Small Business 2.0

How to create a motivated hi-tech start-up team with zero investment Jan Horna, HorMart

Internet changes everything
There is something going on outside on the internet.
Masses are starting to use the internet as a platform.
The virtual world is changing the way the real one works.
There is an increasing demand for a new kind of (useful) web services (Web 2.0).
We need knowledge and skills together with experience in order to build such solutions.

Who's got the needed potential?
Among college students there is a number of talents who can become powerful workers.
Many of them will be looking for a job after finishing the college.
What if they would like to establish their own business?
Do they have enough experience to proceed?

Concept of a virtual company
The new virtual company consists of two IT students (web developers) and one experienced project/product manager (me).
Each student holds 33% stake in the virtual enterprise.
A written contract will be signed as a full guarantee of the agreement.
If the company succeeds, the virtual company transforms into a brand-new real business entity where each student owns 33% share.

How does the company operate?
Company’s mission is to develop Web 2.0 services and place them on the global market.
Students work from home and meet up with the manager once/twice a week (in Brno) to check the project progress and define deliverables.
HorMart s.r.o. acts on behalf of the virtual company in the real world (paying bills, invoicing etc.).

What services will be developed?
This is the subject of non-disclosure but there are already several services ready to be developed .
In principal the web services should target preferably niche and vertical markets.
The services should not wait for customers. Instead the services will be coming to users with the help of social networks and widgets.
The real world and Web 2.0 integration matters.
Applications should serve outputs as structured as possible (microformats). Be prepared for the semantic web.
Interface language will be always English.

Timeline
Generally the virtual company project runs a few months up to one year.
It might start anytime during the year.
The solution design and application development follow.
The goal is to place the service on the market as soon as possible.
Is the business model viable? How much are total month revenues? Are we growing?

Show me the money
General calculations predicts approx. $100 000 revenue in the first year.
In the third quarter revenues exceed future salary expenses (based on the local IT expert average income).
Figures may vary depending on a given service.

Success criteria
Detailed success criteria should be based on a mutual agreement .
Tips: let’s take into account the revenues in last three months. Would they cover eventual salaries for the three-member team?
How does the comparison of month-to-month (revenue) growth look like? Is the growth steady?

Developer requirements
The offer is primarily suited for computer science students who are going to graduate within a year or two.
It is expected to be familiar with latest web development trends (AJAX, API, widgets, mash-up, microformats) and Win (.NET/MS SQL) or Linux (PHP/MySQL) technologies.
Samples of completed web apps (links) strongly welcome.
Advanced knowledge of English

Pros and cons
No initial investment needed. No entry barrier.
There is no major risk of loss.
Collected payments will transform into the basic capital of the new real business.
A full support of HorMart s.r.o. (scalable web hosting, marketing and public relations)

My role/profile
My task is to suggest useful web service.
I create the basic design of the service.
My responsibility includes managing the team and the entire project and bringing the service into life.
I own 34% share of the virtual company (the same regards the new real business).
7-year experience in web hosting and application industry with the focus to both technology and markets.
Also active as a freelance writer and blogger.

Contact me - Jan Horna, HorMart s.r.o.
Questions? del.icio.us/hormart del.icio.us: www.linkedin.com/in/janhorna LinkedIn: www.facebook.com/p/Jan_Horna/669384918 Facebook: www-webhosting.cz Blog: www.hormart.cz Web site: [email_address] E-mail: janhorna Skype: +420 777 233966 Phone:

http://www-webhosting.cz	216
http://www.brnopolis.eu	39
http://web2-0.cz	3
http://www.slideshare.net	1

Small Business 2.0

by Jan Horna on Dec 05, 2007

Accessibility

Categories

Tags

Upload Details

Usage Rights

4 Embeds 259

Statistics

Small Business 2.0 — Presentation Transcript