1. SOFTWARE START UP TutorialDisclaimerBackground

2. Impulse Why a software startup ? Initial idea Market research Impulse Why a software startup ? Initial idea Market research Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Initialize Initial funds The founders Initial setup The business plan Funds Free money and loans Investors Workforce Incubators Hiring people Subcontractors vs. employees Make big money Protect your assets Going public Selling the company

3. 3 Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Why a software startup Why software ? Why software ? Being your own boss Being your own boss The power & the glory The power & the glory Risking everything you own, and more Risking everything you own, and more

4. 4 Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Initial idea Your idea is the best Your idea is the best It will evolve or change radically It will evolve or change radically What will fail, what will succeed What will fail, what will succeed

5. Impulse Why a software startup ? Initial idea Market research Impulse Why a software startup ? Initial idea Market research Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Initialize Initial funds The founders Initial setup The business plan Funds Free money and loans Investors Workforce Incubators Hiring people Subcontractors vs. employees Make big money Protect your assets Going public Selling the company

6. 6 Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Market research Who are your potential customers ? Who are your potential customers ? Who are your competitors ? Who are your competitors ? Market positioning Market positioning How much will you make after 1, 2 and 5 years ? How much will you make after 1, 2 and 5 years ?

7. 7 Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Initial funds Your savings Your savings Your family’s savings Your family’s savings Survival through consultation contracts Survival through consultation contracts

8. 8 Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 The founders How many people How many people Your friends and you Your friends and you Define roles Define roles

9. 9 Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Initial setup Your living room vs. your basement Your living room vs. your basement Distribution across apartments Distribution across apartments Handle visitors Handle visitors

10. 10 Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 The business plan Purpose & audience Purpose & audience How to write it, what to include How to write it, what to include It is never finished It is never finished

11. Impulse Why a software startup ? Initial idea Market research Impulse Why a software startup ? Initial idea Market research Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Initialize Initial funds The founders Initial setup The business plan Funds Free money and loans Investors Workforce Incubators Hiring people Subcontractors vs. employees Make big money Protect your assets Going public Selling the company

12. 12 Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Free money and loans Research everything everywhere : Research everything everywhere : governments, foundations, banks Restlessly apply Restlessly apply A time consuming effort : enormous documentation and strict conditions A time consuming effort : enormous documentation and strict conditions Corruption Corruption

13. 13 Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Investors How to live without them : budget zero How to live without them : budget zero Institutions & capital riskers vs. business angels Institutions & capital riskers vs. business angels How to find them : networking How to find them : networking The 2 minutes speech The 2 minutes speech How to attract them : you don’t need them How to attract them : you don’t need them How much you should seek : How much you should seek : as much as possible while keeping control

14. Impulse Why a software startup ? Initial idea Market research Impulse Why a software startup ? Initial idea Market research Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Initialize Initial funds The founders Initial setup The business plan Funds Free money and loans Investors Workforce Incubators Hiring people Subcontractors vs. employees Make big money Protect your assets Going public Selling the company

15. 15 Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Incubators Who they are Who they are What they do What they do Check their references Check their references CRIM (crim.ca), CRIQ (criq.qc.ca), ADRIQ (adriq.com) CRIM (crim.ca), CRIQ (criq.qc.ca), ADRIQ (adriq.com)

16. 16 Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Hiring people Know your own limits Know your own limits Who do you need ? Who do you need ? How to pay them How to pay them How to motivate them How to motivate them

17. 17 Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Subcontractors vs. employees ROI ROI Retaining the expertise Retaining the expertise Partnerships and resources sharing Partnerships and resources sharing

18. Impulse Why a software startup ? Initial idea Market research Impulse Why a software startup ? Initial idea Market research Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Initialize Initial funds The founders Initial setup The business plan Funds Free money and loans Investors Workforce Incubators Hiring people Subcontractors vs. employees Make big money Protect your assets Going public Selling the company

19. 19 Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Protect your assets Core people and documents Core people and documents Copyrights, patents Copyrights, patents Spending money on lawyers about IP Spending money on lawyers about IP Consultants and other IP professionals Consultants and other IP professionals “Physical” protection “Physical” protection

20. 20 Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Going public Why offer shares on the stock market Why offer shares on the stock market Legal stuff Legal stuff

21. 21 Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Selling the company Conditions Conditions Justify your price Justify your price Personal preferences Personal preferences

22. 22 Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Conclusion Monitoring your success/failure Monitoring your success/failure There is no recipe for success There is no recipe for success Good luck ! Good luck ! “The TV business is a long plastic hallway, a shallow money trench where pimps and thieves run free, and good men die like dogs... There’s also a negative side.” Howard Thompson “The TV business is a long plastic hallway, a shallow money trench where pimps and thieves run free, and good men die like dogs... There’s also a negative side.” Howard Thompson

23. 23 Software Startup Tutorial CUSEC 2006 Links www.paulgraham.com/articles.html www.paulgraham.com/articles.html www.paulgraham.com/start.html www.paulgraham.com/start.html www.ytria.com www.ytria.com www.CortisoLdoom.com www.CortisoLdoom.com