Tech Startups vs Rock Bands

Rock Band Tech Startup Assemble the band. It's important to find people whose skills complement each others' and who are on board with the vision/sound of the band. Assemble the team. It's important to find people whose skills complement each others' and who are on board with the vision of the product. Stage 1: Write original songs. Cuz face it, your band will never go anywhere if you don't invent something new for people to listen to Build a useful product. Ideas are awesome, but to get anywhere in the tech startup world you need to develop a prototype. Stage 2: Network with other startups, meet investors and influencers Even though you're not going to be a candidate for investment for a while, you need to get on the radar of as many people as possible. Network with other bands and venues, and tour. You have to get your music out there and build your brand. Sweat equity is required, and you have to fund this stage yourself. Stage 3: Start monetizing it yourself Bootstrap. Build your company as if you'll never get investment (hey - odds are good you won't). Prove that you can make money, so an investment in you would be worth it. Sell cds and merch You've got to record a demo, and also get your songs up on the web. Selling tracks along with things like t-shirts will keep you afloat during this bootstrap touring stage. Stage 4: Indie label contract With the right combination of hard work, perseverance, and luck, landing a contract with small record label is usually a band's first real Angel/seed funding With the right combination of hard work, social proof, and luck, landing early stage funding can be a company's first real break and help it take the product to the next level faster. Stage 5: break. Tour like crazy Quit all jobs, say goodbye to family, friends, sleep, and showering. You're about to live on the road indefinitely in an attempt to build a following that will persuade a major label to pick you up. Iterating like crazy Quit your day job (if you haven't already). Work 80 hours a week from your apartment and/or Barnes & Noble in an attempt to build a user/customer base that will persuade a VC firm to pick you up. Stage 6: Major label contract Finally, the big break! It's still only just begun, but you've finally got some cash for decent instruments and maybe even an apartment for those 3 months of the year when you're not on the road. Your music starts playing on radio stations and showing up in Best Buy, and you're sharing the stage with some of your biggest heroes. Dreams are coming true, but those bags under your eyes aren't going away anytime soon. Plan on working harder than ever and dealing with added pressure from your label, PR people, sales targets, and cranking out music on a deadline. Venture Capital investment Finally, the big break! It's still only just begun, but you've finaly got some cash for a decent Stage 7: office and to hire someone a little more talented than you to take over the coding. Plan on working harder than ever, cuz now you've got to prove to your investors that you were a smart move. They're dangling more cash in front of you if you can make it happen. You'll start seeing your name in the press and sharing the stage at NerdCon with your biggest heroes, but you'll also be dealing with added pressure from a board, investors, share holders, and everyone else you can think of. Rock Superstar Live large. Big house. 5 cars. You're in charge. Ifall Tech Superstar Shape industries. Get invited to speak everywhere. Write books. Golf with Bill Gates. goes well: Retire and becom At some point your body just can't take life on the road anymore, and you start living the "cushy" life of helping other musicians make it. a producer Retire and become an investor At some point you need to take a step back from the stress and start living the "cushy" life of helping other entrepreneurs make it. And then: by @shanesnow