If there are national soccer teams, why not national startups teams?

Even if Switzerland is not known as a ”first mover”, Switzerland has now the first “National Startup Team”! The team get evaluated by a competition called «venture leaders» organized by «venturelab», Ernst&Young, Swiss and the GEBERT RÜF STIFTUNG.

The 23 winners of the «venture leaders» won besides the honour a unique 10-day-trip to Boston, including an entrepreneurship course @ Babson College, networking with venture capitalists and business opportunities.

Why it’s good to have a “National Startup Team”?

#1: Every way to promote entrepreneurship & startups within the society is a good way!

#2: The networking-effect among the “National Startup Team” is priceless!

#3: Wouldn’t motivate it you, to be on the “National Startup Team”?

#4: A ”National Startup Team” is interesting for the medias and can motivate others to start their own company.

#…

I’m eager to see, which country starts the next “National Startup Team”. Happy to hear from it!

Is there a formula to start a business successfully? Maybe yes! Try this one:

#1: Pitch your idea to 15 potential customers within one week.

#2: Learn from the answers and develop for each customer a customized “one pager” with his benefits and his business opportunities.

#3: Ask for an order!

#4: If they don’t commit, ask seven questions (e.g.: Why did you refuse the offer? What is important for you/your business? What would change your mind? Do you know somebody, who might be interested in my offer? etc.).

#5: Based on the answers, revise your order and go back to #3.

#6: Repeat the process every week within the first year.

 (Cutline: Your customer is just one talk away from you! / Image Credits: SwissStartups.com) 

We people in Switzerland know how to go sledging and we love it. For all others folks, who don’t like to break their bones with their first attempts in sledging, here is the game solution:

LineRider.com

 The Game is simpel and causes a lot of fun. Here how you get started:

#1: www.LineRider.com

#2: Draw a slope with the pencil

#3: Push “Play” and see how you are doing

#4: Go back to #2 until you succed in a slope with a loop!

Merry Christmas from Switzerland!

Everybody loves James Bond. I’m a big 007-fan for myself. Time for startups to learn from the secrets of greatest agents in the world:

(Cutline: If you deceid to save the world - you’d be better well equiped! / Image Credits: Aston Martin) 

#1 Mission: James Bond saves the world! What is your startup-mission and does it make meaning? The more meaning, the more likely you earn money. It’s that simple.

#2 Team: James Bond makes all decisions by himself, but with a great team in the background. What do you want to have as an entrepreneur is a great team, that speaks with one tongue. The CEO deceides and the team follows as seen in the bond movies.

(Cutline: The CEO deceides! / Image Credits: IGN) 

#3 Business Model: James Bond has a clear business model, he saves the world and get well paid by MI-6! Is your business model that simple as well? Who pays you, for what and in what timeframe?

#4 Never Give Up: Even if it seems hopeless, James Bond never give up. And at the end of the day this attitude saves several times the world. In the startup-life you go through good and bad times. But you should never, never, never give up. This differentiate the winner from the “second winner”.

(Cutline: Never, never, never give up! / Image Credits: Sony Pictures) 

#5 Gadgets: “Q”, the genius engineer from the MI-6, allways comes up with the most innovative gadgets. What kind of innovative gadgets do you use for your startup success?

(Cutline: ”Q” with some gadgets. / Image Credits: American Inventors)