Monthly Archives: August 2015

7 Reasons Why Hera Venture Summit Is A Must Attend Startup Event

7 Reasons Why Hera Venture Summit Is A Must Attend Startup Event

On Aug 4, 2015 The White House, Tech Giants, Entrepreneurs, and Venture Capitalists across America committed to invest in the future of women in business.

A commitment that set the stage for previously untapped opportunities for female founders.

Leading the forefront of female entrepreneurship is the conglomeration of
Hera Hub= Female focused Co-working Space

Hera Labs= Female Focused Business Accelerator
Hera Fund= Female Focused Angel Investment Fund

On Saturday Sept 19th, Hera Venture Summit unveils a new face of Women in Tech Events

Below are 7 undeniable reason YOU’ll want to attend!

1. The Hera Venture Summit offers the ultimate platform for female founders and funders to discuss and collaborate in launching, growing and sustaining profitable businesses.


2. There’s not just 1 but 2 Keynote Speakers, excited to share their experience and expertise.



Elissa Shevinsky, a Startup CEO and Co-Founder at JeKuDo Privacy Company, a veteran coder, and editor of ‘Lean Out’ which encourages women to create their own culture in Tech Startups.



Consuelo Valverde, an Entrepreneur turned VC at SV LATAM Fund. At the age of 20, she founded one of the first PC manufacturing companies in Mexico and later on an IT learning institute.



3. Beautiful environments fuel inspiration. The event takes place at the University of San Diego an architectural dream, named by Travel+Leisure magazine one of the most beautiful college campuses in the United States. 


4. One-day intensive and interactive event. Often times events are spread across a weekend, 3 days, or even week long. The Hera Venture Summit takes Startup growth hacking to a new level, fully emerging everyone into the conversation in an action packed 10 hour event.

5. The theme of the event centers around “Building Bridges” both locally, binational, and globally. Holding course to the idea that through each other’s diversity comes expansion, both personally and professionally.

6. 7 Panels of unique content, covering everything from topics of gender investing and female founder ROI to how to become a female angel investor.


*Tyler Jensen founder of
The Startup Garage will be will be part of the panel


“All about the Financials.”

7. Happy Hour, the event concludes with the ultimate networking opportunity over cocktails. The perfect place to share insights gained throughout the day, and make life long connections.

Now that you’ve decided to join us be sure to say hello to The Startup Garage Team!

Tickets can be bought here>> Hera Venture Summit 9/19

Feel free to enter promo code startupgarage40off for $40 off this once in a lifetime event.

How To Identify a Startup Co-Founder

Identifying a Startup Co-Founder from The Startup Garage

How To Identify a Startup Co-Founder

It is all too common that a business savvy entrepreneur comes up with a good idea but cannot build the product.

Conversely, there are many tech founders that lack the business and interpersonal skills
necessary to take the product to market, develop partnerships, and liaise with potential investors.

Many founders of early stage startups struggle with assembling a well rounded founding team as they don’t know how or where to find the right co-founder.

This blog post is intended to help such entrepreneurs through the process of identifying the right co-founder for their business.

What: Hire Someone With Complementary Skills

While this seems obvious in theory it is a common mistake made by many first time entrepreneurs. It is our human nature to gravitate towards people that have similar skills, personalities, and approaches as ourselves. However, this defense mechanism does not overlap with identifying a good co-founder.

Clearly, you need to be able to work well with your co-founder, but you also need to challenge each other’s ideas and ways of thinking, not to mention balance each other’s shortcomings. Start by identifying the job description or the scope of your needs. What are the major gaps in your skill sets?

What departmental roles are currently underserved or would add the most value to your business?

Who: Hire Someone That is Sufficiently Qualified

Now that you’ve identified ‘what’ you need you’ll want to begin thinking about ‘who’ would be the right person to fill this roll. Start by asking yourself a few simple questions. What are the skill sets and expertise required to execute this roll? What are the attributes that would help attract potential investors (i.e. experience growing early-stage startups, direct industry knowledge, credibility and track record, passion and dedication, and personality fit)?

What is the pay structure that will entice this person (i.e. salary, equity, a combination of the two)?

Where: Start With Your Network

Lastly, now that you know what and who you need, we just have to figure out ‘where’ to find this person. The best place to begin is your own personal network. Start by identifying any people you may know personally that fits the ‘what’ and ‘who’ criteria that you’ve come up with. If this falls short, identify people in your network you trust that may have access to candidates whom fit your criteria.

Clearly describe ‘what’ and ‘who’ you are looking for and ask for warm introductions. If your network or extended network does not pan out there are several websites and events intended to help startup co-founders meet one-another.

These sites include TechCofounder, Founder2Be, FounderDating, and CofoundersLab. LinkedIn can also be an excellent resource for identifying potential co-founders.

Finally, you can also work with recruiters that specialize in your industry or that do startup placement; however, these services are not for free.

Prepare Your Terms

It is important that you draft up a Founder’s Agreement that outlines the terms of your partnership with a potential co-founder. While you will certainly want to remain flexible and open to negotiating these terms, it is helpful to come to the table with some basic ideas surrounding roles and responsibilities, pay structure, ownership splits, vesting schedules, etc.

This not only shows the candidate you are serious but it also gives him/her the information needed to take the conversation from pitching the opportunity to negotiating the terms.

If you have a question about your Startup business idea or you’d like to discuss our business plan writing services, feel free to contact us for a free consultation!

The White House Challenges Inequity In Startup Tech

The White House Challenges Inequity In Startup Tech

On Tuesday August 4, 2015 President Obama hosted the first-ever White House Demo Day.

The Demo Day was a chance for 90 entrepreneurs from over 30 diverse companies across the country to share their entrepreneurial journey.

Conversations centered around empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs and encouraging venture capital firms and Tech Giants to invest women and minority groups. As it currently stands The White House says about 3 percent of U.S. startups backed by venture capital are led by women, and about 1 percent are headed by African-Americans.

“We’ve got to make sure that everybody is getting a fair shot— the next Steve Jobs might be named Stephanie or Esteban,” Obama said. “We’ve got to unleash the full potential of every American— not leave more than half the team on the bench.”

The event opened the doors for communication, while inspiring diversity in America’s startup culture and economy. It also included strong calls to action to both the public and private sectors.

On the public side of things, the administration has been working with over 40 venture capital firms (including but not limited to A16Z, Intel Capital, Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, and Scale Venture Partners) that collectively have more than $100 billion under management, and are committing to new hiring practices that advance opportunities for minorities.

“You actually can make better-informed and more profitable investment decisions with a diverse team,” he said. “This isn’t about social justice alone. This is about social justice and making more money.” said said Ray Leach, chief executive of JumpStart

Tech giants like Google, Amazon and Facebook also pledged to foster inclusion in the tech space, announcing new plans to boost hiring of women and minorities, as well as additional innovative approaches.

For example; Google announced it will be hosting it’s first ever Women’s Demo Day later this year. The event will feature women-led startups from around the country pitching to a group of judges at the Googleplex. Meanwhile, IBM is committing to expanding its partnership with Girls Who Code to empower the next generation of female software developers.

The United States has always been a melting pot of opportunity, attracting and highlighting diverse talent and entrepreneurial skill-sets. In the 21st century a successful “marriage” between the U.S. government, Startup tech industries , VC firms, and entrepreneurs has the power to bring the American Dream to life in ways previously unprecedented.

If you have a question about your Startup business idea or you’d like to discuss our business plan writing services, feel free to contact us for a free consultation!