Technology is transforming the world. Tech legends such as Jeff Bezos, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and Larry Page and Sergey Brin, have inspired a generation of entrepreneurs. If you’re thinking about starting a technology company, I’m going to tell you the one thing that you need to get to build a great technology company.
Starting a technology company is a bit like getting fit: you want to get to the end result really quickly, but to get there, you need to go through processes that will turn you from unfit to fit. If you fixate on the goal, you lose sight of the process and never achieve your goals. You need to focus on the process and fight today to build the technology company you want to own in the future. It won’t be easy.
Competition is fierce and everyone is as convinced you are that they will be the next Jeff Bezos or Steve Jobs.
Product-Market Fit
When asked the most important thing is in a technology company, entrepreneurs invariably say, the team. Intuitively, it feels right. Before you know the product, know the team. And we all like to think that if we throw together the best and brightest, they will develop great products.
If you ask an engineer, they’ll likely tell you that having a great product is the important thing in a technology company.
The truth, however, is that the most important thing to have in a technology company, the thing that is foundational for your task, is getting product-market fit.
What’s wrong with having a great team? Well, consider Leonardo da Vinci. The man invented a tank centuries before they went into mass production. He was the ultimate genius. You can have the brightest and best and they can produce great products for you, but if there’s no demand for those products, you won’t make money. Without a great market, three best products won’t go anyway. And, just because you have a great team, doesn’t mean you’ll develop a great product.
Marc Andreesen, the legendary tech investor, calls product-market fit, “the only thing that matters”.
You see, being a technology company isn’t a guarantee of success. There are exceptional technology companies, good technology companies, bad technology companies, horrific technology companies and average technology companies. That’s obvious.
Not only are there different levels of success, there are also different qualities of teams. Some teams are sensationally smart, some are good, some are terrible, some are just bad and a lot are just okay.
As for products, it’s the same. A wide range of quality from great to awful with average in between.
The same applies to markets.
How do we make sense of all this?
The thing that is the common theme with truly exceptional companies isn’t that they have great teams, or great products, or great markets, it’s that they have product-fit. Starting a technology company is, first and foremost, about finding that blend of product and market that drives truly exceptional companies.
Product-market fit measures the appetite the market has for your product. Leonardo da Vinci’s tank had poor product-market fit because he had a great product but no market. There was no demand for his product. And he was one of the greatest thinkers of all time.
Building a technology company is about building products that are exceptional, easy to use, rich in features, highly extensible, and polished, that meet the needs of a big market, a market that’s growing so fast that you’re struggling to keep up with the demand. When you have product-market fit, you have the world.
How To Start A Technology Company
How To Start An LLC In Montana
Many people are intrigued by the prospect of starting an LLC in Montana. LLCs, or limited liability companies, are attractive business structures in and of themselves.
What is an LLC?
An LLC is a type of business that combines the pass-through taxation of asole proprietorship or a partnership with the limited liability of a traditional corporation.
Under state law, an LLC is not considered a corporation. It is a kind of company that limits the liability of its owners.
LLCs are very popular because of the great degree of flexibility that they provide. An LLC may use corporate tax rules rather than being considered as a partnership,and, in some instances, an LLC may be used as the organizing form for non-profit organizations.
In some states, businesses that offer professional services, such as medical or legal services, must organize themselves through a type of LLC known as a professional limited liability company (PLLC).
How to Form an LLC in Montana
Forming an LLC is a very straightforward proposition
Firstly, you need to make sure that the name that your LLC will use has not already been taken. To do so, you should search for your preferred name in Montana’s business entity database.
You can also reserve your preferred business name for a fee of $10. Reservations are valid for 120 days.
Secondly, you need to complete your application form according to the type of LLC you are filing for. Broadly, there are two types, domestic and foreign.
Thirdly, you need to pay for the registration process. You do this by sending a check to Montana’s Secretary of State. You may want to expedite your registration process, in which case, you will have to pay an extra fee. Send the check alongside the application form, to the Secretary of State, at the following address:
P.O. Box 202801
Helena, MT 59620
You should have an operating agreement which explains how your business operates for those within the organization. This gives everybody clarity right off the bat, so that there are no unnecessary conflicts and misunderstandings.
Finally, you need to renew your LLC status every year. This can be done online, where you will have to fill in a few forms. You may opt to have a pre-filled form created online as well. It costs $20 to renew your LLC, but if you submit your renewal application after 1700 (MST), April 15, that fee rises to $35.
As you can appreciate, Montana law makes it very easy to fulfill the techonologices requirements of setting up an LLC.
There Are Some Things In Life That You Just Can’t Do Without
There are many ways to get around, but some are better than most. If you take your car to where you want to go, it is very likely that you’re going to end up in some kind of traffic jam which will delay your trip and you’re probably going to arrive at your final destination late. In most situations, it is not a life or death situation, but for many they may lose out on new business because they didn’t arrive at their appointment on time and this gave the wrong first impression to the potential client. This is why many people decide to buy a motorbike and it makes a lot of sense when you think about it a little. It’s is not going to cost you a lot more to purchase, and it’s going to allow you to be able to move in and out of traffic more easily and thus avoid the traffic jams that cars cannot avoid.
One of the first things any experienced rider will tell you about when purchasing your first motorbike, is that you need to make sure that you have two things. The first one is that you have the right safety gear when riding your motorcycle and the second is to have the right insurance. Both of these are incredibly important but if you’re buying your motorcycle using the many financial borrowing options, then you don’t actually own your motorcycle out right until the final payment. This is what makes insurance so important and if you don’t know where to buy it, then you can actually go online and make your purchase there at www.rabbitfinance.com/motorbike-insurance because in the event that your motorcycle is stolen or damaged beyond repair, your insurance policy can kick in and help you have a very difficult situation.
If you’re still not sold on the benefits of having the right motorcycle insurance, then maybe the following can help you to make a more informed decision.
– It covers most eventualities – If you are an experienced rider, then it’s more likely that you’re going to have a few scrapes and tumbles before you master the proper control of your vehicle and this emphasizes the importance of cleaning and maintaining your motorcycle. It can be very easily to come off your bike initially due to a wet road or even some loose sand on the surface as well. You will get better at handling your motorbike with experience, but until that point, it is best that you have the right insurance policy in place to cover you for most eventualities.
– Essential injury protection – Nobody knows what lies around the corner until you get there and so in the event that you have an accident no matter whose fault it is, your insurance policy will cover everyone. Having the right insurance policy will make sure that you receive the best medical attention as soon as possible, and of your motorcycle can be fixed, it will be done quickly to let you can get back on your motorcycle again. If you make any modifications to your motorcycle, you need to stick to the government guidelines.
As mentioned previously, there are two things that you need in order to ride a motorcycle. The first is the right safety gear and more importantly, an insurance policy that covers you for all eventualities.
TradeUP’s New Account Promotion Offers Up to 5 Free Stocks
Do you want to win up to 5 free stocks? TradeUP, the innovative new mobile trading application recently announced a brand new promotion for new users when you sign up for a Live Trading account on the cutting-edge mobile trading platform. Signing up with TradeUP today means your chance at earning up to five free stocks! It’s simple and only takes five minutes to open your brand new trading account.
“At TradeUP, we’re hyper-focused on providing the best possible customer experience in the mobile trading space,” says, Mark Kadison, Official Spokesperson of TradeUP. “Our competitive monetary incentives are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our prioritization of the user experience, and we’re excited for many first-time users to explore the accessible interface and product innovation that make our platform truly stand out.”
New users who simply open a TradeUP Live account today will receive a free stock of their choosing between $2 and $15 in value. You sign up, and before you spend a dime, TradeUP rewards you with free money-making opportunities. But, it gets better. You’ll receive an additional stock of your choice valued between $15 and $1,000 by opening a TradeUP Live account with an initial deposit of at least $100. With a larger initial deposit, you can win up to 4 additional stocks valued between $15 and $1000 each!
| Initial Deposit Amount (USD) | Additional Free Stocks |
| $100 – $1000 | 1 |
| $1000 – $2499 | 2 |
| $2500 – $4999 | 3 |
| $5000+ | 4 |
Learn more about this promotion here: https://www.itradeup.com/activity/market/reward/#/open
What is TradeUP?
TradeUP is a 0-commission trading platform where you can trade stocks, ETFs, and options with no hidden fees. It is a new stock trading app that makes trading on-the-go easier than ever. It’s perfect for beginners who want to learn how to invest and for seasoned traders looking for an innovative, new trading platform. TradeUP offers an array of advanced trading tools including professional stock screeners, a stock watchlist, heat maps, and advanced custom price alerts that help you make informed investment decisions. The application adds cool, new features to its trading platform on a bi-weekly basis. TradeUP also offers users an IPO subscription service that gives our clients access to the best up and coming IPOs in the world.
You can download the TradeUP application in the App Store or the Google Play Store!
General Disclaimer
1. This article is a paid advertisement by Marsco Investment Corporation (“Marsco”). This article is intended to provide information regarding the brokerage services provided by Marsco and its other broker-dealer subsidiaries This article has not been reviewed or approved by any regulator. 2. Brokerage services in TradeUP are offered by Marsco. Marsco Investment Corporation is a registered brokerage firm at SEC (CRD: 18483; SEC: 8-36754), a member of FINRA/SIPC and a member of DTC/NSCC, regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Check the background on the firm on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.3. Nothing contained in this material is, or should be construed as, an offer, a solicitation of an offer or an invitation to buy or sell any security or derivative, and it is not intended for distribution in any jurisdiction where such distribution would be contrary to law. 4. Securities and derivatives transactions involve risk of loss, including loss of principal. You should weigh potential benefits against the risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.5. Electronic trading poses unique risks to investors. System response and access times may vary due to market conditions, system performance, and other factors. Market volatility, volume, and system availability may delay account access and trade executions.6. IPO is a high risk investment, the investors may lose a lot of principal when subscripting IPOs. The service is provided by Marsco’s affiliate, US Tiger Securities, Inc. which is a US registered Broker Dealer.
Reset Your Mindset: 3 Powerful Tips for Achieving Goals
What’s your big dream? Do you aspire to be an entrepreneur? Do you dream of traveling the world? What if your only wish is to be more confident in yourself? Whether you have one dream or a million, they’re just dreams unless you start to set goals. If you haven’t succeeded into turning your dream into a reality, don’t worry — 94% of people aren’t so great at achieving goals.
Why? The trouble with turning your dreams into goals is that few people know how to reset their mindset for achieving goals. However, by putting some of the tips below into practice, you’ll be a goal setting master in no time.
1. Set SMART goals.
Setting goals is easy. Setting reasonable and achievable goals, however, requires a little more work. You’re probably thinking, “How do I set a goal that I know I will achieve?” Well, it’s time you learned how to set a SMART goal. What is a SMART goal? A SMART goal consists of five elements:
- Specific: ensure your goal isn’t too vague.
- Measurable: break down your goal into measurable elements.
- Achievable: set a goal that is achievable and attainable.
- Relevant: make sure this is a goal that you really want to accomplish.
- Time-bound: Set a time frame to help keep yourself on track.
Now, let’s put what you learned into practice. For example, let’s say you want to lose weight. Here’s the difference between a normal goal and a SMART goal:
- Normal goal: “My goal is to lose weight.”
- SMART goal: “My goal is to lose 20 pounds in three months.”
Keeping the SMART method in mind, you’ll only be one step closer to achieving goals.
2. Write down your goals.
Did you know? People who write down their goals are 20% more successful in accomplishing them than those who did not. It does sound a bit crazy, but writing down your goals not only helps you clarify what you really want, but also motivates you to take action and see progress along the way.
3. Wipe out the negativity.
Negativity can make a huge impact on achieving goals.Do you ever feel like you’re being a little too hard on yourself? Well, most people treat themselves the same way. Thoughts like “I’m never going to be able to accomplish this” or “I’m never going to lose the weight” have been in the minds of many.
And even if you don’t have negative thoughts, there may be people in your life that are pessimistic about the goals you set for yourself. The good news is that even though negativity is powerful, positivity is stronger. If you ever feel like you’re struggling to eliminate some of the negative energy in your life, tackle those negative thoughts head on.
Put to Practice
Now it’s time to quit talking and get to work by putting these powerful tips into practice to start achieving goals. Remember, it’s not going to be easy. You’ll face many obstacles and hurdles along the way. Success doesn’t come easy and it will all be worthwhile
Campus Crashes: Car Accidents Put Coeds At Risk
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car collisions are a leading cause of death for young drivers, including college students. Car accidents are caused by a unique combination of factors present on college campuses, including density, frequency of pedestrian-car interactions, and young age populations. These factors combine to create deadly consequences for drivers and pedestrians.
College Commute and Transport
College students take buses, ride a bike, carpool, walk, and drive cars to campus. The college experience and population density facilitate many different modes of transportation to get to and around campus. The frequent interaction between pedestrians and cars means car accidents are more common than in the broader populace.
According to experts, younger drivers are more likely to engage in risky behavior. College students are more likely to engage in this behavior while walking, skateboarding, and biking. When combined with college students’ reduced experience, these factors result in an increased rate of fatal accidents.
Impaired Driving
Drowsy Driving
A common trend among college students is to sacrifice sleep to engage in social activities and study. College students, from those committed to rigorous coursework, such as engineering, to those more involved with social life, test their cognitive limits by losing sleep. Therefore, college students are more likely to drive drowsy. According to the National Sleep Foundation, most crashes or near misses occur between midnight and 2:00 a.m. Further, 23% of respondents say that they know someone who was involved in an accident after falling asleep while driving a vehicle.
Drunk Driving
College students frequently consume alcohol. For many students, college is the first time they are away from their parents; therefore, they are encouraged by social engagement to partake in risky behavior, making it more likely they will be injured in a crash. According to U.S. News & World Report, 20% of college students admit to driving while intoxicated at least once.
Distracted Driving and Walking
Distracted driving is a rising trend among all age groups, but it is particularly acute for young drivers. All drivers are presented with a dizzying array of devices that demand their attention while driving. Cars come outfitted with interactive consoles, and most adults now own a smartphone.
College students are accustomed to constant connection and interaction over the Internet. These risks are further increased based on results from a U.S. Department of Transportation study, which found that texting requires significant engagement from multiple brain regions and impairs driving capability.
Moreover, distracted walking is another issue. Many students do not walk without wearing earbuds or headphones, which muffles outside noise, such as a car horn trying to warn a pedestrian. Pedestrians also walk while looking at their phones, increasing the likelihood they will walk into traffic. The influx of “augmented reality” games, such as Pokemon Go, adds additional distractions.
New Driving Conditions
Finally, many students relocate to attend college, exposing students to unknown driving conditions, inclement weather like ice and snow, or dense highway traffic found in larger cities. These new conditions further increase car accident rates among college students.
Understanding Pediatric Brain Injuries
Brain injuries are life-altering for adults and children alike, but they affect children differently. It’s important for parents to understand how these injuries impact children later in life. Symptomatically, brain injuries in children are similar to those in adults, but they can have a more significant long-term impact on children due to their level of development.
Unlike adults, children are not yet fully developed physically or mentally. This reduced physical development also applies to the brain. Previous misconceptions claimed that children were less vulnerable to brain injuries because of the plasticity of their brains. However, recent studies have disproven this myth. In fact, brain injuries can be more harmful to children than adults in several ways.
Latent Effects of Pediatric Brain Injuries
Initially following a brain injury, children may not always display obvious symptoms. But the damage may become more apparent as the child grows. Parents may notice that a child experiences social and cognitive difficulties as he or she gets older. These residual side effects can lead to lifelong impairments and challenges for not only the affected child but also his or her family.
Ultimately, there are symptoms that children may experience following one or multiple concussions, including mental to physical difficulties that may range from mild to debilitating.
Symptoms of Concussion in Children
Parents will need to be observant to catch symptoms of concussion in younger children since young children are often unable to articulate how they feel if something is wrong.
Some symptoms that young children may exhibit following a concussion could include:
- Irritability and crankiness
- Increased fatigue and listlessness
- Changes in behavior and habits, including eating, sleeping, playing, and the way they act or perform in school
- Loss of balance when walking
- Loss of interest in daily activities
- Confusion or frequent distractions
Other symptoms in young children include staring blankly, loss of newly learned skills, slurred speech, slower response times, and uncoordinated walking or general clumsiness. Memory loss and loss of consciousness may also take place.
If a child’s behavior seems suddenly or gradually unusual or out of character or other worrying physical symptoms develop, this could be indicative of a serious problem. These changes warrant contacting a doctor or EMT for treatment as soon as possible.
Concussion Symptoms in Infants and Toddlers
Infants or toddlers may also develop symptoms of concussion. In newborns, these signs could indicate that they were injured at birth. If parents notice any of the previously mentioned symptoms or others, such as not eating and an inability to calm the child, the opinion of a medical professional should be sought after.
Treating Children Following a Concussion
If a child has sustained a concussion, there are ways to help him or her heal to prevent serious injuries from developing. Making sure the child gets sufficient sleep, avoids activities that could aggravate the condition or result in another concussion, and takes medications only that their pediatrician has approved can help improve conditions for him or her.
Understanding pediatric injuries, including brain injuries, can help keep parents and caretakers aware and allow them to prevent further impairment early on.
Choosing the Right Criminal Defense Attorney
Any individual charged with a crime should choose the right criminal defense lawyer to increase his or her odds of a favorable outcome. The individual should start by determining his or her legal needs, deciding whether to hire a federal or state attorney, and searching for an attorney who has focused his or her practice in definite areas of defense. He or she should also consider the qualities that matter, perform due diligence, and book an initial consultation. By following these steps anyone accused of a crime can find the right criminal attorney.
Step 1: Determining the Legal Needs
Regardless of the nature and magnitude of a person’s criminal charge, seeking legal assistance is crucial. Even if he or she doesn’t hire an attorney, an initial consultation will give the accused person an insight into his or her legal needs. Anyone charged with a serious crime is strongly advised to hire a competent defense attorney before appearing in court.
Step 2: Deciding Whether to Choose a State Attorney or a Federal Attorney
Depending on the case, the accused person may require either a state attorney or a federal attorney. If the accused violated state law, he or she must search for criminal defense attorneys who handle that specific state’s law. If he or she infringed the constitution or copyright, hiring a federal attorney will be the best bet.
Step 3: Looking for Attorneys Who Have Focused on Specific Areas of Defense
Most attorneys focus their practice on clearly defined areas of defense. Depending on his or her legal needs, the accused person may gravitate towards a criminal attorney who has concentrated on a specific area of practice. A person with a DWI charge, for instance, will improve his or her odds of getting a favorable result by hiring a DUI lawyer with a stellar record of handling DUI/DWI cases. Discussing with a potential criminal attorney about his or her areas of defense can help a person charged with a crime make an informed decision.
Step 4: The Qualities that Matter
The accused person should consider the must-have qualities. Trust is essential when it comes to working with a criminal attorney. Other important qualities to consider include communication skills, responsiveness, enthusiasm, court confidence, and ethics. In short, the accused person should ensure the attorney meets what he or she considers important.
Step 5: Performing Due Diligence
A quick Google search of criminal attorneys in a specific area will reveal several pages with competent attorneys. Reviewing these results, checking whether they are registered with professional organizations, going through testimonials, and seeking referrals can increase the chances of a person accused of a crime finding the best fit. He or she should also check their names on the State Bar website to verify if they are licensed to practice criminal law.
Step 6: Scheduling a Meeting
Most criminal attorneys don’t charge initial consultations. After listing down a few potential attorneys to represent him or her, the accused person should schedule an initial consultation so he or she can compare them and select the right attorney for his or her needs.
Here Are Five Examples of Common Tax Evasion
One of the easiest ways to get on the IRS’ wrong side is by committing tax evasion. People who commit tax evasion are aware they are doing it, and it’s wrong. They hope they won’t get caught. Tax evasion is a felony, and the legal consequences are rather stiff.
Tax evasion is a crucial matter because it reduces the amount of taxes paid and leaves the state short of funding. It’s the same as stealing from the country, and it will get you into real trouble with the IRS. What if you made a mistake? The IRS is very good at determining mistakes and purposeful evasion. If unpaid taxes is due to lack of funds or accidental errors you can contact Randolph Law Firm. Errors include copying down wrong information, calculation errors, transposition errors, and obvious errors while filing your tax forms. Examples of tax evasion include:
1. Falsifying records
One way taxpayers falsify records is by lying to their CPA. Your CPA usually sends a questionnaire to fill out, which provides the accountant with all the numbers needed for the tax return. If you misrepresent any information like an offshore account or not reporting all your accounts to pay less tax, it’s deemed tax evasion.
2. Underreporting income
Tax liability is usually based on the amount of income you make. If you change the numbers and write lower numbers, then it means lower taxes. It may be tempting for you, but don’t do it.
Another way people underreport their income is through structuring. Structuring is a method of falsely lowering your withdrawals, deposits, and transfers to a point below bank reporting requirements since it’s usually done to avoid detecting your actual income; it’s a crime. The IRS has tried to pursue this issue relentlessly since the implementation of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
3. Hiding interest
Most people won’t hide their money in holes or put it under their mattresses. However, they hide it in offshore accounts where they hope the federal government won’t find it. Interest can pile up fast for people who have millions stashed in foreign banks. This is where the IRS strictly enforces FATCA to tackle this very issue.
4. Purposely underpaying taxes
Maybe you don’t like the number http://www.taxfyle.com/ came up with, so you deliberately pay a lower amount than what you owe. That’s easy for the IRS to see that you’re committing a felony.
Another way is through money laundering. Let’s say an overseas vendor owes you business money, and instead of asking for cash, you tell the vendor to purchase things for you. Then, you transfer the goods through a third party and call it a gift. There will be no cash income to report because you willfully bypass the reporting by saying you received a gift worth what the vendor owes you.
5. Illegally assigning income
People also hide money by saying the income belongs to someone else, maybe a family member or a friend. If you deliberately assign income that’s yours to reduce your taxes, it’s tax evasion.
Please ensure you adhere to all the IRS rules and regulations to avoid getting in trouble.
Top Reasons Homeowners Sue HOAs
Homeowners file lawsuits against their homeowner’s associations (HOAs) for several reasons. Upon moving into a new housing development or condominium, people may be required to read and sign a contract known as Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs). While these forms may dictate what homeowners can and cannot do with specific rules, HOAs are also required to follow the rules in place.
If an HOA fails to adhere to terms discussed in a contract or otherwise engage in fair practices with residents, homeowners may be able to sue them depending on the situation. The following are some of the specific reasons why homeowners may sue HOAs.
Failure to Maintain the Property
One of the most common reasons why homeowners sue an HOA is the HOA’s failure to repair, replace, or otherwise maintain property following natural wear and tear. Depending on the state, HOAs may be responsible for maintaining both common areas and individual units. Homeowners can consult their contracts to determine what their HOA is required to cover.
Contract Violations
CC&Rs serve as contracts for HOAs. While residents are required to follow rules that appear in this document, HOAs are equally responsible for following the rules in place for them. This means that if an HOA decides to install new unneeded facilities or causes other disruptions that negatively impact residents, it may be possible for homeowners to sue the HOA if these actions are in violation of a contract.
Discrimination or Harassment
While HOAs can develop their own rules as detailed in the CC&R, they aren’t allowed to establish any rules based on “protected characteristics” such as marital status, race, age, or the number of children in a family. Such actions may constitute discrimination or harassment in violation of housing discrimination laws.
Denial of Plans
In some cases, homeowners may want to install architectural features or engage in other plans for their property, which the HOA may in turn deny. Regardless of whether the HOA was in the right, homeowners may attempt to sue for denial of plans.
Pet Disputes
Homeowners may sue HOAs over disputes involving pets. For example, homeowners have attempted to sue HOAs for allowing tenants to move into a property with emotional support animals.
Misappropriation of Funds
Homeowners often pay as much as hundreds of dollars to HOAs, which may not always go to their intended causes. Sometimes homeowners may sue HOAs if they discover that the HOA is spending too much of homeowners’ money on attorney fees or other expenses that don’t fall under what the money should go toward.
These are some of the most common causes for lawsuits against HOAs. Oftentimes, the HOAs aren’t responsible and have done nothing wrong. In other cases, the CC&R and other documents may not be entirely clear regarding responsibility, which can lead to some uncertainty about what to do on the part of an association and the need to consult a real estate lawyer for guidance.
Regardless of the issue, both homeowners and HOAs should take the time to understand governing documents and laws to avoid potential legal issues.