs after 12 months), and that equity vests over a specific period (typically 48 months). You can find a lot of information on shareholder agreements online, but at some point you'll want to see a lawyer.

Thank you for addressing the value of individualized learning and for assessing your experience based on the knowledge you acquired as opposed to your employability.

For every person that learns something on their own, there are many more that pay for courses, tutors, and even private coaching, due to some of the reasons you mentioned. I don't understand why programming is any different.

I was disappointed that the article didn't acknowledge the impact globalization has likely had on the increasing number of 'Older Firms'. Global markets bring massive opportunities, but large corporations are better positioned to succeed in a global marketplace. Global markets also means global competition - for jobs and for entrepreneurs.

What other resources have you been using?

Where are you looking to rollout?

I remember reading somewhere that the question, 'Why are you lucky?' is used by companies during interviews. The question is supposed to say a lot about a person' attitude, self-confidence, self-worth, etc... The conclusion was why would anyone want to work with someone who perceives themselves as being unlucky. (Does anyone have a link to this article?)

Has anyone had to answer this question during an interview? Do you think it's a question worth asking?

Interesting concept. How did you come up with your price points? I know you are using images, but I'd like to see more details about the weekly meal plans.

I suggest that you search for examples on websites like http://www.docracy.com/. Be aware that laws vary by country, state, province, etc., so make sure you speak with a lawyer.

I agree, the startup community can be a great place to meet potential partners.

To extend on something you mentioned, I suggest that you look for volunteer opportunities outside the startup community. The startup community is great, but volunteering with different organizations exposes you to people with diverse backgrounds and different skill sets. Volunteering is great for building a network of people with skills that compliment yours; it allows you to develop genuine relationships with likeminded individuals.

I hope the team makes the best of a bad situation and uses the attention (and possibly press) to convert supporters, like yourself, into users.

Looks similar to http://snip.ly/.

The issue probably has something to do with the fact that you don't eat. Assuming that your last meal comes sometime between 7-10pm, that means you're going 13-16 hours without food. It's likely that body directs all energy to digesting food and then recovering from your 'starvation'.

I am not a nutritionist but try eating something small, first thing in the morning, maybe some nuts or a smoothie.

I hope more entrepreneurs that attend accelerators follow your lead and discuss their experiences; it would be great to hear how accelerators and incubators are differentiating themselves from their alumni.

Have you considered that your diet and exercise routines may have a greater impact on your cognitive abilities than sleep? Can you provide more information on your daily routine?