Is Startup Life Turning You Into a Zombie? Here’s How to Stop It

If you are looking to entice an entrepreneur, just use simple, sweet words like easy, quick, and minimal effort. If you don’t believe that these words ring true, I urge you to check out the number of pizza boxes, soda cans, and Starbucks cups in the trash at any startup. For entrepreneurs, there is never an excess of time, and more importantly, they are always compiling a never-ending to-do list in their minds. While this passion and persistence is important in order to get a startup off the ground, it sometimes comes at the price of personal health and wellness.

From sleepless nights, a weakened immune system, and forgotten lunches, my early days of growing ‘ZinePak turned me into a zombie. Instead of running parallel paths, my success and health ratios seemed to create a big, fat, ironic X: the more successful ‘ZinePak became, the less I maintained my health. Juggling projects, meetings, and pitches left me no time to maintain a healthy diet, work out, or combat the fact that I looked like a shell of my former energetic self. While I will never find a perfect balance (the persistent curse of the entrepreneur), I have found a few key strategies that help keep me from being mistaken for an extra on “The Walking Dead”:

Take your vitamins. Even for on-the-go founders, there is nothing simpler than popping a pill in your mouth before you brush your teeth. While getting balanced meals and a few solid food groups in at every meal is ideal, it’s not always realistic. Grabbing a multivitamin will keep you energized while stabilizing your immune system as you bounce from meeting to meeting or airport to airport. Make it part of your daily routine before you even set foot in the office.
Remember to hydrate. Remember when, in elementary school, you would have water-fountain breaks? Those teachers were on to something! Drinking water rehydrates your body, helps your skin, and can even suppress food cravings (like those 4 p.m. candy-jar trips). Find a large decorative glass or water bottle and keep it at your desk to drink from throughout your day. Not only will you surprise yourself by how much you consume, but you might find yourself skipping that late-afternoon caffeine fix as well!
Get your beauty rest. Ever wonder why Sleeping Beauty was so beautiful? Well, it wasn’t because she was up working until 3 a.m. And beyond physical appearance (contrary to popular entrepreneurial belief, dark eye circles are not in fashion), sleeping can help your mind work faster and problem-solve more efficiently. It will leave you less prone to emotional outbursts with employees or clients. I cannot stress enough that a full seven hours of sleep are important not just for your personal wellness, but also for the wellness of your company. If you are run down, tired, or grumpy, chances are that will leak through into your work, client relations, or company culture.
Go the extra (minimal) mile. I know I said the sweet words to an entrepreneur are easy, quick, and minimal effort—but sometimes you just have to go the extra mile. Whether it is parking at the farthest spot from the mailbox or deciding to walk 10 blocks instead of jumping on the subway, every little bit counts. Many articles preach about the gym or fitness classes, but I know from personal experience that those were the articles I would disregard completely. “Who has time for such luxuries?” I would often vent. If you find yourself echoing that sentiment, there is still hope! Pacing instead of sitting while on a conference call; taking the stairs instead of the elevator; walking over to a colleague’s desk instead of emailing her — there are small, low-effort steps to increasing your physical activity and boosting your mood. Even if that means walking to get that pizza box instead of having it delivered.

Kim Kaupe is the co-founder of ‘ZinePak, a custom publication company that creates engaging fan packages for entertainers, brands, and celebrities. She graduated with a B.A. in marketing from the University of Florida in 2008 and roots loyally for her Gators. Most recently, she and her business partner, Brittany Hodak, were named to Advertising Age’s 40 Under 40 List for 2013.

The Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, the YEC recently launched #StartupLab, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses via live video chats, an expert content library and email lessons.

11 Marketing Tools Your Startup Needs For Launch

Question: What ONE must-have tool should small businesses include in their marketing campaign when launching a new product? (events, pop-up shops, swag, social media campaigns, etc.)

Mailchimp Is a Must

“For every new product launch, we collect emails via MailChimp. We use their email campaign and auto-responder functionality to draft countdown emails so that our customers receive regular updates and pre-specified intervals prior to launch. These email campaigns get customers excited about our launch and result in increased conversion.”

– Bhavin Parikh | CEO, Magoosh Test Prep

Landing Pages with Unbounce

“Landing pages are a must when launching a new product. They let you easily focus the potential consumers attention on the actions that you deem desirable. With new products, money is scarce, so having the highest conversion rate is of necessity. My product of choice is Unbounce — it’s dead simple to use, and they also have new and improved features for the advanced user.”

– Lawrence Watkins | Founder & CEO, Great Black Speakers

Create a Dedicated Email

“As you’re building buzz for your product, there must be a customer and sponsor support team ready to handle incoming questions. Put your email out there everywhere and encourage questions, ideas and communication. Don’t just have the email account, but be ready with resources, FAQs and engagement specialists to nurture your early adopters and raving fans and help them promote you further.”

– Kelly Azevedo | Founder, She’s Got Systems

Set Up Google Analytics Properly

“You can’t have a good marketing campaign without tracking in-depth analytics throughout the entire process. Not only is Google Analytics great because it’s free, but they continue to add more robust features for tracking every detail of each visitor on your site, which will help you understand the location, referrers/keywords, behaviors, site usage, and transactions of each of your visitors.”

– Seth Kravitz | CEO, Technori

Incorporate Retargeting Pixels.

“Use a service like ReTargeter or AdWords Remarketing in order to drop cookies for first-time visitors to your website, so that you have the opportunity to remarket to them later and stay top of mind. Start building your remarketing list from day one.”

– Matt Mickiewicz | Co-Founder, Flippa and 99designs

Utilize Hacker News

“Hacker News is a great place to launch a product. If you submit your site correctly, it could drive thousands of visits within a few hours and collect excellent feedback. Make sure to read how to use Hacker News first though!”

– Ben Lang | Founder, Mapped In Israel

Put In a Squeeze Page

“If I had to recommend one tool for any product launch, it would be a “squeeze page,” also known as an opt-in page. Get an account with an email service provider (ESP), create a squeeze page, and point potential customers to it during your pre-launch. Send emails to your subscriber list building anticipation for the launch, and then offer your subscribers a limited-time offer upon the launch.”

– Pete Kennedy | Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Main Street ROI

Let People Use Your Product!

“If the goal is to get people to use your product and talk about your product, then it seems logical that you should get that product into as many hands as possible. If it’s online, this means a trial. If it’s food, it means having tons of samples. If it’s jeans, give away your jeans. You can talk and hype something all you want, but the product speaks for itself. A worthwhile investment.”

– Luke Burgis | Director, ActivPrayer

Bloggers Create the Buzz

“A lot of small businesses focus on long-lead, print media without realizing the power of blogs. Even relatively small blogs have the power to convert sales with links in a much more powerful way than print ever can — and even have the potential to take on their life of their own through social sharing.”

– Alexis Wolfer | Founder/CEO, The Beauty Bean

Coordinate a Social Media Push

“Including fans in the conversation or decision-making process prior to launch is by far the most valuable pre-promotion you can do. We generally narrow new watch designs or colors down to three or four options before running a vote on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. It’s our “Threadless meets Kickstarter” model: whether we receive 100 votes or 1,000, we learn from our biggest advocates!”

– Aaron Schwartz | Founder and CEO, Modify Watches

Collect Real Testimonials and Reviews

“No matter what else you do to market a new product, you need to have proof that it does what you say it does. Getting people outside your company to try the product and talk about it is the only initial source of that proof that you can set up before the product goes on the market. So make the effort to get testimonials and reviews from beta testers and pre-launch customers.”

– Thursday Bram | Consultant, Hyper Modern Consulting

How to Find the Right Investor for Your Startup

A good team of investors can be the foundation of your startup’s success, but a bad one can obliterate even the strongest ideas. Investors can provide your business with more than capital — they can become resources for organizing, marketing, and realizing ideas. Knowing what to look for in an investor and being able to attract the best kind of investors are vital skills for any new entrepreneur.

Attracting Investors

As a newbie with limited experience, how do you convince potential investors you are worth listening to — and get them to buy into your idea? Here are two qualities I strongly believe are key:

Communication: In a time when people are constantly connected online, it’s essential to be good at correspondence in its simplest form. People hate being relegated to your voicemail, and unanswered emails make it appear that you don’t have time or don’t care about responding.

Our investors know they can call me anytime, and I’ll always pick up the phone or get back to them quickly. Respond to phone calls and voicemail messages and make time — not just to read, but also to thoughtfully answer emails every day.

Honesty: Being truthful is obviously non-negotiable. If you misrepresent yourself or your business, you’ll be dead in the water.

It’s natural to think seducing investors with best-case-scenario figures is the most effective way to get funding for a new project. Actually, the opposite is true. Nothing will torpedo an investor’s confidence in you faster than projecting everything through rose-colored lenses.

Making cautious or even negative projections shows investors you’re honest with them and also capable of being realistic about your project’s potential problems. Underpromising and over-delivering is your best bet, and an honest assessment of a project’s strengths and weaknesses is crucial.

Sealing the Deal

Once you’ve established yourself as accessible and trustworthy, you will not have to go out of your way to land the investment. Take these steps in advance to increase your chances of sealing the deal:

Prove it works. Once you’ve built a business successfully — even a small one — investors are more likely to believe in you. Get an idea going, and achieve small successes to show you’ve got the drive to see things through. As someone who’s been on both sides of the table, I personally feel more confident investing in ideas that have already proven viable.
Build relationships. Every person you meet is a potential investor or a contact who will lead you to one. This has proven true for me dozens of times. I met a guy at Starbucks once who introduced me to a group that invested $250,000 in one of my ideas. We eventually sold that business for seven figures.
Be likable. It’s impossible to raise money if investors don’t like you. Engage people and be friendly. Look sharp and exude positivity. An investor once told me that he chose to invest in my company because I was personable. “I know we have a winner here because of you. I like you,” he said.

Finding the Right Investors

Getting the right investors for your project is just as important as being able to attract investors. Here’s what I advise upcoming entrepreneurs look for in their investors:

Diversity: The more well-rounded your investment group is, the better suited they’ll be to address the challenges your company will face. Look for investors with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Positivity: Supportive people can be the difference between a project’s success and failure. No company can grow without encountering problems. Finding people who remain confident through these times can improve your chances of success.

Investors are vital in far more ways than just providing cash. Depending on the arrangement, the right group can become unofficial consulting firms or even assist in day-to-day operations. My current partner, Ryan Goldschmidt, first invested in a nightlife venue he had neither the experience nor the skills necessary to operate. After an exhaustive search, he found a company willing to invest in the buildout with the skills to operate a large venue and the capital needed to make the necessary improvements.

Of course, some investors prefer to remain at arm’s length. Either way, your team of investors can make or break your startup. Always approach potential investors with honesty and confidence, and don’t forget to be picky when choosing the right people to partner with.

Aaron Pitman and Ryan Goldschmidt are founders of RA Domain Capital, a domain name development firm. Aaron is an angel investor and an entrepreneurial thought leader. He welcomes anyone to reach out to him through Twitter (@aaronpitman) or you can visit him directly at aaronpitman.com.

The Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, the YEC recently launched #StartupLab, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses via live video chats, an expert content library and email lessons.

10 Ways To Get Your Creative Juices Flowing

Question: What process do you use to spur creativity — in yourself and your team — especially when you’re feeling blocked?

Mindmapping Works Like a Champ

“Start with a topic or question, and mindmap your way around it. Don’t censor yourself as you come up with all the surrounding topics and bubbles that go with your initial topics. This type of “hyperlinked” thinking is what allows us to come up with new ideas. You can also go really deep on a thread, which can help spur creativity in other threads of your mindmap. Mindmap as a group, and this takes on a whole new life!”

– Nathalie Lussier | Creator, The Website Checkup Tool

Turn to Your Trusted Resources

“When I hit a creative road block, I turn to other entrepreneurs for inspiration. Usually, I hit those road blocks at weird hours of the night, so I keep a business-related book or a copy of Entrepreneur or Inc. Magazine close by. I find that spending 15 minutes or so digesting other entrepreneurs’ thoughts and opinions does the trick and gets my creative juices flowing right away. I use a similar tactic when it comes to spurring creativity in my team. During our team meetings, everyone is required to share an article, story, quote or anything else that gave them creative inspiration this week. After everyone shares, we take a vote on our favorite creative piece and the winner chooses what is for lunch that day. It is a fun and interactive way to get everyone thinking.”

– Kevin Tighe II | Co-founder and CEO, WeBRAND

Fun Equals Creative Thinking

“It sounds simple, but some of the best ideas come from having fun and not thinking about the business. Get your team out of the office and take them out. Not having an “office atmosphere” allows people to open up and be themselves. Not only will it give you the chance to really get to know them but also the chance to let the creativity flow. If you aren’t having fun, then why are you doing it?”

– Ashley Bodi | co-founder, Business Beware

Look Outside Your Field

“One of the best ways to jog my creativity is to consume media totally outside my field. If I’m at the airport maybe I’ll pick up a magazine about farming or architecture. I’ll watch a documentary about a subject I don’t know much about or go see an experimental play. Listen to a random Pandora channel in a genre you usually don’t listen to. I think ideas tend to slow down when you get into a rut with the things you see every day. Even taking a different route on a walk can help a lot!”

– Caitlin McCabe | Founder & CEO, Real Bullets Branding

Movement Gets Me Going!

“Our bodies provide as much information as our heads, but we usually ignore them in our work lives. You know, simply taking a walk while talking about important things makes the conversation more meaningful. So why do we sit in conference rooms instead of walking and talking? To think creatively, keep moving. What do I do? Bollywood dance breaks! Seriously — I have Bollywood-inspired Innovative Moves workshops.”

– Erica Dhawan | CEO, Erica Dhawan, LLC

Get the Ball Rolling and Don’t Stop

“Creativity comes often when one least expects it: in the shower, walking to work or in the middle of the night. These moments are gifts not to be wasted, but they’re also impossible to schedule into team’s meetings. As a founder, my company relies on me to take the lead on creative discussions, so I created a simple process to get the intellectual momentum going. We start by going into a conference room where we break down a problem or topic into its smallest possible parts. As ideas flow, we post them up onto our walls with flip chart paper. Surrounded by the information, people naturally start connecting the dots and the creative juices start flowing. Once you hit a rhythm, embrace whatever topics come into focus, dig deep and never let ridged schedules derail your flow.”

– Christopher Kelly | Co-Founder, Principal, Convene

Get Completely Uncomfortable

“I’ve always found creative ideas come when you’re trying to do something new… and find out that you’re bad at it. Take a cooking class, try rock climbing, learn to play a new instrument. Inevitably, you will encounter some difficulties when experiencing something for the first time, and your brain will get to work. A lot of times, I end up saying to myself, “This is really hard…why don’t people just do ‘x’ to make it easier?” Or, “This is great, but it would be so much better if ‘y’ were added to the experience!” Putting yourself in uncomfortable situations where your brain isn’t used to operating often is a great way to get those creative juices flowing!”

– David Stankunas | President and Founder, Beard Head, Inc.

Spark Creative Visual Conversation

“By painting our walls with IdeaPaint, we’ve been able to have a lot of conversations by drawing out what we imagine. Instead of our ideas floating around in the air, we put them out on the wall for everyone to look at and soak in. This caters to those who are visual and audio learners and ultimately brings everyone together for a better, more creative brainstorm.”

– Bobby Emamian | CEO, Prolific Interactive

Wine Catalyst to Get Creativity Flowing

“There is a reason why happy hour is such a crucial thing for co-workers to participate in together. Allow your employees to unleash their ideas outside the confining walls of an office over a glass or two of wine. You’ll be surprised how quickly the combination of a relaxed environment, and some vino will transform a casual hang out into an innovative meeting that just might leave you with a whole new creative direction.”

– Erika London | Co-Founder, iAdventure.com

Place, Purpose, and Post-Its

“First, take your team somewhere stimulating. The beach, a grassy field, or even couches will do. If you go outside, be sure to bring some cardboard to use as an idea wall. Next, frame the discussion. “This morning we are generating ideas. Our goal is to come up with as many ideas as possible in 10 minutes. Wacky ideas are welcome – they might lead us somewhere unexpected and exciting.” Throw, slide, or pass colored markers or pencils and sticky pads to everyone. Everyone then captures ideas as fast as they can in 10 minutes before sharing their ideas. Depending on the size of your team, you will have twenty to several hundred ideas. Rinse and repeat. Each set of ideas will spark other ideas. Then your challenge will be moving to analysis mode!”

– Kevon Saber | Cofounder , Fig

Four Rules Every Female Entrepreneur Should Follow

While many business challenges are common for all founders, there are unique lessons that women entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to learn in business. Here are several essential lessons I’ve learned as a successful female entrepreneur and what every female founder should know along the way:

Own your success.
There are several things that, as a woman, you should never apologize for, and at the top of that list is your well-deserved success. The apologetic undertone of some women entrepreneurs is subtle, laced with an excuse, chocked up to ‘luck’ or a dismissed congratulatory pat on the back. Many of us aren’t outright asserting, “I’m sorry that I am successful,” but a lack of confidence and all of the above are bedfellows of the same notion. Ladies, we already face an uphill battle in some cases. Don’t pack more unnecessary personal baggage on your rise to the top. When you earn a congratulatory remark from your peers, embrace it gracefully and confidently. And according to leadership consultant, Rachelle J. Canter, Ph.D., “If you can’t own this success for yourself, then own it for all the other women who look up to you and emulate you.”
Never underestimate your value.
We have all read the headlines that insist women still earn less than men. According to ThinkProgress contributor Sarah Glynn, in the U.S., “women on average make only $.77 cents to every dollar earned by men. Some of that wage gap is the result of women being more likely to work in certain industries or occupations, but about 40 percent of the difference in men’s and women’s wages cannot be explained by any measurable factor.” As a woman, this pay gap may have haunted you in corporate America. But it should no longer hold court in your business. Consider this: you are in complete control of your earning potential. In order to make a shift in your business you must be aware of your gifts and talents, understand what you have to offer within your industry, and monetize your products and services to reflect what the market will bear. Couple all of this with your unique value creation. Tell yourself a positive story about what you have to offer the world. No more excuses. As Albert Einstein notably suggested, “If you put a small value on yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price.”
It’s lonely at the top, so bring others with you.
By nature, the front-end of innovation is lonely, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. “You do something no one else has ever done and leave everyone else scratching their heads and howling in protest. As the saying goes, ‘You can tell who the pioneers are from the arrows sticking out of their backs,'” suggests MACPA contributor Bill Sharidan. An article published by the Harvard Business Review echoes this notion — it’s isolating at the top. For founders, it can be unsettling. The survey found that “half of CEOs report experiencing feelings of loneliness in their role, and of this group, 61 percent believe it hinders their performance. First-time CEOs are particularly susceptible to this isolation.” Much of the loneliness that entrepreneurial leaders will face is connected to the growing pains of personal development. Or as Jack Welch, former Chairman and CEO of General Electric, has said, “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”
Be unapologetically authentic.
Authenticity is a bankable currency. It can define your business and set you apart from the clutter of a cookie-cutter marketplace. You (and your customers) are not well-served by haphazard attempts to be someone else. According to organizational development professors Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones, “Leadership demands the expression of an authentic self. Try to lead like someone else and you will fail. Employees will not follow a CEO who invests little of himself in his leadership behaviors. People want to be led by someone ‘real.’” The same can be said for your business and its customers. Authenticity in business is a baseline of belief in what you say and in what you sell. It is the courage to offer unique value and market yourself in a way that is consistent with your brand. Being everything to everyone sets you up to be nothing to no one.

Erica Nicole is the founder and CEO of YFS Magazine, the definitive digital magazine for startup, small business news and entrepreneurial culture. As an entrepreneurial change-agent, Erica Nicole been featured in national media outlets including Forbes.com, Upstart Business Journal, Fox Business, MSN Business on Main, The Huffington Post, Black Enterprise and more.

4 Steps To Find The Right Mentor For Your Startup

People often say that finding a mentor is essential as an entrepreneur, especially if you’re young. I am a junior at Duke University and the co-founder of Star Toilet Paper, so the experience I had prior to starting this company includes camp and caddying work. How do I even know what steps to take or how to develop a business?

While many people within the realm of entrepreneurship are willing to help, there is a big difference between someone who answers a few questions for you and someone who is genuinely interested and invested (not monetarily) in both your company and in you as a person. To me, the most important aspect of a mentor is the latter; your mentor must have a vested interest in learning more about you and what you wish to do to change the world with your new company.

But how do you go about obtaining this type of mentor, and how do you know if they are the right person?

Where: In college, I have access to both people and resources. But you don’t need to be a student to access the people and resources you need. In any major city, there will be a variety of incubators, accelerators and universities which are hotbeds for innovation and centers of knowledge. That does not mean that you need to find the entrepreneurship professor at the closest university. See what is around you and how you can make the most out of those resources. I have found that it is often the third or fourth degree of separation that leads to the best person for you.

When: ASAP! Even if you have thousands or millions of dollars in revenue, a mentor can be helpful. It is important to know that, no matter where you are in your business, there is always room for improvement and a sounding board. The advantage of having a mentor as that sounding board rather than an employee or co-founder is that they come with a consumer perspective. When you work on something 24/7, you begin to lose touch with the thoughts of those who will actually be using the product. Having someone outside the company is a great way to get back in touch with that side without having to test or survey.

How: Just ask. Having access to people and resources is helpful, but the relationships do not go as far as mentorship. Generally someone interested in mentoring will send emails saying things like, “Hey, wanted to catch up and see if there was anything I could do!” They recognize how valuable their time is to you and thus, you need to do the same. Tell them what you are looking for and why you specifically want them to mentor you. Demonstrate the value that they will have in the company. And just ask.

So…Who?: Of course, there is no easy answer to this question; it depends on personal preference and what you are looking for help with specifically. For example, in our case, there are multiple possibilities. We are looking for people with expertise in the toilet paper field, in the marketing field, and in the business development field. Chances are, just one person doesn’t embody these characteristics.

That being said, it is better to have different people with different types of expertise so that you know the question you are asking will be answered by somebody with years of knowledge and experience.

Furthermore, when you find someone you believe could make a valuable mentor, ask yourself whether you are comfortable sitting down for hours and talking with that person, both about the company and yourself. Your mentor should love what you are doing and love your passion. Make sure that they are interested in you at least as much as they love the business.

Bryan Silverman is the co-founder of Star Toilet Paper and a junior studying neuroscience at Duke University. His company utilizes a two-ply business model: they first obtain a large public venue to receive toilet paper at no cost, then reach out to advertisers who pay half a cent per ad to target that demographic. He is a New Yorker at heart, a diehard Yankees, Giants, and Nets fan and of course, a Cameron Crazie.

10 Best Blogs For Business Advice

Question: What’s your favorite blog for Internet-based business advice?

Start with SEOMoz

“The Daily SEO Blog from SEOMoz is filled with articles on marketing, brand building, community management and more. The company embraces transparency and often shares their own strategies and metrics to better help other online companies. Using the advice from the SEOMoz blog, we’ve managed to increase our traffic by 10 times in the past year. Thank you, SEOMoz!”

– Bhavin Parikh | CEO, Magoosh Test Prep

Opt Into Unbounce

“What Oli Gardner and his team have built with the Unbounce blog is amazing. This is my favorite because they have incredibly useful infographics on the process of internet marketing. Very few blogs go as in-depth on internet marketing as Unbounce. Make sure you check out their “Noob Guide to Online Marketing,” which is a great cheat sheet to continuously grow your company’s brand online.”

– Lawrence Watkins | Founder & CEO, Great Black Speakers

Make Use of Mixergy

“I love these targeted interviews from Mixergy that I can watch with Andrew Warner and his guests. Generic advice just isn’t as valuable, and being able to watch the guest adds another dimension. The interviews are inspiring and always leave me with ideas, tactics and strategies to implement in my business.”

– Kelly Azevedo | Founder, She’s Got Systems

Learn From @ASmartBear

“@ASmartBear is a really insightful blog for startup entrepreneurs, founders and CEOs with a focus on marketing and customer acquisition. Jason Cohen, the author of the blog, previously built a multi-million dollar company without VC money, and then sold it for cash.”

– Matt Mickiewicz | Co-Founder, Flippa and 99designs

Anita Loomba for More Media

“Anita Loomba has created a fantastic social media and online marketing blog that displays visual infographics and provides relevant and valuable information for anyone looking for ways to get a handle on their social media. You can subscribe to her blog through email too, which helps when you’re on the go and not at your computer!”

– Stacey Ferreira | Co-Founder and Vice President, MySocialCloud

The @KISSmetrics Marketing Blog

“The @KISSmetrics Marketing Blog has some of the best Internet marketing advice I have ever found. They are wonderful about breaking down complex techniques into step-by-step instructions. It’s one of the few business blogs online where I don’t feel like I have wasted 10 minutes of my life, reading the same old advice rehashed over and over again, like elsewhere!”

– Seth Kravitz | CEO, Technori

Find Fred Wilson on AVC

“Fred Wilson, a VC and principal at Union Square Ventures, has a daily blog called AVC that he has written for years. His posts are insightful (check out the archives too!), but even more valuable is the comments section, which often runs hundreds of comments deep. Each post is a dense discussion of savvy Internet-based business advice from entrepreneurs, VCs, marketers, sales folks and more.”

– Aaron Schwartz | Founder and CEO, Modify Watches

Vin Vacanti’s How To Make It as a First-Time Entrepeneur

“Yipit co-founder and CEO Vin Vacanti writes a blog that is full of thoughtful, honest, actionable and inspiring lessons. Especially relevant to the first-time entrepreneur, but really relevant to just about anyone, each of Vin’s posts is a winner.”

– Derek Flanzraich | CEO and Founder, Greatist

Peek Into PandoDaily

“PandoDaily offers a great alternative to actual insightful news in the Silicon Valley, and the interview they do with prominent investors and founders are great for interesting insights and learnings.”

– Jesse Pujji | CEO, Ampush

Read Neil Patel at Quick Sprout

“Big supporter of Neil Patel’s blog at Quick Sprout. He consistently publishes high-quality, resourceful articles on Internet-based advice. Definitely recommend following it.”

– Ben Lang | Founder, Mapped In Israel

Startup Tips: 4 Ways To Defuse An Awkward Business Situation

As female entrepreneurs under the age of 30, my business partner Brittany and I have found ourselves in our fair share of uncomfortable situations. From being carded at client dinners, to being asked if we were the sales girls, our looks and gender have never gone unnoticed by clients.

Since starting the company in January 2011, we have found that no one wants an awkward situation to blow over faster than the person who just made the ultimate blunder. Instead of mumbling “awkward turtle” or cringing at the ordeal, we have discovered another approach that works every time: light-hearted laughter! Spinning the situation from an uncomfortable exchange to a talking point will endear clients. They will appreciate that you didn’t harp on their misstep.

Below are a few maneuvers we’ve used in less-than-ideal situations that left us feeling more like Michael Jordan going for the slam dunk, instead of the towel boy:

Awkward Encounter #1: Founder Faux Pas

Client: “It has been great to meet with you ladies. We are looking forward to meeting with your upper management next week.”
‘ZinePak Response: Brittany: “Kim, are you free next week?”
Kim: “For these guys, I’m sure I can work something out. You?”
Brittany: “Yes, I’m great. Congratulations gentleman, the founders of the company are totally available for a meeting next week as long as you bring the coffee.”

Why It Works: You are letting your client know where you stand in the company hierarchy without belittling them. This proves helpful for the future as the client is more likely to only reach out to you when there is high-level question or concern instead of a task that one of the team members under you can handle.

Awkward Encounter #2: Whose Daughter Are You?

Client: “Oh, you are Kim and Brittany?! How did you get this meeting? Do one of your fathers work here or something?”
‘ZinePak Response: “I can see that our reputation preceded us as opposed to our dashing looks, and I can’t be mad about that! Our fathers don’t work here but we know a few dads in the building who have worked with us in the past and think we are pretty awesome. Does that count?”

Why It Works: Establishing presence within a company is paramount. By letting this person know that you have done deals within the company allows them to mentally put you into a “recommended” grouping in their mind. This also gives them the opportunity to ask you, “Who else have you worked with?,” hopefully giving them a way to change the conversation since their first sentenced started out with a less then positive tone!

Awkward Encounter #3: Your ID, Please

We’re at a client dinner when the waiter so eloquently asks: “Can I see your ID, miss?”
‘ZinePak Response: “I keep forgetting to tell my Botox team and plastic surgeon to take it easy. Next thing you know, I won’t be able to buy a lotto ticket!”

Why It Works: You are showing your client that you recognize your young age and embrace it in a humorous way. This lets them know that you aren’t trying to be something you’re not by dressing or acting differently. This amount of comfort with your client will allow a friendly, low-key, and no-fuss atmosphere to flourish.

Awkward Encounter #4: Mistaken Identity

We’re out with a client when a stranger refers to me or Brittany or being the client’s daughter/little sister.
‘ZinePak Response: “I wish I could get an ounce of their good looks! Sadly, this is just my client. Instead of sharing a gene pool we share projects and contracts.”

Why It Works: Show me a person who doesn’t like a compliment and I will show you a world-class fibber! First-class flattery isn’t dead as long as it is done in a sincere (and not creepy!) way. Whether it is complimenting someone on a new suit or haircut, going back to business basics is never out of style.

Just remember that at the end of the day, it is best to always be true to yourself. Brittany and I don’t try to pile on makeup or add enough hair spray to make us look older. We just put all of our focus on the most important thing: our work! Clients care that the work we put in front of them is creative and dynamic, and not about how many wrinkle lines they can make out on our foreheads.

Kim Kaupe is the co-founder of ‘ZinePak, a custom publication company that creates engaging fan packages for entertainers, brands, and celebrities. She graduated with a BA in Marketing from The University of Florida in 2008 and roots loyally for her Gators. Most recently, she and her business partner Brittany Hodak were named to Advertising Age’s 40 Under 40 List for 2013.

8 Tips for Successfully Pitching an Investor

Question: What’s your TOP recommendation for an entrepreneur pitching an investor, based on your own success — OR failure?

Share Your Big Vision, Not a Product Tour

“It’s a rookie error for an entrepreneur to pitch an investor with the equivalent of a product tour. Investors are usually more interested in the big picture — your vision for your business, why they’ll be a good match, and how your company will return their money handsomely. If your slide deck or in-person presentation seems to linger too long on touring your site or demonstrating your product, it may convey that you don’t have a sense of the larger mission. Spend less time on the nitty-gritty upfront; rather, capture the investor’s interest with your passion for the bigger picture. Once the investor has a sense of that, s/he can always ask you for a deep-dive into the product tour. And if they do, it likely means you’ve piqued their interest.”

– Doreen Bloch | CEO / Founder, Poshly Inc.

Find the True Believers

“Investors will mostly say no. And contrary to what many entrepreneurs may think, it’s not your job to convince them why they’re wrong but, instead, to find investors that think you’re right. I’ve found that’s the hardest part, really — spending time speaking with investors who aren’t convinced can be a huge waste when, at the end of the day, they aren’t likely to invest in something they’re not sure of to begin with. That’s their job. Not heeding this has been my biggest mistake so far in fundraising and pitching — and eaten up time I could have been searching for true believers and advocates instead.”

– Derek Flanzraich | CEO and Founder, Greatist

Win the Battle at the Beginning

“When pitching to an investor, you’ve got to win the battle ahead of time. I think doing PR and branding work for your company in advance is important. Make sure that when someone Googles you, they see great results. Make sure you’ve built a relationship with one of the partners at the firm. The deal should already be close to being done before you pitch; the “partner meeting” is suppose to be a formality that allows the other partners to feel good about the deal and ask their questions. If you are talking to an individual investor make sure you have milestones that align with your financial projections. Anytime I’ve been able to inform an investor exactly how we plan to produce the projected revenue concisely and clearly, we’ve gotten the deal done.”

– Raoul Davis | CEO, Ascendent Group

Know What an Investor Fears

“The biggest thing an investor fears isn’t what you think it is. Investing in something that fails isn’t an investor’s biggest concern. The thing an investor truly fears most is missing out on something big. The surest way to land an investor is to convince her that your project is a big opportunity not to be missed out on. The best proof of your opportunity is social proof, specifically by having other respected investors on board. Once you find one eager investor, the rest are easy.”

– Corbett Barr | Founder, Insanely Useful Media

Be Cocky to Seal the Deal

“My team and I are super nice people. We originally walked into investor meetings with a huge smile on our faces and a perfectly practiced pitch. Unfortunately, we found out that nice guys finish last. It wasn’t until we changed our approach that we finally closed our million-dollar round. Instead of being friendly and nice, we acted cocky and brash, as if the investor was lucky to be meeting with us. Of course, we were still very respectful, but we stayed away from thanking them for the meeting or sounding too eager for their money. We successfully closed investor pitches when we mentally decided that we are the prize and that the investor needs to impress us in order to take the money.”

– Jun Loayza | President, Ecommerce Rules

Communicate Your Milestones to Build Confidence

“Potential investors want to know where their money is going and what their investment will help you to accomplish. Perhaps most importantly, they want some assurance that you will wisely use their money to hit milestones that will, in the future, allow you to raise additional money. Instill your would-be investors with confidence by clearly connecting the dots between their investment and your business goals. Create a compelling narrative that shows that you will be able to accomplish X, Y, and Z with their money — which will most certainly guarantee future investments.”

– David Ehrenberg | Chief Financial Officer, Early Growth Financial Services

Do All Your Homework

“The golden rule for meeting with investors is doing your homework. There are two things you absolutely need to know: which industries they invest in and what prior investments they’ve made. This is really the bare minimum; it’s also nice to know a bit about their personal and professional background: where they went to school, what they’ve been posting about on their blog, and what outside interests they have. These things will help target the conversation and demonstrate that you’re a professional and have done your research. You need to show these people that you’re a capable and reliable recipient of their money, and solid preparation will help you jump out of the starting gate in good style.”

– John Harthorne | Founder and CEO, MassChallenge

Do NOT Talk Valuation

“Talking valuation during a pitch is shortsighted for an early-stage investor pitch, and just one of many components that will be discussed at a later stage of the investor discussion. Instead, focus on the team and the technology (you should actually show it to them). Clearly explain the stages of your startup and the reasons why you are requesting a certain dollar figure. Keep the dollar figure on target to a run-rate to achieve your goals through that stage.”

– Carmen Benitez | Co-Founder and Managing Director, Fetch Plus

Entrepreneurship Isn’t Supposed to Be Easy

It wasn’t Nasty Gal CEO Sophia Amoruso’s fancy degree, tailored business suit, or five years of investment banking background that grew her e-commerce venture into a $128 million company, which has been courted by major potential buyers as of late.

In fact, she had none of those things at first. She launched her business as an eBay store out of her San Francisco apartment six years ago. Believe it or not, that same small business is now one of LA’s most rapidly growing tech companies.

It was her unparalleled drive and unrelenting pursuit of success.

Amoruso’s tenacity got her through the toughest times of her life and business. It got her through her job checking IDs at an art school for $13 an hour. It allowed her to deal with getting kicked off eBay. None of that scared her. She didn’t back down.

Entrepreneurs like Amoruso are a rare breed. They get things done, no matter how hard it gets. It’s not like she was born successful. She took incredible risks and worked hard to get where she is.

So quit fooling yourself with idealistic dreams. It’s not supposed to be easy.

Quit Whining — Entrepreneurship Is Brutal

Actually, that’s an understatement. Entrepreneurship is being pushed to the ground, over and over. Never in your life will the odds be more against you. But damn, it’s so worth it. According to social entrepreneur Dan Pallotta, “In order to innovate, you have to risk something. As in risk losing something. Usually money. Possibly reputation.”

But risk isn’t always all bad.

“The fact that people think risk is a problem, or a flaw, is the problem,” wrote Pallotta. “Risk is an essential attribute of introducing an innovation to the world. It’s not a flaw.”

As Pallotta explains, risk is inherent to innovation. What really matters is how entrepreneurs handle that risk.

It’s Not a Gamble if You Do It Right

Entrepreneurs are frequently stereotyped as crazy risk takers who won’t think twice about jumping off professional cliffs. The reality is actually the extreme opposite. According to new research from the UK, entrepreneurs are actually more cautious than the general population.

As Inc. contributing writer Kathleen Kim wrote recently, “In a study of 250 British entrepreneurs, 52 percent described themselves as having one of three risk-averse character traits — wary, prudent, or deliberate.”

We all know that entrepreneurship comes with inherent risk. Starting a business is the extreme opposite of a comfortable full-time job at an established company. In a less than stable climate, even the most successful entrepreneurs will spend significant time scared out of their minds.

But there’s a difference between jumping in and jumping in blind. Entrepreneurs don’t necessarily enjoy risk. The most skilled entrepreneurs know that risk comes with the experience of starting a business and are able to take it in stride.

Awesomeness = the Worst Case

Okay, so what’s the worst that can happen when you do take a risk? You’ll fail. You’ll lose some money. Your employees might even be pissed off at you for a short while. You’ll feel pretty bummed out and you’ll even be angry. You’re allowed to mope, but only for a short while. After a few days, you need to stop.

If you’re good at what you do, you’ll still land on your feet.

You might even be smart to get a job at a place like Facebook or Google before starting over again. There’s no shame in pursuing stability until you’re back on you are mentally ready to give it another go. Employers would bend over backwards to hire you, so you’ll find something great.

And you’ll grow. Your new knowledge will help you evolve to even bigger and better things.

Then, when you’re ready, you’ll come back to the game refreshed and ready to rock with the same hustle that entrepreneurs like Sophia are known for.

You have the drive and ambition. No matter how hot the fire gets, you’ll come out stronger on the other side.

Dan Martell is an award-winning entrepreneur and founder of Clarity, a platform that helps entrepreneurs give and get relevant advice over the phone. (Clarity just launched Answers for fast business advice, too.) It’s a problem he’s passionate about solving and believes has the potential to affect a billion people over the next ten years. He previously co-founded Flowtown, a social marketing application. Today he spends his spare time giving back to the startup community as a mentor, advisor and speaker.

Startup Tips: How To Do Well By Doing Good

What do you think of when you hear “doing well by doing good” – that it’s a cliché? How about “impact businesses” – sexy? Or what about: “for-benefit companies” – confused yet?

No matter what you call it, many young women today want to align with an organization that is changing the world somehow. But most of us are not quite ready to give up our salary or live in a shared apartment at 32 in order to join a nonprofit we believe in.

But what if there’s a third option?

I attended a United Nations high school (UWCSEA), where the idea of compromise wasn’t discussed much. We were taught that, in any given situation, a solution that works for both parties (or countries, or disputed areas) can be created. Yes, the magical intersection in the Venn diagram is real!

More plainly put, we learned that you can always create a win-win situation to benefit both sides. For companies and startups today, making a profit and serving others are the two big circles — and that sliver in between, for the millennial generation in particular, is the sweet spot, aka “conscious capitalism.”

The line between the two worlds of do-gooders and money-makers is blurring. Companies are finding ways to make both goals definable and attainable. In fact, to stay competitive in today’s environment, you need to help people and serve society. Few businesses can stay competitive if their product or service is not providing value, solving an issue or making a real impact.

Whether in education, energy or health care, entrepreneurs are finding models to make their solution not just viable, but also financially sustainable. Rather than expending their best resources on fundraising and selling to donors, these entrepreneurs are focusing on building a product.

How we found our overlap

ContextMedia began seven years ago, in a dorm room kitchen one Friday night. The mission at hand, if we so chose to accept, was to educate patients living with a chronic conditions on how to live healthier lives via diet and exercise management. We envisioned them learning how to do this through engaging media provided during their office visit.

Three 19-year-old dreamers pooled their savings to buy TVs and DVD players, ripping content online, in order to provide a beta product to physician practices. The doctors loved the product and recognized true benefit to their patients and practice, but had no dollars to pay for it. Did we give up?

No. While we could have gone the 501(c)(3) route and actually drafted some grant applications, we didn’t want to go to sleep worrying each day about running out of money (which is the same reason we didn’t take external capital) instead of executing our vision. So we had to find someone else who also saw value in patients learning to live healthier: insurance companies? Or how about another industry whose mission is to help people live a healthier life – pharmaceutical and device companies?

3 tips for finding — and funding — your big idea

Self-funding an idea that does good AND makes money is possible if you know where to look (and what you want to achieve).

Here are 3 ways to get started:

Identify what drives you in life. What problem speaks to you? For me, it was education — and the powerful freedom of choice that comes with knowledge.
Identify your ideas, skills and resources for providing a solution. More specifically, ask, “What else do I need to do this well?” I had a passion for the power of media communication, but I knew I didn’t have sales or technology expertise. I taught myself a little bit but also surrounded myself with people more talented than me.
Identify a financially sustainable way to execute your solution. Is it direct sales, channel partnerships, sponsorships, ad networks, etc.? If you’re not sure, list the stakeholders who may find value in your offering — and evaluate their ability to pay. As our story illustrates, the best revenue model for your company is not necessarily the most obvious one. Your checks may never arrive from the end user — but that doesn’t mean you can’t create win-win situations where some other company is willing to pay for the utilization of your product or service. You just need to find them.

Perhaps the most exciting news about the increasingly blurred line between doing well and doing good is that young women in their 20s and 30s don’t need to hit that big career brake when they decide it’s time to have a family or pursue something more impactful.

Instead, we can establish and run well-funded enterprises of our own, with a good team and a great model — all while giving us the freedom to choose our working hours, values and goals.

Shradha Agarwal is the Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder of ContextMedia, a leading media technology company that educates and informs consumers as they make critical decisions about their health. Shradha was named to Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40 list, and she was the Stevies’ 2012 Female Entrepreneur of the Year. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, Google+, and Twitter.

See YEC founder Scott Gerber at this huge startup conference next week.

13 Ways to Best Prepare Your Team in a Business Crisis

Question: How do you prepare your team ahead of time for a business crisis?

Keep a Positive Mindset

“If something is going wrong, the employees are going to sense it so you should be upfront about the problem to an extent. However, once the problem is mentioned, positive attitudes must replace negative thoughts around the office so moral is not lost. To help this, go for a quick win — whether it be a small account or just an achievement. Change something for the positive.”

– Ken Sundheim | CEO, KAS Placement

Tell Them Before They Find Out

“There’s nothing worse than hearing bad news about the company you work for from an outside source. Always be proactive and communicate what’s to come. You never know, the solution to your problem could come from an unexpected member of your team. Often, your employees have detailed insights into their area of the business that you can’t see as the CEO.”

– Laura Roeder | Founder, LKR Social Media

Overcommunicate Always

“Overcommunication has become a core value of ours — and it starts from the top (or, in our inverted organizational hierarchy, the bottom). I tell our employees everything, share with them what’s ahead, and what I think we’re going to need to do to prepare for it. Then I ask for their help to craft the best response, so they know they’re truly a part of the solution.”

– Derek Flanzraich | CEO and Founder, Greatist

Think It Through Completely

“The biggest thing we teach our clients is to think through what would happen in each type of crisis. Be incredibly specific about who would have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the company and, if possible, have content for social media prepared and vetted by your legal team. Crises are chaotic, so having a clear plan written down and distributed to your team is key.”

– Kade Dworkin | Founder and Chief Crisis Officer, Red Alert Social Media

Hold Your Values Close

“In the midst of any crises, big or small, it’s easy to lose sight of values and focus on survival. Build a culture that reveres and relies on values to guide decisions so they will be ingrained in the way you operate.”

– Kelly Azevedo | Founder, She’s Got Systems

Be Realistic, Really

“Only months after TalentEgg launched, the economy began to crumble. Our business involves helping employers leverage our website to hire students and grads, and many meetings started and ended with the dreaded phrase: “hiring freeze.” I promptly set up a company meeting and outlined our strategy for the next several months. I got buy in from the team and we weathered the storm together.”

– Lauren Friese | Founder, TalentEgg

Train for Crisis Mode

“Startups are going to have crises now and again. Make sure that your team members are aware of what is required of them during a crisis. Do they need to be in the office longer? Are there specific communication protocols you have in place to communicate with customers? Are there a set of resources people need to access when it is crunch time? Make sure your team is aware of these things.”

– Lucas Sommer | Founder CEO, Audimated

Warning: It Happens

“Make sure everyone on the team realizes that shit happens. It just does. No matter how much you plan or safeguard, at some point, you’ll have a mess on your hands. In those times, the most damage is created by panic and stress. Handle the mess with grace, know it will pass, and the team will be just fine. Or it won’t and you were screwed, anyway – but you handle it the same way.”

– Brent Beshore | Owner/CEO, adventur.es

Timing Is Essential

“Proper timing is essential. You don’t want to cry wolf too early and cause a potential panic, but you want to allow your team sufficient time to plan and adjust. If you can stick to the facts and get the brainstorming ball rolling with a few suggestions of your own, you can help your team begin to immediately focus on solutions.”

– Nicolas Gremion | CEO, Free-eBooks.net

Time to Lead by Example

“Transparency is key to surviving a company crisis, but it is not enough. Leaders need to put in the legwork before they bring the team together. Showing up with a proposal for how to handle the crisis will settle the rest of the organization, while providing a framework upon which the rest of the team can build. Convening your team when there is a crisis with your hands-up is not sufficient.”

– Aaron Schwartz | Founder and CEO, Modify Watches

Avoid the Blame Game

“As much as possible, avoid focusing on who is to blame. This strategy will simply lead to guilt, frustration, anger and defensiveness. Instead, focus on solutions to address the current situations and opportunities to prevent similar crises in the future.”

– Elizabeth Saunders | Founder & CEO, Real Life E®

Appoint a Spokesperson

“In a crisis situation, you’re not just contending with internal struggles — your phone is often ringing off the hook with reporters looking for a comment on what’s happened. Have one dedicated spokesperson within your company who is media-trained and well adept at delivering messages to manage these situations and forward all outside calls/emails to them.”

– Melissa Cassera | President and CEO, Cassera Communications

Anticipate With Backup Plan

“We brainstorm all the possible things that could go wrong in all areas of the business. From there, we start creating back-up plans. It’s much easier to think of solutions when you aren’t panicked.”

– Patrick Ambron | CEO, BrandYourself.com

What Investors Really Want to Know

Venture capitalists (VCs) make you work hard for their money by inundating you with question after question about your fundraising process, your company goals, your founding team, among other things. Many of these questions will seem reasonable. Some will seem ridiculous.

But no matter the question, you must have an answer. And your answers better be good.

Behind all of this interrogation, there is one key underlying question: what makes you different? Regardless of the variation on the theme, your potential VC is really asking why your business — as compared to others vying for their money — is worth their investment.

If you’re ready to join the ranks of funded entrepreneurs, you need to be prepared to answer this key question. How?

Begin with a thorough competitive analysis

You need to be able to paint the big picture in broad strokes, providing a comprehensive overview of the competitive market, including potential risks, success factors, and barriers to entry.

Build your value proposition

What is your unique value proposition — and how can you prove it? Identify your customers (or potential customers) and their needs. What pain point are you addressing and what’s your proposed solution?

Once you’ve done your competitive analysis and built your value proposition, you’re ready to make the case for what makes you different, weaving your unique selling points throughout your entire pitch. Make sure to consider the following when crafting your response:

Offering. Specifically, what product or service are you providing that nobody else does? Even if there are many competitors with a similar offering, how can you distinguish yours? Is it a difference of perspective? Cost? Ease of use? Target the little (or big) things that prove the uniqueness of your offering. There needs to be a hook somewhere; find it and use it.
Approach. What makes your business model or marketing strategy stand out? Detail your market penetration potential, including potential sales and distribution channels. You want to show that you have a plan for making money, a plan that is adapted for your particular company — a plan that will work (even where others may have failed).
Technology. If it’s your state-of-the-art technology that makes you different, push this point. Be prepared to show off the technology that is the engine powering your business. Note that if it’s your technology that makes you stand out, you also need to be prepared to discuss future tech developments to show your competitive advantage won’t be lost somewhere down the road, post investment.
Team. Sometimes it’s the people at a startup who make it stand. If this is your company strength, sell it. Who are your key players? What were their previous successes? As any successful serial entrepreneur can tell you, an all-star team (or even a team with one lone shining star) can be a powerfully effective selling point.

It really all boils down to what makes you special. VCs meet so many entrepreneurs; they are the audience for an endless litany of pitches. Unfortunately, this means VCs are often bored and somewhat jaded. They are looking for a spark, for the magic. And they won’t dig to find it. That’s not their job.

It’s your responsibility to bring to the forefront what makes you stand out. Ultimately, you want to thoroughly convince the VC, that, if they take the leap of faith to invest in you, you are going to execute on your vision in a way that you—and only you—are in the unique position to execute on.

David Ehrenberg is the founder and CEO of Early Growth Financial Services, a financial services firm providing a complete suite of financial services to companies at every stage of the development process. He’s a financial expert and startup mentor, whose passion is helping businesses focus on what they do best. Follow David @EarlyGrowthFS.

Young Entrepreneur Council Launches Startup Insurance

Startup Insurance, Health Insurance, YEC, Scott Gerber

With the Affordable Care Act set to take effect in January 2014, many entrepreneurs and business owners still have serious concerns and fears about potential increases to premiums, state exchanges and compliance-related issues. To help them navigate the health insurance landscape, YEC (Young Entrepreneur Council), an invite-only organization of elite entrepreneurs, has launched StartupInsurance, a health insurance destination created by business owners for business owners with a carefully curated collective of providers and affordable insurance plans from across the nation.

StartupInsurance provides startups, business owners, and job-unlocked individuals–people who are likely to transition into self-employment as a result of being able to purchase health insurance options outside of traditional employers–with direct access to affordable, quality health insurance options, while removing confusion and time inefficiencies from the purchasing process. StartupInsurance connects the self-employed, their families and their employees to major medical health insurance options that will be fully compliant with the Affordable Care Act by 2014, ensuring that those insured individuals who purchase qualifying plans avoid tax penalties.

“As our nation becomes more entrepreneurial, and more Americans launch startups, start small businesses, and join the booming gig economy, YEC wants to be there to support business owners and newly job-unlocked individuals by providing them with access to quality, affordable health care insurance options throughout the United States,” said Scott Gerber, founder of Young Entrepreneur Council.

Through its direct carrier partnerships, StartupInsurance customers will benefit from access to one of the largest major medical footprints in the United States. Insurance options will be available in nearly every state across the nation via StartupInsurance.com. (Specifics about our carrier partners and available health insurance options are available upon request)

“In speaking to thousands of entrepreneurs, freelancers and small business owners over the years, we have learned what is important to them, what’s working for them–and most importantly, what isn’t,” said Scott Gerber, founder of YEC. “This direct feedback has guided our thinking in creating StartupInsurance–a destination created by the very people it’s serving.”

In the coming weeks, StartupInsurance’s health insurance options will also be made available to the business customers and members of various organizations and corporations, including FedEx, Grasshopper, Wave Apps, LegalZoom, Moo, Startup Weekend, Dwolla, Crowdspring, 99designs and others.

“As a leader in the small business space, Wave understands how important it is for business owners to find affordable healthcare for themselves and their employees,” said Kirk Simpson, co-founder and CEO of Wave. “We are excited to provide our customers with bestc of breed insurance products through YEC’s StartupInsurance and SmallBusinessInsurance. As we enter uncertain times with the changing healthcare landscape, these insurance products will bring certainty and predictability for our customers.”

In addition to StartupInsurance, YEC is also launching FreelancerHealthcare (www.FreelancerHealthcare.com) and SmallBusinessInsurance (www.SMBinsurance.com) to assist freelancers and small business owners, respectively. StartupInsurance is the first of several business products and back office services that YEC’s new services division will bring to market to help power business owners and America’s thriving gig economy.

Self-employed individuals and business owners interested in StartupInsurance can get quick quotes and apply online at www.StartupInsurance.com or call (888) 707-1484. Organizations interested in connecting their customers and members with StartupInsurance options can contact info@theyec.org for more information. StartupInsurance videos, embed codes and collateral at http://startupinsurance.com/materials.php

Find out more about Startup Insurance and the YEC When Scott Gerber speaks at this national startup conference Sep 29-Oct 1st in Cincinnati.