In Defense of Simple Business Models
The two fastest ways to kill your startup are: Having no business model. Having an...
Hi, my name is Karl.
I write, speak, and help build startups. After 8 years as a CTO in Chicago, I founded Draft.dev to help software engineering blogs produce high-quality technical content.
On the side, I run CFP Land, an automated newsletter that goes out to almost 2,000 conference speakers every week.
If you like this blog, I send out a weekly newsletter on startups, technology, and leadership called The Portable CTO.
📖 Thanks for reading!
Latest Writing
The Best Project Management Books
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What to Expect from a Coding Bootcamp
You’ve probably noticed the rise coding bootcamps over the past few years. If you come...
Using the Bubble App Builder to Launch Your Startup Faster
There are an average of 12,000 new startups founded daily in the US. To gain...
What it's Really Like Working for a Startup
After almost ten years working for startups, I’ve seen some pretty wild things. One startup...
Why Startup Consulting is a Bad Idea
One of my friends recently brought up the idea of consulting for startups. He’s been...
Maximizing for Energy
When left my full-time job last year, I started thinking about the lifestyle I wanted...
The Founder's Guide to Stealth Startups
I remember the first time I sat down for a job interview with a startup...
High Tech vs. Tech-Enabled Startups
I was talking with an entrepreneur and investor here in Chicago recently, and he pointed...
The Best Management Books
Being a good manager requires a wide range of skills that often take years to...