In Brief: My Startup Steps
7 june 2007, Simon Strandgaard
I have no girl friend, so there is lots of time fooling around with my interest - programming. The places I have worked at in the past sux. Reading literature about running software-projects has confirmed, that there indeed was something wrong at my previous workplaces.
I want to experience a well-working software company, but I don't think I can find any in my neighbourhood. I came to the conclusion that I needed to start it on my own. Here is the steps I have taken so far.
STEP1: proof of concept and money
The Summer 2006. My friend and I have a prototype ready, of the software-product we intend to sell. We have been working on this for 2 years in our spare time.
I have (had) some money on my bank-account that I am willing to spend on some fun.
STEP2: read about startup
I read these books:
Starting a business for dummies. Some danish book on how stuff works in denmark.
STEP3: write vision/mission
The vision document, describes my idea about a well-working software company. I have discussed this with my friend (Dennis Hansen) and refined it over and over.
STEP4: innovator conference
I went to a conference where some money-freaks held some speaches. They talked a lot about planning things. As a computer-programmer there was'nt anything new for me, because when you write programs then you have to keep the future in mind. Best thing was that I talked with a lawyer and got input.
STEP5: registered opcoders.com as a company
It took me 10 minutes, filled in a form (3 pages of A4 size), with details about company-name, company-type, company-owner. It was surpricingly simple for a person without any business-insight.
STEP6: friends advise
Now when its more serious I have begun calling my friends that has handson experience with startup. They tell me about accounting, risks, money-stuff and what they did wrong.
STEP7: created company bank account
STEP8: fake companies starts calling
The 18 October 2006 a fake-company called me, imposing that they were the nationwide-company-index and that it was obligatory to be registered (cost 3000 kroner = $600 USD). So I called the police afterwards. It took me hours to deal with this shit. Somebody please make these fake-peoples life a living hell.
Whenever a person calls you then say: I will have to think about it and then I maybe will call you back!
STEP9: subscribed to online accounting system
The 3 November 2006. A friend of mine recommended a danish accounting system (e-conomic). I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been before these kinds of online systems begun showing up.
The 1 Febuary 2007. Use pen and paper, its easier.
STEP10: innovator course
6 November 2006. Five mondays in row I follow an innovator course. There has been a few surprises about things I had underestimated, but otherwise it has just given me self confidence...which is good.
STEP11: accidents
Bad things happened. I have made a list of all the things I can think of that can go wrong (risks).
- 14 Jan 2007. mac-mini goes to repair (cost 3 weeks).
- 16 Apr 2007. fire in basement (cost 1 week).
STEP12: fake companies starts sending me bills
7 June 2007. Today I recieved a mail from a company named "Domain Registry of America" (droa.com), that wanted me to transfer my domain to them; Thats insane! I read in the danish news that it is a fake company, and that it's difficult to get your domain back.
This is where im at. Lets see what happens next. Maybe I should go find myself a girl friend?