StartUp and Innovations Digest #18July2016
#CompanyCulture How to Create a Cohesive Company Culture
“When starting a company, you have the opportunity to set it apart by building a winning and cohesive culture.
Culture is crucial, and it can make or break a company.
First and foremost, a company must have a compelling and inspirational mission. Take the time and do this right, and it will pay dividends over the duration.
Identify core values. Core values form a solid bedrock for any organization and really matter to the individuals.
Delivering the message. Once values are defined, they have to be explained and socialized.
Lastly, and most importantly,
you need to live and die by these values if you expect them to be more than just lip service and words on a wall.”
#HealthStartup Health startup Lifesum raises $10M round led by Nokia Growth Partners
“What do you get if you combine the broad trends of smartphones, wearables, Internet of Things, an individual desire for control and health care costs for society? You get VCs investing in health-tech startups, that’s what.
Stockholm-based Lifesum (raised a $10 million) tracks what you eat and your exercise, says it now has 15 million users. That’s less than the 80 million users which MyFitnessPal had when it was acquired by athletic apparel maker Under Armour in February 2015. But Lifesum is aiming at doing more than tracking what you had for breakfast.”
#SilliconValley Beyond Silicon Valley: How to Choose Your Startup’s Home
“Looking for the next burgeoning startup hubs?
Many American cities actively court startups by promoting their good quality of life offerings and already thriving STEM communities. From Las Vegas to Memphis, a number of surprising cities are emerging as tech hubs.
Here are the key elements to choosing the right home for your startup:
- A wired network: Strong networks are crucial to tech ecosystems.
- Willing investors: Research investment activity wherever you’re thinking of moving.
- A strong talent pool: Your startup is only as good as your technical talent. Look for cities with a high volume of engineers and graduates in your field.
Every location comes with trade-offs, so consider all the angles before you start packing your bags”
#Advises Why I Hired a Retired Navy Vet for My Startup Instead of a Millennial
Interesting point of view & unconventional method. Suggest reading to understand why sometimes it is better to do not like everyone does.
“It was an unusual hire, but one that has paid big dividends.”
Always be genuine and helpful to your connections. While self-promotion is big on social media, it’s not a one-way street. People are more open to your promotional content when you engage on theirs first.
#AgroTech Arable’s crop and weather sensor, Pulsepod, aims to make farming predictable
“A Princeton, New Jersey startup called Arable Labs Inc. recently unveiled a professional-grade crop and weather sensor that’s solar powered.
Its sensors enable each Pulsepod to constantly monitor crop growth, or regrowth of grass in a pasture, as well as rainfall, crop water demand, light and heat levels and even the color of berries on the bush, kale leaves, or grapes on the vine, which is important in determining harvest-readiness of the crops.
Arable has raised $1.5 million in angel funding and $4 million in non-dilutive grant funding from the National Science Foundation for the research that gave rise to the Pulsepod.”
#PeriscopeRobot Periscoping robot is prowling the floor at the RNC
“Twitter-owned Periscope teamed with the Washington Post and Double Roboticsto bring the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this week to the masses.
Viewers will be able to take a “guided tour of the convention site and…ask questions about the convention experience via Periscope chat. It’s also possible to post questions.”
#SpaceTech Blue Origin and SpaceX vets raise cash for Relativity Space, a stealthy startup aiming to build rockets ‘with zero human labor’
“Two engineers with experience at Blue Origin and SpaceX have raised almost $10 million for their own rocket startup, Relativity Space, which promises to build orbital rockets “with zero human labor.”
On website, it is difficult to find any information except they are looking for a design engineer and a production engineer.
#NeedToKnow DISRUPT HQ: The qualities investors look for in a startup founder
“Disrupt HQ is a comprehensive ten-part series designed to give Australia’s new generation of innovators the advice and guidance they need to successfully grow their business.
Starting a business has never been easier. Technology has lowered the cost and skills required to find extraordinary reach.
Here you can find out what leading Australian entrepreneurs and investors look for in a startup founder.
If you’re an existing entrepreneur, their insights will be good coaching material and help you think about the type of investor you may want to work with.