Well begun is half done.
The Greek philosopher Aristotle offered that advice almost 2,400 years ago, suggesting that a good start to any enterprise helps ensure success. He didn’t have startup businesses in mind, but it applies equally to would-be entrepreneurs today.
David Rose has been there and has written books to share the wisdom gained in a high-flying career as an angel investor and entrepreneur. His latest, The Startup Checklist: 25 Steps to a Scalable, High-Growth Business, offers advice on avoiding costly legal and other mistakes often made in trying to get businesses off the ground.
He’ll share lessons and field questions in a July 12 talk that can be viewed online as part of the State Department’s Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) series with business “gurus.” The talk will air at 12:00 UTC. The series takes place on the second Tuesday each month, and past talks are archived.
Questions can be submitted in advance on the GIST website or via Twitter @GISTNetwork or #GISTGuruSeries.
In The Startup Checklist, Rose contends most startups are built on wobbly foundations that entrepreneurs discover only when they approach investors for the infusion of cash needed to turn their ideas into reality.
The Startup Checklist covers these subjects:
- Translating an idea into a compelling business model.
- Recruiting boards of directors and advisers.
- Measuring a business with data analytics.
- Allocating equity among the startup team.
- Establishing a stock option plan to recruit and incentivize employees.
- Securing crowdfunding.
Rose is founder and CEO of Gust, a platform that helps connect entrepreneurs and investors and manage early-stage investments.
