I’ve had the pleasure of mentoring dozens of startups through various innovation programs, and continue to do so through our incubator Collective, and beyond. I’m also very fortunate to work alongside mentor veterans Paul O’Brien & Ted Cohen who have collectively mentored hundreds of startups over the years.
What I’ve come to realize, is that most programs and entrepreneurs tend to think backwards when it comes to launching a business or product. More times than not, students and entrepreneurs build a business plan, financial models, an MVP, or even a prototype before they’ve even figured out (if there’s a demand for what they’re building, and if anyone would pay them for it). It sounds crazy when you think about it right?
Listen, at the end of the day we all drink our own Kool-Aid when it comes to building something of our own. Of course we think it’s great, the best, groundbreaking, original, etc etc… Don’t blindly follow your confidence and ambition, do the homework! The moment you have an idea you think has a real chance, ask at minimum 100 people about it, not including your family (for hopefully obvious reasons).
Chances are your original idea will change based on feedback, you’ll have a clearer picture of what the product/service is, what problems you’re actually solving, and for who! Take time, do the homework, it could be the difference between months of presumptuously wasted effort, or a real shot at making something substantial.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
From History, Our Future
2020 will be remembered as one of the most remarkable years in human history for a host of reasons, least of which is how the state of our economy, and need to work from home, has thrust us all to appreciate what it means to be online at the same time that many are exploring starting a business of their own.
Never before has the landscape of our workforce changed so dramatically while circumstances have millions considering entrepreneurship.
That present, merely a step in our collective history, made me curious about centuries of study of entrepreneurship and how economists, from 1700’s Richard Cantillon to 2000’s Elinor Ostrom, have uncovered the risk tolerance, desire to achieve, collaboration, and innovation involved in being entrepreneurial.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Our friends at The Center For Creative Entrepreneurship have put together an incredibly comprehensive calendar for creative professionals! Check out their fantastic line up here.
iPhone SE 2020 Review
First off, a confession: I’ve never loved the iPhone, it’s never been my main axe. I appreciate it, I acknowledge its sociological impact, I recognize its singular ability to restructure the handset/carrier ecosystem. I do, however, reject its reputation for innovation. I believe it imitates while it elevates, refining and mainstreaming ‘new’ features that were, admittedly, introduced years earlier by Samsung, LG, HTC and others. You must admire Apple’s artifice, presenting derivative technology as original thought.
But, I’m obviously in the minority, most people LOVE their iPhone. Especially application developers. In order to properly do my job as a digital media consultant, I have been forced to have an iPhone. To experience pre-release versions of apps and platforms, an up-to-date iPhone is required, as Android app versions usually follow later.
Until recently, my ‘yes, I have an iPhone, it’s somewhere in my bag’ iPhone 7 sufficed. Then, overnight, it was out of date, I had to upgrade. Luckily, the timing was right, Apple had introduced their first mid-priced model in a few years, the iPhone SE 2020, with an entry level price of $399 for a 64gb model.
I needed more storage, so I opted for the 256gb unit, a $549 investment. While I still prefer my Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, the iPhone SE is growing on me, a surprising turn of events.
Rather than list all of its cost-saving compromises, I’ll highlight three of the main ones:
Design – While it is a current model, not a close-out, it more closely resembles the iPhone 8 than the current flagship iPhone 11 Pro/Pro Max.
Camera – Unlike its cutting-edge siblings, the SE is a single lens configuration that precludes flexible features such as optical zoom and telephoto lens.
Screen – LCD instead of OLED – the picture and video quality are very good, but not outstanding.
Specs:
- Display size
- 4.7-inch Retina HD; 1,334×750 pixels
- Dimension (inches)
- 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in
- Weight (ounces)
- 5.22 oz
- Mobile software
- iOS 13
- Camera
- 12-mpxl
- Front-facing camera
- 7-mpxl
- Video Capture
- 4k
- Processor
- Apple A13 Bionic
- Storage
- 64GB / 128GB / 256GB
- Expandable storage
- No
- Fingerprint sensor
- Home button
- Connector
- Lightning
- Headphone jack
- No
- Special features
- Water resistant
- (IP67); dual-SIM capabilities
- (nano-SIM and e-SIM)
- Wireless charging
The Positives:
- Excellent value for the money
- Has the same high-speed A13 microprocessor as them ore expensive iPhone 11 models
- Records high-quality 4k video
The Negatives:
- Single lens camera/no zoom
- Reduced battery life – estimated 25 hours
- A relatively cramped keyboard
Collective Incubator Applications Open
Applications for Collective’s third cohort are open! Collective’s program is dedicated to early stage MediaTech focused startups. Spread the love, or apply here.
Whether you’re trying to grow and scale a business, or improve and resell for profit, the Insperity® Capital Growth Program can provide the HR essentials you need to maximize your investment. Learn More
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Things That Make Us Say #HOTDAMN
MARKETING/ADVERTISING/SOCIAL
- CMOs maintain optimism for post-Covid marketing budgets despite fears, says Gartner
- CEOs of Facebook, Apple, Amazon and Google to Testify at House Antitrust Hearing
- TikTok, China and the New Data Battleground
- Fiksu DSP Launches BidMind, a CTV Advertising Platform
- What Are The Key Challenges For Marketing Automation Experts?
- Facebook is shutting down Lasso, its experimental TikTok copycat
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- Facebook Bans ‘Violent, Anti-Government’ Far-Right Boogaloo Network Amidst Boycott Crisis
- Five Big Lessons On Diversity And Inclusion From Ad Vets And Rising Leaders
- Influencer fintech ChannelMeter launches YouTube early payment app
VIDEO GAMES
- ‘AAA Open-World’ VR Game in Development At Rockstar Says LA Noire VR Team
- Since launching four years ago today, Pokemon Go has grossed $3.6bn
- Sony considering a bid for Digital Extremes owner Leyou
- Amazon Studios developing new Fallout TV series
- Tencent starts US studio to make AAA games for next-gen consoles
- Unity Asset Store content now available to Sinespace creator community
AR/VR/MR
- Virtual Music Festival ‘Lost Horizon’ Brought Glastonbury To Life In VR For Two Glorious Days
- Hipster Bait Helps Musicians Reach New Fans Using A Pokemon GO-Like AR Experience
- Microsoft’s partnership with Facebook Gaming could mean future VR support for Xbox
- Highlights From The Immersive Learning Research Network 2020 Conference
TV/FILM/VIDEO
- ‘Hamilton’ Drives Up Disney Plus Downloads 74% Over The Weekend in US
- NBCU Feathering Peacock’s Nest With ViacomCBS-Licensed TV Shows, Movies
- Peleton App Launching on Roku in U.S., Canada and (Eventually) U.K.
- FuboTV Sets Rate Hikes as TNT, TBS, CNN Go Dark – With ESPN, Disney Nets Coming in August
- YouTube TV Hikers Price by 30% to $65 per Month With Launch of ViacomCBS Channels
MUSIC/PODCAST/RADIO
- Warner Strikes Partnership with Oscar-Winning Movie Company Imagine Entertainment
- UK Government announces $2bn funding package for the arts – including music venues
- Facebook expands availability of fan subscription and tipping tools
- Apple Music launches new artist discovery program Africa Rising
- Nigeria’s Mavin Records Partners with Music Licensing Startup Syncfloor
- Deezer hits $1.5 Billion Valuation Following Major Mexican Tie-Up
- Glastonbury Organizers Say Bankruptcy is a Very Real Possibility
- NPR and iHeart In Tight Race For No. 1
- Desktop Listening, Spanish-Language Podcasts Are Two Growth Areas in 2020
- Remote Recording Using Podbean Live Stream
