14 Alternatives to Google Forms
I’ve been using Google Forms for over a decade, and it has continued to impress...
Writing on Startups
Essential Reading for Startup CTOs
Being a great CTO requires insight and vision in both technology and business. You have...
The Danger in Listening to Experts
“Most of all, there is this truth: No matter how great your teachers may be,...
Why I Left a Career as a Startup CTO to Become a Writer
When I graduated from college, my dream was to lead a team at a startup....
The Evolution of Our Product Management Process
In 2016 when I joined The Graide Network, I was the first developer. With the...
7 Tips For Non-Technical Founders Looking For a CTO
I’ve worked in startups my whole career, first as a software engineer and now as...
10 Web Application Builders for Non-Technical Startup Founders
In the days of Web 1.0, entrepreneurs had to learn code or hire web developers...
Using Bubble to Build a Web Application
Move over Wordpress and Wix; there’s another no-code programming platform in the mix. Bubble —...
The Myths You’ll Hear About Working as an Engineer at a Startup
When I first graduated from college and went looking for a job with a startup...
The Many Roles of a Startup CTO
“Chief Technology Officer” (or “CTO”) sounds like a glamorous title. It’s right up there with...
Using Medium for Your Startup's Blog
How large is your online footprint? Marketing your startup is a matter of getting your...
High Tech vs. Tech Enabled Startups
I was talking with an entrepreneur and investor here in Chicago today, and he pointed...
Say No
People will continue to request more of your time until you say no. I was...
Stop Working and Let Someone Else Build It
My backlog of project ideas is long. Like, ridiculously long. Even though I clean it...
Web Applications: The Guide for Building Webs Apps Without Code
Web applications are getting more and more popular, but in 2018, what’s the best way...
Writing Less Software to Accomplish More
Creating custom software should be the last resort for early stage startups. Writing good software...
Startup Employees Still Need a Financial Plan
I know this is a little off base from my usual posts about software, technology,...
How to Put Your Startup's Marketing on Autopilot
I’ve been spending a little time every week promoting the Side Project Marketing Checklist I...
The Side Project Marketing Checklist: Making it Go Viral
Like many developers, I’ve been building side projects in my spare time for years. One...
Knowing Your Startup's Technical Maturity Level
As a startup developer I’m always trying to strike a balance between pragmatism and optimization....
Knowing When Your Business is Ready to Launch
I can’t tell you how many conversations I’ve had with entrepreneurs who fit into the...
Security Tips for Engineers at Early Stage Startups
Since publishing this post in August, 2015 I’ve become somewhat fanatical about getting my company’s...
Creating a Tech Startup without a Developer: the Lean Way
Since writing this in 2015, I’ve only become more convinced that more startups need to...
Working Hours, Burnout, and Pacing
My advice here comes more from the perspective of the employee, but I hope that...
Why the Textbook Industry is Ripe for a Technological Revolution
When I first wrote this in September, 2014 I was just a few months in...
The Risk in Sending Your Startup's Technology Offshore
When I wrote this in September, 2014 I was managing an offshore dev team for...
Health as a Long Term Investment in Your Success
I first published this post in February, 2015 when I was just getting back into...
Everybody's Got an Idea. Ideas Suck. Action Doesn't.
“Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go...
Marketing isn't about Content Creation, it's about Platform Creation
Back when I was first starting out, I was actually more interested in technical marketing...
How Startups Know When They've Got the Technology Right
I wrote this post back in September of 2012. I had just started my first...
Stress a Little, It's Okay
I’ve always been pretty good at dealing with stress, but as I get older and...
Are You Placing the Blame Internally or Externally?
I was less sympathetic when I wrote this in 2012 than I am now, but...
Determining the Value of Online Data
Since I wrote this post back in May, 2012, many more online companies have been...
My Beef With Twitter: Taking the Engagement Out of Social Media
In 2012 when I wrote this post I was getting jaded with Twitter. For about...
Where Have All the Business Models Gone?
When I wrote this article in April of 2012, Instagram had just been bought by...
Training for Focus: 4 Ways to Keep Your Eyes on the Big Picture
I used to struggle with staying focused. Since I first wrote this article in March,...
Community Is About Engagement, Not Size
Back in March, 2012 when I wrote and first published this post and was doing...
A Proposal for Non-Profit Search Engines
Ever since Google became a household name people have been worried about what they would...
Business Blogging Without the Lies
This post was originally published in March of 2012, and since then the world of...
Messaging as a Platform
Messaging platforms like Slack, Snapchat, WeChat, Allo, and What’s App are all the rage -...
Planning for Retirement While Working at a Startup
As I’ve entered my late 20’s and begun to solidify my career path in startups,...
Joining The Graide Network as Chief Technology Officer
After over 2 and a half years at Packback, I’ve decided to move on and...
An Update on Engineering at Packback
As I enter my second full year of working with Packback, I can say that...
On Leaving Uloop for Packback Books
This month marked the end of my first startup experience and the beginning of my...