StartupBackpack

Written by StartupBackpack // Monday, December 31st, 2007
Topic: Businesses, Entrepreneur

A few key members of the Mozilla Thunderbird crew have set out with their own wings on and left Mozilla to start up… an email company. The company/product has yet to be named.  Scott MacGregor and David Bienvenu along with a few other Mozilla members are joining the team. With  the way Thunderbird has integrated IMAP, we can only guess that this new project will be an email productivity killer.

Written by StartupBackpack // Friday, December 21st, 2007
Topic: Businesses

If you are anxiously awaiting the arrival of your Tesla Motor Car, maybe you should think about waiting a little longer. The Silicon Valley based electric car company are facing a slight technology issue, the transmission. The first run of environmentally friendly autos are scheduled to this the first quarter of 2008 and already two suppliers have failed to come up with a way to overcome the transmission issue. Tesla is also raising a $40 Million round of financing that will will help push the electric vehicle into full production by the second half of 2008.

How late will your Tesla be? Supposedly it wont be, they have ensured people they will ship on time, and with the transmission fix.

Written by StartupBackpack // Friday, December 21st, 2007
Topic: Businesses

It has been announced that Edgeio, the company that took millions of classified listings and catagorized them into one central location, has finally been sold. Founded by Keith Teare and Michael Arrington from TechCrunch in 2005 has sold its assets to LookSmart for $280,000, a little less we are sure than expected. Nonetheless, Arrington is up up and away with TechCrunch, and we are sure that Teare will move on to another successful venture. You win some and you loose some.

Written by StartupBackpack // Monday, December 3rd, 2007
Topic: Backpack, Entrepreneur, StartupBackpack

Entrepreneurs are too busy worrying about the big things, so why must they sweat on the small stuff. Here is a list that StartupBackpack has put together to suggest some useful items for the entrepreneur in the hustle and bussle of starting and running a successful business.
What should every hard working startup king should have with them at all times:

• Extra business cards in a solid sealed case
• 3 pens - with caps cause you never know if they will leak, and nothing says slob more than an ink stained shirt.
• Notebook - small notebook that can be used to jot down quick notes in meetings and thoughts while on the go. It could be a good suggestions to have separate note and meeting notebooks. Maybe a professional looking one for meeting clients with, and a cheap-o $1.00 one for jotting down your every thought.
• Portfolio - a simple black/brown notebook, calculator style travel case.
• Demo cds - if you depend on showing your products or services off on your computer think again, what happens if something happens to your trusty laptop and it doesnt feel like working for that special meeting. Also perfect for a leave behind.
• Brochures - Have something that speaks wonders when printed? Print some up. Keep with common sizes to keep costs low, and dont chince out. After all, this is the product/service you built, and want to remain successful!
• Blackberry/handheld device - for constant communication on the go
• Pre-paid starbucks card - gotta have caffeine. Also great when meeting clients at a coffee location. You dont want to be asking your client for change to buy their coffee do you?
• Suite jacket - a simple and clean cut suit jacket speaks wonders about how you are viewed. Sure, keep those jeans and t-shirt on if you must, but a jacket will make the world of difference.
• Industry stats/ cheat sheets - great for that surprise call from a new or current client when you are out and about.
• Contact list - list of contacts that can get them out of a jam
• Elevator pitch - 30 seconds max, try and keep it to 10, nobody has the time. And the simpler it is, the higher chance that a person will spread the proper word about your company.
• Gum/candy - icky breath is a no no when it comes to face to face meeting time.

Written by StartupBackpack // Sunday, December 2nd, 2007
Topic: Advertising, Blog

Looking for a little extra cash to fund your online ventures? Google has made it a little easier for website owners to not only make a little cash from their websites, but serve relevant content with video units.

This new ad platform allows Google AdSense users to drop in a fully customizable video player into their website.

This is another great use of blending YouTube’s technology, with Google’s revenue platform.