This startup thing is really tough. It’s really, properly, brain-achingly difficult. Luckily, them internets have LOTS OF HELP for starting, running and growing a business. Now you can have some too.
I’m always looking for more information-food to feed my startup brain. Newsletters, blogs, books, videos, conversations; whatever my greedy grey matter can get its mitts on. Here’s the best stuff I’ve found over the last few years.
I constantly refer back to this list of startup resources, to remind myself of things or to learn new ones – so I recommend you bookmark this page immediately. And share it with all your friends right now, so they know how influential and clever you are. And good-looking.
If you have any other amazing resources, please suggest them in the comments and I’ll include them in the list.
Hugs,
Will
Start Things
The Best Startup Advice
The best startup advice Sam Altman of YCombinator has ever heard (95 items).
Ultimate Startup Cheatsheet
“The Ultimate Cheat Sheet For Starting And Running A Business” ~> USA-focussed.
Properties of a Successful Company
Straightforward summary of the essentials of How to Do it Right.
Validate Your Idea
How to launch with a validated idea.
Build a Happy Startup
E-book guide to building a happy startup.
LaunchRock
Create ‘launching soon’ pages, collect interest and build an audience before you launch.
Learn Stuff
Both Sides of the Table
Excellent startup advice blog by an entrepreneur-turned-VC.
Venture Hacks
Startup advice blog written by AngelList.
Startup Course
A free 14-week course about startups, including practical advice and exercises.
Learn New Skills
40 places to learn new skills online.
Skillshare
Platform to learn (and teach) anything.
Meet People
FullContact
Address book that keeps all your contacts in one place and automatically up-to-date.
Meetup
Platform to find (and organise) events – search for your interests.
AngelList
Platform where startups connect to investors and talent.
Eventbrite
Another platform to find (and organise) events – search for your interests.
Bizoogo
Social network for entrepreneurs to collaborate, co-found and develop new businesses.
The Fetch
Weekly summary of (startup) events in London (and other world cities).
Get Stuff Done
Get Startup Tools
Premium service deals for startups.
Huddlebuy
Daily deals for startups and small businesses.
Podio
Free project management tool for any project and any team – super versatile.
Make Websites
Leanstack
See what the best startups and companies in the world are using.
InVision
Collaborative web and mobile mockup/UI prototyping tool.
Free WordPress Themes
10 starter themes and frameworks for WordPress.
Product Design Guide
Required reading for product designers.
Sell Things, Grow Stuff
Price Optimisation
A very useful blog about (SaaS) pricing – start with the Complete Guide.
Customer Conversion
How to convert singups to customers in 30 days.
Learn Growth Hacking
35 resources to help you learn about and growth hacking.
FullContact Playbook
Newsletter full of sales and marketing advice.
KISSmetrics Blog
Excellent blog about analytics, marketing and testing.
Get Money
VentureDocs
Customized, automated legal documents for startups, investors, crowdfunding portals and attorneys.
Co-Founder Equity Calculator
Simple calculator to help you decide how much of the business each founder should get.
Guide to Investment
Collection of articles about investment agreements (term sheets), by Brad Feld, MD of Foundry Group.
Get Support
The NEF Directory
A HUGE list of enterprise-related resources from the New Entrepreneurs Foundation.
StartUp Britain
National campaign by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs – events, resources and deals.
Centre for Entrepreneurs
The Entrepreneurs’ Think Tank – Sign up for their newsletter (bottom of the page).
Smarta
Business advice and tools for startups and small businesses.
Enterprise Europe Network
European Commission scheme that helps small business to make the most of the European marketplace.
Don’t Want to Start Things?
Why NOT to work in a startup
“10 reasons working in a startup is terrible”
For more useful resources (when I find them) I share them on Twitter: @isoworg.
Awesome list guys – sending round!
rajdey http://t.co/Ku3e1EcLOn
http://www.venturecentral.co.uk from the BVCA. Advice for start-ups on financing their businesses… and other practical information
isoworg Love how after that long list, the last item: ‘Don’t want to start things? 10 Reasons why you need to work in a Startup’ Brill!
Melody_Hossaini Thank you! Anything you’d add?
HungLee Thanks man, anything you’d add?
isoworg Seems comprehensive-only thing I’d add is @ Start Things phase,entrepreneur needs to understand their own brand > ‘My Passport’
isoworg It looks like a lot to review, but I shall. DM me and we can set up a Google Hangout or something.
That is a great list of resources, especially the sell things, grow stuff. If people want a milestone/goal based planning tool, <a href=”http://milestoneplanner.com”>Milestone Planner</a> is free (disclosure: I am involved in it, and love helping start ups to plan their business).
isoworg thanks, of course we will! 🙂
FindNetworkingEvents.com has the UK’s most comprehensive list of business networking events, essential for any startups!
rewindfx Thanks for the share, you lovely people.
Great list. What about adding CoFoundersLab, http://www.cofounderslab.com, to the ‘Meet People’ section. We help entrepreneurs find the right co-founders, advisers, and interns via an online matching platform and via quarterly, in-person Matchups (via Meetup) in more than 30 cities.
Good luck to all!
StartupWeekend this list is gold! Nicely put together
“StartupWeekend: The Ultimate List of Startup Resources! –> http://t.co/a7Zf8m4NAA #Startup #Smallbiz Any others to add to this list?”
StartupWeekend missing https://t.co/E8kXAz9i7u http://t.co/7B8R4SXEFg http://t.co/etGbzRyYFU
Startup{ery is a must add—it organized over 520 blog posts (such as by Fred Wilson, Mark Suster, etc.) by over 360 topics. http://Startupery.com
Happy Inbox also maintains a great list of startup newsletters. http://HappyInbox.Co/Startups-Technology
Steve_SEO_UK Fernand0Moreira StartupWeekend Looks like I’ll miss it but peek nubie_com . All the best Steve
isoworg I was surprised that emmaljones’s monthly StartUp Saturday at the BIPC wasn’t featured! http://t.co/NSrhDoqjPA Get it on there!
lornabladen BIPC I think I should just put emmaljones on the list. In fact, I’m going to write a list of people to pay attention to.
Awesome writeup! For startups you may also use Proofhub. Best in features and services.
There’s certainly a great deal to know about
this subject. I like all the points you’ve made.