In step one, here, I spoke about the benefits of exposing ideas to potential investors as a way of gaining information and confidence at an early stage. This is not the same as approaching potential investors and asking for investment. But are quite different processes and should have quite different outputs, and for that reason alone should be kept quite separate. You may approach some of the same people, or you may approach completely different people, but it is absolutely certain that the time you go out asking for money you will need to be far better equipped, are better prepared, and armed with a very focused message. I've cobbled together another little table to help myself in this, and you may find it useful.   more »

One of the big divide is that you find in the management teams of start-up companies is between those who have ideas, those who assess ideas, and those who implement ideas. We could bore each other now for weeks talking about psychological profiles, Belbin tests, and the like. I don’t propose to do that here, as I am one of the people who spends more of their time having ideas, and finds it very tough to assess those ideas and put them into practice. Indeed, the times at which I’ve had the most success, have been those times where I have worked with people who are far better than I am at the other two stages. So, I have worked out a matrix of decisions that helps me to cull out good and bad ideas, making bad ideas better and good ideas commercial as it goes along. I've given an example in the piece that follows:   more »

For those of you following me on Twitter @davidjwbailey the fact I was just in California will come as no surprise. I thought it worth summarising what I learned, in general terms. I had the chance to speak to half a dozen seriously connected and insightful people in the Sililcon Valley community, and it all came down to 'C' Words:   more »

I am an Explorer Scout Leader in Scouting in the UK. Once you get over the crypto-paramilitary uniform issue, and the perfectly understandable questions from friends about one's sanity and motives for giving up 42 days a year to helping other people's teenage children learn leadership and personal skills, it ...   more »

Good businesses should have a lot in common with trees. I’m not just saying this because I happen to have a couple of degrees in forestry, I’m saying it because in our current credit crunch times, trees are model that I strongly feel business should strive to emulate.


OK, I ...   more »

I am going to readopt this word, having banned it from my Entrepreneur vocabulary a few years ago.

On mature reflection, somethings really can't be done now, or within available resources, or for other good reasons.

What is important is that every ...   more »

I've been taught, recently, and in no uncertain terms, that many of my past business plans could reasonably be summed up by this image: good idea, bad execution.

It is all very well to find a consumer need and ...   more »

Dear Web, when one of your applications is as essential, nourishing, widely available, demanded and with half the utility of a loaf of fresh bread, then, and only then, can you claim to have a mass market product. Until then: STFU   more »