Sam Plecic Blog

5 Ways Blockchain Startups Can Appeal to Enterprises

Though enterprises see the appeal of using blockchain, companies often don’t want to take on the challenge of working with their business partners to create a new blockchain solution. Last year, 74% of organizations in a global blockchain survey said they felt compelled to use a blockchain network to improve cross-enterprise efficiency, yet only 34% had taken steps to deploy one.

Most organizations would rather skip the risk, even if it means paying for the privilege of using a blockchain network created by another company. The blockchain company then has created an enormous opportunity for tech startups to do the work, convene the right parties, and build out blockchain networks that enhance cross-enterprise efficiency for them.

The Value in a Ready-to-Use Blockchain Network

Over the past decade, lean startup methods, cloud platforms, and DevOps practices have transformed how startups move from concept to minimum viable product and then scale up. These innovations also allowed startups to create solutions that enterprises can readily implement and use more rapidly.

Startups that offer blockchain solutions benefit from all this knowledge, but they also face several new challenges. To build a network that reaches critical mass and generates significant returns, a startup has to convince other enterprises that its blockchain can provide the security, scalability, and resilience they expect.

That means making it clear to enterprises how integrating the blockchain network will benefit them, as well as addressing the concerns that have prevented those organizations from it until now. If that’s the position you’re in, here’s how to approach that conversation:

1. Address decentralization head-on.

When startups create a blockchain network, they need to benefit from their investment and risk without retaining control over the blockchain solution they have built. That’s because controlling the solution makes it just another software-as-a-service product, as opposed to an exact decentralized blockchain solution.

The first thing startups must do, then, is separate ownership from control. Ownership vs. Control can be difficult in the beginning of the business, when fewer parties are involved. However, it’s possible to start with centralized control and clearly define when that control will be moved to a governing body made up of a mix of users with different interests.

2. Prioritize rules for data and logic.

A well-designed governing body has the incentive to improve the network, grow the network, and create a fair return for all users. Fair return is only possible, though, if the network has rules for data management, code management, and node control as early as possible. It can only grow if everyone understands who owns and can analyze what data, and who can authorize changes in business rules and data logic.

Once data is provided, it’s difficult to change the rules on how it can be used, so startups must carefully consider foundational data policies as early as possible. Even if governance is more centralized at first, all of the network’s users should have some input in designing initial policies to meet their needs and expectations.

3. Grow faster with trusted third parties.

The core value of blockchain is the ability to identify high-value problems and solve them by bringing together the right parties. In that same vein, blockchain-based startups shouldn’t hesitate to consider what areas of their operations can be handled by new types of service providers who can help with many aspects of governance, blockchain network operations, smart contract creation, and auditing.

Allowing experienced third parties to handle these tasks gives startups more freedom to focus on users. That means more time to implement improvements and grow the network in ways that benefit everyone on it. Startups can prove that, unlike prior solutions, a well-governed blockchain network truly operates in the interest of its users.

4. Focus on boosting efficiency.

Blockchain technology offers a significant boost to productivity. Today’s enterprises mostly operate on software purchased from major vendors like SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft. When they work with business partners that have different systems, those systems don’t always agree on details like order fulfillment status and special pricing rules. When the details don’t agree with each other — the result is time wasted having to resolve exceptions.

Blockchain technology allows enterprises to radically simplify how they operate together. Using shared logic and data across the entire network eliminates the potential for variations and disputes. This feature alone makes transactions more efficient and delivers significant cost savings for every enterprise involved.

5. Shift value by eliminating intermediaries.

While their reservations about blockchain sometimes hinder enterprises, they may also be hemmed into specific ways of doing things because of a lack of transparency or trust. In those cases, they may rely on a third party — a marketplace provider, for example — to overcome some of these issues.

Bold startups are taking on that status quo and offering new solutions built on blockchain that use a decentralized approach, eliminating the need for intermediaries. The unparalleled transparency and trust that blockchain provides are creating new flexibility in how the business operates. The operations lead to value shifting from intermediaries to enterprises — and the customers who buy their products and services.

While blockchain startups have more challenges to face than more conventional companies, those that can navigate this new area and allow enterprises to be early adopters of this emergent technology will have a stake in some of the most valuable and long-lived business networks ever to be established.

https://samplecic.ch/5-ways-blockchain-startups-can-appeal-to-enterprises-3.html

Mistakes University Students and Graduates Make in Their Jobs

Finding the first job after the graduation is the most time consuming and stressful task. Despite of knowledge and skills, it becomes difficult to climb up the ladder of the career. Choosing the right career is important as it will impact you the whole life. There are many considerations in choosing up the right path based on our skills, capabilities, knowledge, abilities. One must choose the career which aligns the best to their talents. Don’t stray down a path which is not suitable to you. Understand the mistakes university students and graduates make in their jobs.

These are the mistakes that university students and graduates make in their jobs. Avoid these while choosing a career:

Lacking Business Skills.
Lacking Business etiquette skill is the prime mistake which students commit while choosing the career. Being matured and brilliant is not just enough. Business etiquette and social skills becomes barrier in one future career opportunity. If you have never learned the business etiquette, they will help you go through the difficult time transition from college to workplace.

Business skills include understanding the proper way to communication with other and how to present yourself at business meetings and in office. Proper business skills should not become the barrier in your career; prepare yourself for the upcoming future challenges by reading books, attending business etiquette classes, be attentive in every situation.
Accepting regretful work.
Accepting a regretful work is another mistake student commit while choosing their career. Many of the students accept the job in which they are not interested or willing to work. Some graduates are so desperate to work the accept any post which comes along. Many students commit this mistake as they believe bad jobs, are better than no jobs and then they regret it later. It is important to get a job, which is worth waiting for the best opportunity in which the one is interested in your field of expertise.
Being Scared of Challenges.
Being Scared of challenges and do not taking risk is the most common mistake students commit while choosing their career. Many of the students wants a secured career but they are not willing to accept the challenges being faced in real world. According to University Assignment help a job is not only the option after completing graduation. If one wants to become an entrepreneur with own dreams of being your own boss, one must have to launch the business immediately after completing graduation. It doesn’t mean that one is not willing and capable of doing job. If one is at home they can work from home part time or full time for the growing your own company.
Not Using Customize Resume.
The other mistake most of the students commit in their career is that they do not use customize resume. Resume is the base to the company where one can judge your capabilities, knowledge, skills, abilities. When you are applying for the same post in different companies you might print multiple copies of your resume and cover letter. But one must be beware, managers are really good at identifying cookie-cutter or generic resumes, this might result in losing their best opportunity. So the resume must be customize instead of generic. With the Customize resume one can easily identify skills, knowledge, abilities according to the post in the jobs. Customize resume helps the candidate for the best possible opportunities.
Failing to Negotiate.
Most of the students fail to negotiate their salary requirement it is the most common mistake that students commit to their career. Students do not counter offer their salary being scared of losing the opportunity and accept low salary. One must calculate how much salary you realistically need. Spend some time on research online or as a trusted person for the worth value of your work. It is not guaranteed that what you have researched you will get but gives the best idea to expectation. When one offers you, a job thinks about it overnight do not hustle in the opportunity and just grab it, but think it twice, make counter offers for more money the key is to request and not demand.

Conclusion:

Be smart and say no to these mistakes. Your one mistake can takes away the best opportunities for your career growth.

https://samplecic.ch/mistakes-university-students-and-graduates-make-in-their-jobs-2.html

How Tech Startups Succeed With a Fully Remote Model

Startups are starting to launch without a central headquarters, or any designated office building, in an attempt to create “fully remote” businesses. The premise is simple; operate with all your leaders and employees working remotely, sometimes all over the world, to cut costs and broaden your potential employee pool.

To conventional businesses, the notion seems absurd; they rely on in-house collaboration and the reputational allure of a headquarters. So how, exactly, are these fully remote startups succeeding, and is it reasonable to prioritize it over having an established location?

The Benefits of Fully Remote Businesses

Most startups are attracted to the fully remote model because of one or a combination of the following benefits:

Cost savings. First and foremost, offices are expensive. Smart city technology may one day make commercial space more appealing and less expensive, but for now, the average entrepreneur can expect to shell out thousands of dollars a month for leasing even a small office space, and even more money to keep the lights on. Eliminating the need for a physical office space means thousands of dollars of savings every month, which can then be spent on more important assets and improvements, like research and development or marketing and advertising.
Management reduction. Keeping up with an office isn’t just a matter of money; it’s also a matter of time. Most businesses have a designated office manager, or some other combination of roles to ensure the facilities are clean, organized, and conducive to a productive work space. Fully remote models also reduce the need for this time expenditure, sometimes cutting out the cost of a full-time salary and other times freeing up more hours for productive work.
Commute elimination. The average commute in the United States is something like 30 minutes each way, resulting in an hour a day, or 5 hours a week of lost time. On top of that, many workers come into the office in a bad mood because they got stuck in traffic, or end up with less family time than they’d like because they get home so late. Fully remote models completely eliminate the need for commuting, or at least greatly reduce it.
Flexibility for workers. Working from home (or from another place of your choosing) gives workers a tremendous amount of flexibility. They can set up and customize a home office of their very own, or work from a local café or coworking space. They can wear a suit if it helps them get in a “work” mindset, or something typically inappropriate for a workspace, like pajamas and custom gold grillz. Workers can choose the environments that suit them best, which means they’ll work better and be happier at the same time. That means higher team productivity and higher morale.
Branding potential. Some startups get clever with their branding, showing off their fully remote model to improve their brand reputation. For example, you could claim that you’re doing it to positively impact the environment, reducing the carbon emissions previously associated with vehicular commutes.
Wider hiring options. Companies that operate fully remotely don’t need to restrict their hiring options to any one local area. Instead, they can hire people all over the world, broadening their employee pool. This could be beneficial because it allows you to hire people in other areas of the world for lower costs, or simply because the number of potential applicants you can consider skyrockets.
Productivity. There’s significant evidence to suggest that people who work from home are more productive than their office-bound counterparts, though it’s not entirely understood why this is the case. It might be because workers have more flexibility, so they can work in a style that best suits their needs. It could be because working from home makes people happier, or because they’re less distracted by office conversations. It could also be that remote workers are eager to preserve their benefits, so they want to prove that they work harder under these circumstances. Regardless of the motivations, the benefits are real.

The Drawbacks of Fully Remote Startups

However, some startups inevitably fail when trying to capture these advantages, because of the strength of these downsides:

Communication issues. Communication issues can kill productivity, and when you’re working with people exclusively through digital communication channels, it’s inevitable that communication issues will arise. People will miss messages or not respond to them fast enough, and people will misinterpret the subtle tone of another coworker’s email. It may also be hard to tell who’s working on what project, resulting in redundant effort or missed deadlines.
Client impressions and meetings. Open workspaces and excessive meetings can be annoying, but they are incredibly valuable for making good client impressions and settling matters as a team. Without a central office location, startups need to find some other way to meet with clients in person, or else resolve to merely communicate over the phone, or through digital messaging.
Brand visibility. Having a designated office building in a high-traffic area results in better brand visibility. For some startups, this is crucial for attracting new customers and improving their reputation. For others, the loss of this brand visibility is no big deal.
Team camaraderie. Teams of employees usually work best when everyone feels like they’re a part of something bigger, and when individuals have the chance to bond with one another. Because there will be fewer opportunities to talk face to face or bond with others, team camaraderie usually takes a hit in fully remote models.
Work-life balance. Work-life balance is key to a team’s overall morale and productivity, and you might think that working remotely can actually improve this balance; after all, people are often working from home, closer to their families. But in reality, working from home tends to blur the lines between work life and home life, which can result in psychological distress, and a feeling like work is never really over.
Technical issues. Fully remote models are possible thanks to fantastic advancements in technology, but what happens when those technological tools aren’t working? If your project management app goes down or your email servers aren’t working, it could derail the entire day. Plus, if an individual is in need of tech support, there’s no in-house IT department to pay them a visit and fix things up.

The Startup Advantages

Startups have some extra advantages that established businesses don’t, which is why they’re the typical proponents and progenitors of fully remote setups:

Agility. Startups run leaner, with few employees and flexible business models. They don’t have existing assets to worry about, and don’t need to stay bound to a given formula. This allows them to make drastic changes on the fly, or adopt a business model that might not otherwise work.
Limited budgets. Startups typically have lower budgets than their big business counterparts. Ordinarily, this is a weakness, but it provides a strong incentive to adopt a fully remote model. Not only does it cut down on operating costs, it also enables them to seek employees and contractors from other areas, who might be cheaper to employ.
Employee options. Finding a talented core team is challenging for startups, so the extra breadth of the employee pool is valuable. Getting to select candidates from all over the world is much better than only relying on people in your immediate vicinity.

Entrepreneurial Vision

Even with all the advantages offered by the fully remote business model, there’s still no guarantee of success. The startups that have grown into large-scale businesses using a fully remote foundation have done so because they’ve established a workplace that recognizes and compensates for the possible disadvantages. Taking advantage of the benefits and putting new procedures, tools, and staff in place to minimize the impact of the downsides is the key to making a startup tech company succeed without a headquarters.

https://samplecic.ch/how-tech-startups-succeed-with-a-fully-remote-model-2.html

Business Loan vs Equity Financing: How to Fund Your Startup

When it comes to raising money for your startup, there are several ways of doing it. However, out of all startup funding options, the two most popular methods are Loan and Equity. Both types of loans are very different from each other, and sometimes it becomes challenging to choose the right option for your business. In this article, we will have a look at these two funding options in detail. Business loan vs. equity financing; know how to fund your startup.

What is a Business Loan?

A business loan involves borrowing money from a lender and returning the money over a period of time with interest. Mostly, business loans are taken from banks or a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC). Bank loans are the most popular method of raising funds for your startup as it does not include parting with any shares of your company. Thus, your ownership remains intact.

Also, with loans, you have the flexibility to use the borrowed money for any purpose. Many different financial organizations offer different types of loans that can be easily tailored to meet your specific business needs.

On the other hand, raising money for your startup through business loan has many potential downsides as well. The first thing that must be kept in mind before opting for a business loan is that you need to make repayments every month. Any default on repayments can prove to be a very costly financial mistake. Additionally, in case of a default, the lender can seize your assets. Lastly, if your credit score isn’t good, you may find it little difficult to raise money through a loan or might have to pay a higher rate of interest.

What is Equity Financing?

Equity financing is a process that involves selling the shares of your business in lieu of money. Selling or trading shares is another popular way to fund your startup, in which you offer ownership in your company in exchange for the capital to grow. The transfer of capital for ownership can take place with a single investor or a group of investors.

This type of financing is most suitable for businesses who are in their growth stage and do not have a lot in terms of physical assets. In this case, the investors bet on the company’s growth and hope to make money out of it at a later stage. One of the most significant benefits of equity financing is that it does not involve any monthly repayment.

Thus, you do not have to set aside a specific amount of money every month to return to the investor. Even if your business shuts down, you are not liable to pay any money. It will be considered a loss for the investor.

On the other hand, the investors don’t simply walk away from your business after offering the capital. In fact, in most cases, the investors have an active role in mentoring you through building your business. They become part owners of your business and will subsequently have a word in how you run it. So, if you opt for equity financing, you must be confident about the investor you choose. A great investor can help you realize your business goals, whereas an unknowledgeable investor can derail you from achieving what you set out to do when you established the company.

There are some other factors that help to determine the route you should take to raise fund for your startup. These include: How much time you have

There is no doubt that equity financing takes a lot of time and effort. Right from the paperwork and disclosures to making all the legal arrangements, the process may take up six months.
On the other hand, the time needed to raise funds through a business loan takes relatively less time. Many financial and non-financial institutions help in passing a loan within a couple of days. So, if you have less time on hand, you should opt for a business loan.

The amount needed

For startups, sometimes raising a large number of funds through loans is not possible. This is because many lending institutions have a cap on the maximum amount you can borrow. Also, startups generally do not have too many assets and lenders, on the other hand, ask for collateral as security. So, in this case, equity financing can be a more feasible option. Investors can help in raising large sums of money if they have faith in your business plan.

Network

Sometimes, startup entrepreneurs are not only looking for money but also guidance and mentorship as well as the exposure to make relevant business connections. With equity funding, you can come across a partner who has substantial expertise in your field of business. He can open doors for you and help you expand your business horizon. In contrast, a money lender is only interested in getting his money and interest back and is not at all vested in your business’s success.

With the aforementioned factors in mind, you can decide upon the best funding raising options for your startup.

https://samplecic.ch/business-loan-vs-equity-financing-how-to-fund-your-startup-2.html

Technical Writers are Vital for Technology Startups

A technology start-up without a Technical Writer is similar to a new small business without a marketing plan. The first thought that comes to mind when most people think of a “technical writer” is an IT professional — blogging about the latest trends for a reputable technology website. But, actual technical writers are vital for technology startups.

These skillful writers can turn a dull or complex topic into content that people of all educational backgrounds can understand to complete work-related responsibilities. If you hire an experienced technical writer, it can reduce costs on hiring a team for multiple writing needs.

Let’s review what exactly technical writers do and the benefits of having one on your team.

What Can Technical Writers Do for You?

Technical writers are one of two types of professionals. A) An Enterprise, Full Stack Developer, or Systems Analyst that transitioned into a technical writer. B) A journalism or communications professional that decided to pursue a writing career in technology.

Do you need an operational manual? Hire a technical writer. How about a Disaster Recovery Plan for critical applications? A technical writer can write this with the help of subject matter experts and strategic stakeholder interviews. These are the writing gurus that interview your tech team to produce masterful documentation often used for Information Management and Technology, Business Continuity, or Business Development.

The Benefits of Hiring Technical Writers. Disaster Recovery Plans Can Save IT Infrastructure, and Lives.

What happens when a critical application is unavailable? IT staff and employees can be confused on immediate steps to take during a natural disaster, human-induced incident, or a malicious IT attack.

A Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) is a document produced by a technical writer with the help of conversations with subject matter experts. A start-up without a DRP can be faced with public humiliation, financial loss, disappointed customers, and potentially the loss of lives. What is inside of a DRP? A communications plan, information about the backup datacenter, key emergency contacts, Business Continuity information, IT security, and much more.

A classic example of the necessity of a Disaster Recovery Plan is a 2017 massive storm in Houston with water entering the basement of a ConocoPhillips facility that holds critical IT equipment. The help of a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) supported the IT team with recovering service from ConocoPhillips backup facility in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

If ConocoPhillips did not have a Disaster Recovery Plan on site, we can imagine the negative financial and potential public impact that could have occurred.

Tech Experts Prefer Not to Write

Technical experts working in IT rarely have time to write procedures, let alone interview colleagues to produce documentation. It is the reason professional and technical writers are a valuable resource. Most of a writer’s day involves interviewing internal and external stakeholders.

Research and writing documentation for employees, executives, or the general public requires an understanding of target audiences. The process can take a full day of writing, editing, interviewing, speaking with vendors, or visiting datacenters to understand the technical aspect of applications.

Technical Writers Can Help to Reduce Employee Costs

Experienced technical writers can produce communications, marketing, and business writing content. Most have an educational background in journalism, public relations, marketing, and media relations.

As a result, a start-up can reduce the cost of having marketing, PR, or communications employee on site with one technical writer in the building. Imagine the reduction of hiring three to four professionals with a technical writer on site. It is a Startups dream come true.

Contractors and Short-Term Projects

A technical writer can be hired on contract for the duration of a project need. Most professional tech writers are employed through a recruitment agency which reduces the time and financial effort in a human resources team searching for talent.

Imagine hiring a technical writer for three to 12 months with an option of extending the contract if needed. Also, it will cost double the expense of one full-time writer on site than it is to hire a contractor. Furthermore, if a start-up remains in contact with the writer after a contract ends, an option of rehiring the writer at a later date that understands the business can be beneficial to future project needs.

Inspires the Start of Additional Projects

At times a start-up can discover that additional documentation is needed outside of a project in which a technical writer is hired. These writers are hired to complete documentation for applications and requested to complete operational guides. A business or tech writer is often asked to assist with internal business planning while working for organizations.

In a large organization, a marketing team, business development, executives, or human resources can depend on a technical writer for assistance with online and offline content.

Genius IT Ideas are Captured

A business without a technical writer can set itself up for failure. A startup can have brilliant enterprise architects, web analysts, and IT security staff with no documentation on file. The most game-changing ideas, processes, strategies, policies, guidelines, and contractual agreements need to be captured in documents. There are leading organizations that depend on employees to provide essential information based on data stored in an individual’s memory. It is not a good idea in today’s economy if an employee were to resign or a company needs to downsize valuable employees.

Meet IT Auditor Requirements

A mistake that start-ups often make is waiting to develop a compliance component after a business is established rather than in the beginning. The reality is municipal, federal, and government laws in the technology space frequently change.

To prevent an unexpected request from a government agency or the IRS requesting an internal audit with minimal to no existing documentation on file, it is best to hire a technical writer. A technical writer can work with your startup from the beginning to ensure contracts, and other legal documentation is produced in the event an audit request occurs.

HOW TO FIND TECHNICAL WRITERS

Technical writers working on contract or freelancing can be discovered on freelance sites that include FreelanceMyWay, Upwork, Guru, and Work Hoppers. A variety of profiles of technical writers are available to review previous experience. Most companies who hire writers have writing samples and testimonials of other companies that use these sites. Furthermore, some of these sites complete a background check of contractors that include verifying profile photos to confirm identity.

Final Thoughts

A technical writer can be a valuable resource to a new and existing IT startup. These experts are self-starters, interview employees, work with minimal supervision, and are open to working on a variety of projects. These writers can produce IT disaster recovery plans with instructions to recover critical applications during a natural disaster. These documents provide the contact information of key emergency personnel, a communications plan, and even a diagram of the Disaster Recovery infrastructure.

These professionals are often on call because most work as contractors that work for leading organizations that include Microsoft, Google, Twitter, Government, and municipalities. This level of work experience can be an asset to a start-up with minimal cost in hiring a full-time technical writer.

Also, documentation to ensure unexpected audits can prevent a potential closure of a startup from continuing business with existing documentation that can be updated and used for the entire life of a start-up.

https://samplecic.ch/technical-writers-are-vital-for-technology-startups-2.html

Is Artificial Intelligence Still Relevant for Startups?

If artificial intelligence confuses you, think about what happens when it’s not leveraged properly. For context, consider the London-based VC firm MMC who found that about 40% of European AI startups don’t use AI in any tangible way. MMC (and TheVerge) are saying that companies just want to take advantage of the AI hype. Meaning that the company or startup “talks” about AI, but they are unwilling or unable to put in the resources to deploy the process, store the data, or make any meaningful use of the information. So begs the question, is artificial intelligence still relevant for startups?

AI’s promise may be further ahead than its practical reality for young companies and startups that face an uphill grind against their larger peers. Larger entities and new startups have the same needs.

To gather and organize vast amounts of training data needed to build effective AI solutions is cost prohibitive for a startup. Expectations always outpace reality, but that isn’t still a bad thing. There are plenty of entrepreneurs diligently working toward a better future. But in high-tech businesses, it’s crucial that the AI you build, promote, or invest in — is authentic.

The Substantive Role of AI

The ability to automate responsibilities and streamline efficiency makes AI and machine learning an attractive productivity option for businesses. It shouldn’t be a surprise that the buzz surrounding AI/machine learning and early stage startups peaked in 2018. So much so, that there was a half-joking consensus that adding either to your pitch deck meant an immediate 10% valuation bump with investors.

But the standard for “AI-powered” varies widely — and not only in startups. From a technical perspective, “machine learning” means introducing data into a neural network, so the mathematical model learns to recognize patterns.

Is Artificial Intelligence Still Relevant for Startups? Image: Avi Richards; Unsplash Once that AI foundation is in place, the network learns to recognize categorization, transformation, and even prediction.

These capabilities create four startup types, each bringing something different to the AI table:

• Aspirational: Most startups fit into this category, and their founders claim AI/ML deep in the pitch deck. But what those companies mean is that once they’ve found product-market fit and have 500,000 users creating millions of data points, they’ll be able to leverage AI to generate useful insights. None of these startups do any meaningful machine learning work before a Series B funding round.

• Specialized: These startups apply AI solutions to specific industry problems. Examples include Wise Systems, which improves delivery fleets; Standard Cognition, which creates cashier-less stores; and LuminDx, which trains neural nets to identify skin disease better than primary care physicians.

• Foundational: These AI startups build the tools that the AI industry will someday use. Information that will “someday” be used typically means more nuanced API designs or math-heavy algorithmic research. These companies are laying the foundation that the next generation of specialized AI startups will be built upon.

• Opportunistic: AI startups use out-of-the-box machine learning APIs from established tech companies to add a little extra oomph to their products. Identifying whether a cat is in a photo or basic language skills aren’t core to these businesses, but those qualities can distinguish products from the competition. These startups use AI as a standard part of their tool kits, and they represent the future of how most businesses ultimately will use AI.

Understanding which ecosystem a startup fits into is the key to building an authentic AI enterprise.

This pragmatic approach means recognizing when you’re the market leader introducing AI to a new segment and when you’re simply building something that eventually will be AI-ready.

You’re not just adding “AI/ML” to your business to take advantage of a trend. You’re leveraging technology to solve a real problem, which is what makes a business viable.

When Is AI Relevant to Startups?

When assessing a company’s AI-readiness, it’s important to determine the purpose it will serve. If it’s a support beam for a business, large amounts of data and an understanding of that data’s value to an existing industry are needed.

AI is not a secret sauce — data is the sauce. To that end, it’s crucial to understand how much data good ML and AI requires. The data source is what ultimately drives the ecosystem, and it must be well-structured and optimized. This data also has to be stored securely.

For example, a startup could leverage AI/ML to analyze the entire Twitter firehose to measure influence, conduct sentiment analysis, or even surface brand recognition to tie back to a Super Bowl ad campaign. There are all sorts of companies doing these things, and it’s only made possible by a platform like Twitter, which has troves of data.

Wherever there’s data that isn’t being thoughtfully examined, there’s a massive opportunity for AI disruption.

The larger the data set you can gain access to, the more interesting work your platform can do. Look at CentralSquare Technologies, an AI startup that connects emergency call centers around the country. Emergency dispatch centers ran independently for a long time before startups like CentralSquare came along. The company connects about 5,000 public safety agencies across major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, and Dallas. This decreases 911 response times in a world where your phone, car, or smartwatch will likely be calling far from your home area code.

Hazus, along with Esri and Geospiza, is doing something similar with FEMA data. These organizations are creating AI dashboards using predictive analytics around disaster and emergency response. That team could tell you the best bet when responding to a tornado, hurricane, or earthquake plaguing a city using predictive analysis. Data-driven AI can guide emergency management services through tough situations.

Just remember that not all AI companies are created equal, and it’s very possible you’ll encounter an AI company with no real AI.

The company is probably not a scam — they may be “bragging.” Many companies are just using the term “articifial intelligence” because they plan to use this technology at some point. They just can’t afford actually to do the work AI entails – now. Due diligence can uncover what’s genuinely artificial in that company. As long as you understand what you’re seeing — and seeking — then you will be less likely to have a problem.

https://samplecic.ch/is-artificial-intelligence-still-relevant-for-startups-2.html

For Startups, a SaaS Solution is an HR Killer App

For today’s startups, there are several things required to succeed. The first and the most important thing is a great idea. The second and only marginally less important thing is an ability to operate efficiently and at speed. For that reason, no startup can ignore any approach or technology that saves them time and money if they hope to survive.

That’s part of the reason that startups have been so quick to embrace robotic process automation (RPA) and artificial intelligence (AI). In truth, there is no end to the ways that startups can gain an advantage by turning to technology in their daily operations. One of those ways has to do with how startups find and hire the talent they need to thrive and grow. That’s because a growing cadre of companies now offers applicant tracking systems in a SaaS model it’s perfect for small, growing companies. Here’s a look at why an a SaaS company can be a game-changer for startups and what their options are.

Why Use an Applicant Tracking System?

Startups, more than any other stage of the company, rely on talented workers to build out new products and establish their markets. That makes building out a human resources (HR) department as close to a must-have as you will find for an average startup. At the same time, research reveals that as much as 70% of today’s 35-and-under workforce would prefer a job at a startup to an established company. That means the HR departments within startup businesses have their hands full with eager job applicants ready to join their cause.

The problem, however, is that screening all those potential new hires takes time, and that costs money. If there’s anything most startups can ill afford, it’s spending significant portions of their operating budgets on anything other than building viable products and lines of business. Using a SaaS system makes it possible for a small, agile startup HR department to handle the torrent of applicants, each opening attracts and provides benefits including:

Centralized Resume Storage
Providing Searchable Talent Databases
Statistical Analysis
Greater Hiring Transparency
Automated Applicant Pre-Screening

In short, a SaaS can take care of the time-consuming work it takes to narrow down candidates for a position by reading and ranking applicant resumes with little to no intervention. Also, most resume builder services now format their output, expecting it to be read by HR, so it just makes sense to use one.

Choosing the Right Startup

As mentioned earlier, there’s no shortage of SaaS and cloud-based systems aimed at startups and other small companies. It’s a growing and vibrant segment, filled with enough solutions to meet any startup’s needs. The major players include:

1. Hire by Google

For years, Google has offered a small business software suite that aims to be a comprehensive solution to the needs of growing companies. It made sense, then, when they added Hire by Google to their G Suite business offering. The system provides users with a fully-integrated hiring solution that does everything they could need. Major features include:

Posting openings on multiple job boards at once
Automated online profile search to assemble candidate data (finds things like LinkedIn and GitHub profiles)
Automated resume keyword highlighting
Smart interview scheduling
Click-to-call and automated contact logging

Put simply, Hire by Google automates much of the repetitive processes involved in hiring, and does it in a single neat, attractive interface. As a bonus, it’s a natural fit for any startup that uses the other G Suite solutions, since it’s fully integrated into Gmail and Google Calendar.

2. Zoho Recruit

As a company, Zoho is known as the place to go for business software solutions aimed at small businesses. The Zoho Recruit platform has a SaaS solution for that same market segment. What makes Zoho Recruit such an attractive proposition is the fact that it provides all of the basic features a startup could need in an ATS, and it integrates with all of Zoho’s other small business management software. Best of all, the basic version comes free of charge for a single user managing one active job, making it a no-brainer for a startup just building out their HR staffing and processes. Major features include:

Advanced candidate data search
Centralized job posting management
Centralized resume storage
Automatic resume parsing
Built-in online career portal for job seekers

Like Hire for Google, the main draw is the fact that Zoho has software solutions for everything a startup needs, and they all work together. Zoho Recruit is also one of the more affordable ATS solutions out there, so it will serve its purpose while not draining precious startup funds, too.

3. Greenhouse

One of the things that startups often struggle with is how to build a workplace culture that prioritizes diversity and inclusion. That’s what the Greenhouse ATS solution aims to help with. It does so by being one of the most data-centric ATS systems available to the startup segment, including built-in analytics and reporting tools that are second to none. Better still, the Greenhouse software ecosystem is all about HR, so the platform also offers an onboarding component, CRM functionality, and tools purpose-built to root out unconscious bias and create consistent applicant evaluation processes. Major features include:

Automated job postings on multiple job boards, as well as social media like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn
Automatic application screening with user-customized selection criteria
Interview scheduling and reminder systems
Advanced analytics tools and reporting functions

Taken together, the Greenhouse ATS solution provides everything the modern startup needs to find candidates from all kinds of different backgrounds and to build a healthy workplace culture that will stand the test of time.

4. Bullhorn Staffing and Recruiting

Every startup wants to become the next market unicorn. That means that no two startups are likely to do things the same way, or have the same needs in an ATS system. Bullhorn Staffing and Recruiting offers an ATS solution that covers all the standard bases – and has a robust third-party integration marketplace that aims to cover every outside-the-box use case imaginable. Major features include:

Unlimited user interface customization
Compatibility with Salesforce automation
Automated candidate search
Huge list of available feature integrations

The only major downside to the Bullhorn solution is that it is among the priciest options in the market. The high price tag does mean, however, that any startup that chooses this solution won’t ever outgrow it, because the endless customizations allow it to scale up to an enterprise-class solution that would be right at home in today’s biggest corporations.

The Bottom Line

Any of the above solutions would make an excellent addition to a startup’s HR arsenal. They all act as force-multipliers, allowing fewer HR staff to stay on top of endless floods of job applicants, and see to the voracious talent needs of a growing business. They all accomplish that without being cost-prohibitive, too. The bottom line is that in a world where startups live and die based on their ability to iterate, grow, and evolve efficiently, an ATS is a natural fit. And now that the SaaS market seems to be offering ATS solutions for all manner of startup needs, they should take advantage of it and make sure to stay ahead of the curve – and the competition.

https://samplecic.ch/for-startups-a-saas-solution-is-an-hr-killer-app-2.html

Argentina is Stepping-Up as a Country of Web Developers

As high streets across the world look to streamline, and businesses transform physical shops to online stores, being able to make the digital jump is crucial. As well as providing a platform for businesses to promote their products and services, the internet has lead to the rise of e-commerce, with giants like Amazon becoming household names and frequenting our bank statements.

It’s estimated that, by 2021, the e-commerce industry will be worth an incredible US$4.88 trillion dollars worldwide. This figure will continue to rise exponentially as access to affordable broadband and smartphones becomes widely available. As an entrepreneur, the internet simply cannot be ignored as a powerful tool to grow your business. Adequately investing in a web developer to create a powerful platform for your goods and services can set you apart from the competition. Additionally, an effective digital marketing campaign is critical to your business’ growth.

IT Expands to Latin America Latin America has established its own ecosystem and become a key destination for startups around the globe.

Latin America is currently trending as a tech hub, with capabilities in information technologies. It has established its own ecosystem and become a key destination for startups due to the number of successful businesses emerging throughout the last few years. US firms are looking to Latam hotspots to offshore tech hubs. Those include technology services and the creation of software and hardware. One country that’s fueling the digital movement of e-commerce, marketing, and tech startups is Argentina.

Argentina, Latam’s New Tech Player

Argentina’s IT and software tech industry is expected to rake in by $7.33 billion by 2020. Not bad for a country coming out of a recession. Its economic revival is the source of further business opportunities, given the strength of the dollar against the Argentine peso, making it cheap to do business. Its government has already facilitated the creation of cloud technology centers and encourages the population to uptake these technologies. Government help has resulted in a growing educated population of IT savvy professionals and helped position Argentina as Latam new tech player. Therefore, Argentina seems like an increasingly good option to source web developing services.

If you’re looking to find new revenue streams, ways to turn a profit, hire a web designer this article will give you food for thought about your business expansion into the country.

What to Look For in a Web Developer

If you’ve decided to take your business digital, it’s important you hire the right people for the job. Perhaps you are considering launching a new company website, or maybe you’re growing a digital marketing company and want to offer web development services as part of your operation? It’s essential to understand what you should look for when hiring a web developer.

Design Experience
Businesses, need to set themselves apart from the competition and, hiring the right candidate can make the difference.

The most obvious skill to look out for is design experience. A developer that can code in multiple languages, whether that be HTML, Javascript, CSS or PHP, has an edge over the rest. Businesses, today more than ever, need to set themselves apart from the competition. Relying on themes and templates is not enough – a truly customized website designed by a professional is. Check out the developer’s client portfolio to recent examples of work. Services contract out at $25-50 per hour, with senior developers earning around $1000 monthly. The industry is competitively priced, compared with the US and Europe. Whatsmore, Argentina is well-endowed with a wealth of professionals specialized in design programming and informatics.

Bilingual

If you’re planning to launch a digital agency, language should also be a consideration. If you want to hire Argentinian web developers, they must be able to speak English so they can communicate with your customers around the world. Otherwise, you’ll need a middleman who can translate briefs, complaints, and information for your web development team. The good news is that around 6.5 million of Argentina’s 44 million citizens speak English so you should be able to find bilingual employees to work for your business. English is also compulsory all Argentinian schools, so the English-speaking population is constantly growing.

Creative Flair

Something else to consider is creativity and imagination. According to Netcraft, there are more than 644 million websites on the internet, and many look similar. Finding web developers that can bring a unique flair to your business will differentiate your offering from competitors and ensure customers keep coming back time and time again. Argentina’s education system offers over 200 IT degrees, creating a tech ecosystem at an educational level. As employment in this sector continues to grow, the quality of human capital will also increase.

Argentina’s Tech Scene

Argentina may not be the most prosperous nation in Latin America, but it certainly makes up for it in other ways – particularly in its technology sector. With a new government that’s focused on investment and growth, startups in Argentina are on the rise, the next generation of new businesses in the country, bringing in millions of dollars and boosting employment. The sector is supported by software industry chambers, CESSI, which aids collaboration between firms in the industry. Valuable alliances have resulted from active cooperation between public and private firms.

Because of the country’s harsh economic past, the population has learned to become self-starters. Many young people with experience in web design have launched their own businesses or offer their services on a freelance basis. Argentinian culture is undeniably entrepreneurial. Talented individuals are coming together to collaborate and build truly world-class businesses that can compete on a global scale. Although a cost-competitive, Argentina is creating high-value products, for domestic and foreign firms alike. Santiago Ceria and Carlos Pallotti term this “ValueShore,” which defines Argentina’s IT industry as a critical destination for foreign investment.

Government Support

As well as massive investments from some of the world’s biggest businesses, city governments have been working to encourage growth and innovation. In 2015, Buenos Aires’ city government launched the Academia Buenos Aires Emprende, which is designed to educate its citizens about business. More recently, the country passed “Ley de Emprendedores,” which is intended to promote entrepreneurship and encourage new businesses to flourish. This new law offers tax incentives and public funds for entrepreneurs to get started, as well as fast-tracked company registration so businesses can begin overnight. Likewise, Argentina’s “Copyright Law” extends to software, giving firms legal protection over their products.

The development of initiatives and programs have boosted the industry’s competitiveness. A public fund for R&D, scholarships for IT students, fiscal benefits for firms and industry awards have cemented the software and IT industry into Argentina’s economy. While innovation certainly takes place across the country, 60% of all IT related activity is based in the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires. Establishing operations in the capital would provide access to a vast talent pool and the ability to connect with other businesses in the area. However, if the big city is not for you, there is also substantial activity happening in Córdoba, San Luis and Santa Fe. These are vital destinations for startups and accelerator schemes and have lower living costs.

Setting up an Argentine business

For those looking to form a company in Argentina’s high value IT industry, there has never been a better time to do so. In 2018, the country’s currency plunged against the US dollar, and as a result, it’s cheaper than ever to invest and get started on a new business venture. Foreign companies are not restricted from participating in Argentina’s IT industry. What’s more, the average monthly salary for an employee in Buenos Aires is US$550, according to Check In Price, which makes recruitment and managing a team relatively inexpensive. When you compare that to the average cost of a customized website design package (US$5,000-US$10,000, according to Website Builder Expert), you can see how profitable a web development firm could be with the right sales strategy.

Furthermore, businesses in the United States can also benefit from establishing their company in Argentina. The average developer in the US commands a salary of $76,141 according to Salary.com, demonstrating the enormous potential markup which could be applied. Given the strength of the dollar, the returns are promising. You won’t be short of potential talent to hire. CESSI’s president estimates there will as many 134,000 people working in Argentina’s IT industry by 2020. There are exciting times to come.

Conclusion

There’s no denying that establishing a business in a new country can be stressful and hard work, but the numbers speak for themselves in this case. Do your research, calculate your return on investment and opportunity cost, and you could soon build a development empire that sets you apart from businesses around the world.

https://samplecic.ch/argentina-is-stepping-up-as-a-country-of-web-developers-2.html

9 Steps to Assess Whether a Startup is Suitable for Investment

In the world of investing, there are numerous investment opportunities from which you can choose. The market is saturated so you will most certainly find a suitable investment opportunity that will match both your investing style and preferences. But your question will be about how to assess whether a startup is suitable for investment.

When it comes to different investment opportunities, investing in startups and small businesses is something that became popular fairly recently. That being said, this market seemingly exploded with interested parties looking to make smart investments and thus secure their financial future.

Therefore, if you are also looking to invest in a startup in hopes of either generating favorable ROI or securing your financial future in any other sense, here are some of the factors you will need to consider beforehand to make sure that you have made the right decision.

The Initial Considerations

Before you decide to invest your capital in any business, and especially a startup, you should first schedule an interview with them. This way, you will get the chance to see and hear people you might potentially end up doing business with face to face.

Furthermore, this way, you will start building a relationship with the people early on, which can mean a lot later on if you decide actually to invest in their business. Finally, show them what smart capital means to you. Make it clear that you value investing your time and effort into them, as much as you do money.

The Objectives and Strategy

Next, once the initial meeting is over, you should ask them to present to you their business’s objectives and strategy. They should show you their organizational goals and expected outcomes during this process, as well as their key business metrics.

Among the first steps that will build a foundation will be these key metrics. You will base your decisions about whether to return to a particular venture later on — when it comes the time to decide whether to invest or not.

The Pitch

The pitch is the thing that will either kick-off or shut down any further collaboration. The fact of the matter is that a startup needs to truly convince you – the investor – that they are a favorable investment opportunity. A startup should show the investor what to expect as far as the desired success with their business efforts.

Of course, clearly defining the time and date for the pitch and keeping it as formal as possible always helps. Additionally, some of the most relevant questions to ask during this process include the financial questions.

You will ask how they intend to handle finances during both the good times and the bad times. You will pose questions about social proof – and if there’s an audience interested in buying their products. As an investor, it is critical to understand the startups hiring service practices.

Always obtain the answer about where they see themselves in five years – because this is usually the timeframe in which a startup should be able to reach (investor-worthy) success.

Be Careful

When this part of the process is concerned, there are some mistakes you need to avoid. First and foremost, if a startup wants you to sign an NDA before sharing any sensitive business information with you, don’t take any action with them.

Also, if they don’t seem motivated or aggressive enough to make a place for themselves on the market, it would be best to simply continue your search for a better candidate.

The Information Exchange

Once you have seen or heard the pitch, you will be able to clearly define your venturing goals. Decide how you will engage in the entire investing process and begin the information exchange.

Ask for all the crucial information regarding the startup’s business. You will want the pitch document, business model, organizational chart, customer information, and sales references. Vital is the financial information and the description of products and services, as well as all other legal documentation.

The Startup Maturity Level

Take time to consider is the maturity of the startup for which you intend to invest. Generally speaking, startups are particularly tricky to assess. However, you should pay attention to operational efficiency and the potential to scale the business further.

Note where the potential is to grow the startup’s team and establish a certain market position. It’s advisable to stay up to date with all the latest stock market news by checking resources such as AskBrokers market talk. Take note which industries are currently in high demand.

The Venture Validation

Next comes the venture validation. In this step, you should validate all five criteria of venture validation before you decide to invest. The requirements are as follows:

Problem validation – or the size, timing, and opportunity.

Solution validation – or is the differentiation strong enough?

Business model validation – or is the business model both scalable and viable?

Strategic fit – or does it comply with the organization’s strategy?

The team – or the team’s ability to execute, as well as their mindset and composition.

You’ll need to know who you’re looking to validate. Take a look at the business and map out the criteria you are going to base the evaluation on. Define the relevant data and results based on which the “who” will either pass or fail your validation process. Once all of these are validated, you can move onto the next step.

The Venture Valuation

This step is particularly tricky to tackle, especially when startups are concerned. Evaluating mature companies is fairly straightforward — since you have all the necessary data at hand.

Evaluating startups is most commonly based on not only trying to assess money but also the energy that goes into it. That is why it would be best to ask for expert help with this step to ensure that you have made the right choice.

The Investment Criteria

When it comes to investment criteria, you need to make sure you have covered the “who” “how” and “what” of the entire process. The “who” part focuses on the people in the startup – the founder, the team with the necessary experience and the skill set required.

The “how” part focuses on the business itself – defining the target audience, coming up with a product or service. Designing with that target audience in mind, having a clear market demand and a clarified business model will breed success.

Also, keep in mind the presence of earning potential, sustainable competitive advantage and potential market share. Finally, the “what” is focusing on the questions regarding the list of top customers, strategic relationships. Suppliers need to be considered, as well as on the thorough analysis of the competitive landscape. Understand and clarify the current value and identified key risks that are involved.

The Final Decision

Once all is said and done, all the necessary conversations had and all the crucial documentation and data presented, there comes the time to make your final decision. Aside from all the evidence, another thing to consider here is your gut feeling.

Everything you are presented with might look like a perfect investment opportunity, but sometimes if the things look too perfect, chances are that there’s something wrong. There are many issues that you can simply miss without expert advice, so, your gut feeling may be the final factor for you.

If it’s telling you to go for it – what are you waiting for? After all, it is your money and future success on the line, and you should definitely be very careful and cautious with it.

https://samplecic.ch/9-steps-to-assess-whether-a-startup-is-suitable-for-investment-2.html

A 60-Second Trailer of the 60-Day Report on Cybersecurity

After delivering her report to President Obama last Friday, Melissa Hathaway, the Acting Senior Director for Cybersecurity for the National Security and Homeland Security Councils, today gave RSA Conference attendees in San Francisco a glimpse – what she called a “movie trailer” – into the state of U.S cybersecurity.

According to Hathaway’s 60 second trailer, the key to a cyber secure future lies in cooperation between the public and private sector and a united effort on both a hyperlocal front as well as globally.

A Manhattan Project to Defend Cyber Networks

Melissa Hathaway came across our radar recently when President Obama tasked the former Bush administration aide with leading a 60-day review of Bush’s Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative; a largely classified, purported $30 billion, multi phase plan to address cybersecurity issues that Hathaway was involved in developing. The initiative was promptly dubbed ‘a Manhattan Project to defend cyber networks’ by the then Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff.

The CNCI, which began as a directive from President Bush in January 2008, received much criticism and, in part, led to Obama attacking the Bush administration during his campaign for not efficiently addressing cyber threats. “As president, I’ll make cyber security the top priority that it should be in the 21st century,” Obama said during a speech in July.

Unfortunately, as pointed out by Siobhan Gorman in the Wall Street Journal, the decision to hold a 60-day review suggests that any big move in the field of national cybersecurity was once again put off. Or was it?

Who is to Blame for Internet Security Problems?

“Despite all of our efforts,” Hathaway began, “our global digital infrastructure, based largely on the Internet is not secure enough or resilient enough for what we need today and what we need for the future.”

She explained that the original design of the Internet was driven more by considerations of interoperability rather than security, and as a result we are now faced with almost insurmountable issues. Some examples include online criminals who steal our information, mass bandits who have the ability to damage portions of our internal infrastructure, and the recent ATM scam that law enforcement sources claim is one of the most frightening and well coordinated heists they’d ever seen. “In a single 30 minute period,” Hathaway said, “138 ATMs in 49 cities around the world were illicitly emptied of their cash.” This can’t continue she explained, “Our goals depend on trust and that cannot be achieved if people believe they are vulnerable to these types of threats.”

The Trailer for the Path to National CyberSecurity

We need an agreed way to move forward which involves shared responsibility, Hathaway noted, if we are to have “trustworthy, resilient, reliable” cyberspace.

Describing cyberspace and its security as “a fundamental responsibility of our government that transcends the jurisdiction of individual departments and agencies,” Hathaway explained that although each government agency has a unique contribution to make, no single agency can see the overall picture and they’ll need to work together.

Additionally, the private and the public sectors need to join forces as they are “intertwined” when it comes to cybersecurity. “While it is the role of the government to protect its citizens, it is the private sector that in the main designs and owns the majority of the digital infrastructure,” she said.

Finally, Hathaway sees this as a unique opportunity for the United States to work with countries around the world, and with organizations on an extremely local level. “We cannot succeed if our government works in isolation,” she added. It requires “leading from the top” from the White House, to government departments, to the private sector, the C-Suite, and even deeper, to the local classroom and library.

Hathaway said that her report, the culmination of a 60-day comprehensive review to assess U.S. cyberspace policies and structures, will be made public in the next few days after the administration has had a chance to review the data.

https://samplecic.ch/a-60-second-trailer-of-the-60-day-report-on-cybersecurity-110.html