Author: Katherine Elsasser

Union Square Ventures’ Fred Wilson and Etsy’s Chad Dickerson on Company Culture & Hiring

by Katherine Elsasser

Fred Wilson is one of the most important Venture Capitalists investing in new technology startups and small businesses today. He’s been around for a long time, has seen a couple of booms (and busts) and has advised companies big and small on how to grow and succeed.

Fred’s kind enough to share his wisdom on his must-read blog, AVC.com, and even  goes so far as to ask other tech-industry superstars to contribute their industry expertise. We especially love Fred’s series “MBA Mondays,” where he provides thoughtful expert commentary on a very specific business issue, from how to analyze financial statements to how to finance your startup.

Fred Wilson
Fred Wilson, Venture Capitalist & Principal at Union Square Ventures

You can see all of Fred’s MBA Monday posts here, and even download each post for your Kindle or as a pdf for further consideration. We can’t recommend them enough.

We were especially moved to share by today’s guest post from Etsy CEO Chad Dickerson. It’s a refreshing look at how to recruit for an organization regardless of size. He writes about communicating the spirit of an organization’s values,  especially when it comes to recruiting, but also about how an organization’s culture motivates employees. His conclusion?

“When it comes to recruiting and culture, a leader is mostly responsible for tending to the spirit of the organization, and for making whatever adjustments need to be made to keep that spirit strong and powerful. In the end, that spirit matters more than anything.”

Definitely interesting food for thought. Read Chad’s entire post over at AVC.com.

Tablet Updates: Amazon Updates & Google Predictions

by Katherine Elsasser

If there’s one thing we can conclude from all the tablet news from around the web this week, it’s that pretty soon we’ll have the widest range of screen sizes yet.

According to Demos Parneros, president of U.S. retail for Staples, Inc., Amazon will be introducing five or six tablet items, one of which will be a 10 inch model. There is no word on whether Amazon will retire any of their current e-reader iterations, but the 10″ tablet will almost certainly expand the more comprehensive Amazon Fire model that includes full color and multi-touch.google nexus 7

As Reuters notes, rumors have been swirling about whether Amazon will be entering the Smartphone market. Given that the Galaxy SIII has a 4.8inch screen (only two inches smaller than the Fire!) it seems like a foregone conclusion that Amazon has both the technical know-how and market incentive to launch smartphone as soon as possible. What size will the screen be? No one knows yet, but it’s worth noting that current iPhone 5 rumors peg that screen at a larger 4 inches.

Also competing at the 7inch size is the Google Nexus, the multi-touch tablet available for direct purchase from Google. The smaller 8GB version costs $199, the same price point as the Kindle Fire. But the larger 16GB has sold out at $249.00, with no word from Google as to when the tablet will be back in stock. With that kind of success, it would be a surprise if Google didn’t also expand into other size devices to meet the growing demand for tablet devices.

Google Fiber TV: What You Need to Know

by Katherine Elsasser

Google Fiber TV has finally launched, and sure, it’s only in Kansas City for now. But don’t expect that to last: Google is coming for your cable provider.

At its most basic, the premise is simple: TV and Internet access from the same provider. It’s the same idea cable companies have been using for years, except the provider here is Google, and they’re promising insanely fast Internet speeds. Specifically, 1000 Mb per second, or 100 times faster than today’s average broadband, with no cap in the amount of data subscribers can use.

Google as an ISP seems like a logical leap. But what does a Google as a TV intermediary look like? Right now, Kansas City residents will receive an HD-compatible set-top box capable of receiving 160 channels (though no ESPN, HBO or Time Warner channels). As part of the monthly TV package, users will also receive a two terabyte drive capable of recording up to 500 hours of HD content, plus a bonus Nexus 7 tablet to serve as a remote.

The complete package (fiber + TV) will run KS  residents $120 a month, while Internet-only service will be $70. That may be more than a typical Comcast, Time Warner or even Verizon ViOS bill, but for unlimited streaming and the opportunity to escape the entrenched cable providers, we’ll be surprised if there aren’t a lot of KS residents who think it’s worth it.

More about Google Fiber.

 

Use Docracy to Make Small Biz Legal Needs Easier and Get Free Legal Documents

by Katherine Elsasser

Legal needs can be one of the most daunting (and expensive) parts of setting up a small business, either as a freelancer, contract employee or as a small business looking to hire.

Docracy, a new NYC-based startup now in beta, aims to crowdsource basic legal needs to make it easier to get the legal stuff done and get on with the running of your business. It’s a great resource for standard legal documents that can be customized to your needs.

If you’re comfortable with basic legal language, it’s a great repository for standard forms that can be tweaked for each use, such as Non-Disclosure Agreements, Consulting Contracts, basic employment offer agreements, and more. There’s even a “startup bundle” that packages relevant documents together for those looking to get their company off the ground.

We especially love that documents can be edited, saved, and signed online to expedite contract signings. Agreements signed via Docracy are guaranteed legally enforceable.

It’s important to note that Docracy isn’t your lawyer. They’re very clear that the documents on their site don’t constitute legal advice, so if you have anything specific to your situation, or any questions about their standard documents, it’s definitely wise to consult with an actual lawyer or legal professional.

But at the very least, Docracy is an amazing time-saver for those looking to save time and money to launch their business into the world.

VIDEO: First Ever Google Nexus 7 Commercial

by Katherine Elsasser

Not to be outdone by Apple’s new Martin Scorcese commercial, Google has launched their very first ad for the Nexus 7 tablet. Like the Chrome ads of the past, Google’s ad almost walks the line between sentimental and tearjerker. Who knew it was even possible for a an ad to be a tearjerker?

Google Nexus 7

Of course what Google would like you to recognize is that the Nexus 7 is the must-have technology that will put us in touch with our loved ones (and our feelings). But really, is that so different from most commercials, all of which promise to improve our lives in some way? And does it matter? If you want a 7″ tablet, and like what the Google brand represents, perhaps all the commercials are just a distraction anyway.

How-To: Organize Online Shopping Receipts

by Katherine Elsasser

Keeping track of business-related expenses is a must. And if you’re doing most of your office supply and equipment ordering online, it makes sense to use Slice to keep track of all your receipts digitally.  No more sifting through paper receipts and invoices come tax time!
slice app for tracking receipts

Slice is simple: give the application permission to see your email, and Slice will archive all your purchase records from major online retailers like Apple, Amazon, and eBay. You can add up to five email accounts to your single Slice account, so it’s perfect for small business and remote collaborators.

The app (available for both iPhone and Android) makes your purchase history easily accessible anytime, but can also deliver push notifications about deliveries en route regardless of the shipping carrier. And the UI is far superior to the mobile offerings of certain other shippers who shall remain nameless, since we’d really like to keep getting our Amazon purchases in a timely manner.

Slice is currently in beta. More info and signup at www.slice.com.

Coursera: Free Business Advice from the Best

by Katherine Elsasser

CourseraOnline education is key to the future of American universities. In fact just recently University of Virginia President Teresa Sullivan was fired in part over what the school Board of Trustees perceived as a failure to move the school’s online learning programs forward quickly enough. She’s since been rehired, but there’s no denying that the web will revolutionize the way we learn in the years to come.

One online education startup called Coursera is already working to bring University-level education to your laptop, tablet and mobile phone. They’ve partnered with leading univerisities like Caltech, Stanford, Princeton and more to bring real-time classes on a variety of subjects, like computer science, math, economics, and statistics.

Small business owners and employees should especially check out their business and management classes. Introduction to Finance (from the Univeristy of Michigan) begins Monday, and Introduction to Operations Management (from the University of Pennsylvania) begins in September.

Courses are free and can be taken while wearing pajamas. What’s not to like?