What can I patent in my software startup? Can you actually patent software? Welcome to episode II of my patent 101 trilogy. Episode I was all about why to file a patent, or not. Now it’s time for a deep…
Martijn Rutten20 Mar, 2020
How do you best describe your technology to an investor, and make sure you stand out? The usual feature table with checks and crosses in the pitch deck or investor memorandum does not give much insight. This post gives you…
Martijn Rutten17 Jan, 2020
In modern-day startup jargon, every startup needs to have a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG). Yes, this sounds like another Dilbert corporate word in the same light as "facilitate empowerment" or "implement visioning", but that does not mean your startup…
Martijn Rutten22 Jan, 2017
At some point you want to make sure you cover the legal side of your startup. Set up the legal entities, split the equity over the team, sign that big customer or investment deal, and go conquer the world. A…
Martijn Rutten07 Dec, 2016
A good mentor can make all the difference for your startup. This goes so far that investors assess startup teams by their ability to surround them with the right pool of mentors and coaches. Previously, I wrote about how to…
Martijn Rutten30 Oct, 2016
The general view of an entrepreneur goes something like this: you have a revolutionary idea and are confident enough to pursue it despite the whole world telling you you'll never make it. Along with that comes the general thought that…
Martijn Rutten25 Oct, 2016
This post is not about software but hardware. Well, companies that create software to generate hardware that is programmed with software...and why. And how they evolve back to just hardware over the lifetime of the company. The clear vision is…
Martijn Rutten01 Sep, 2016
If your startup creates truly disruptive technology, the first reaction of potential customers and investors is often: "Forget it. It's snake oil!" Disbelief. It sounds too good to be true. In case of Vector Fabrics, we created tools to parallelize…
Martijn Rutten15 Jul, 2016
Sure, you are running continuous integration with loads of tests, at least every night. But what if a build or test fails? How long does it take your team to get back into ready-to-release mode? Enter the red and green…
Martijn Rutten04 Jul, 2016