Small businesses can leverage technologies used by big competitors to gain competitive advantages like lower costs, faster operations, and more agile learning. They can use open technologies, APIs, and platforms from large companies to access features for free or low costs. Case studies show how companies like Mint.com licensed core technologies from large banks to launch new services more cheaply. Overall, leveraging available technologies allows small businesses to operate more leanly at a fraction of large companies' costs while moving faster and learning from customers more quickly.

1. Leveling the Playing Field Technologies to Help Small Businesses Beat Big CompetitorsDonna Wells, CEO - Mindflash

2. I’ve Enjoyed Both Perspectives

3. Big Guys: Can We Beat Them?

4. but YES!Others Might Not Think so…Big Businesses HaveMore TechnologyMore MoneyMore PeopleJu-Jitsu: Because striking against an armored opponent proved ineffective …techniques were developed using an attacker's energy against him, rather than directly opposing it.

5. Others Might Not Think so…But YES!Big Businesses HaveSmall Businesses CanMore TechnologyMore MoneyMore PeopleLeverage to get an edgeRun your business for a fraction of their costMove faster, learn faster

6. Leverage *Their* Technology

7. Leverage Competitor TechnologyTodayBig Co’s under pressure to get higher return from technology investmentGiving you access to free/low cost headstartOpen SourceAPI’sPlatforms

8. Leverage Case Study #1: Mint.comLeading provider of account aggregation software to large banksNo interest in B2C MarketLicenses core technology to increase return on $100 Million + investment

9. Leverage Case Study #1: Mint.comPatented expense categorizationPersonalized savings algorithmsBreakthrough design and ease-of-useOnline personal finance service launched in 2007Licensed Yodlee software for $’s per user

10. rLeverage Case Study #1: Mint.com

11. Leverage Case Study #2: MindflashLeading providers of content creation software for small businesses98% desktop presence

12. Leverage Case Study #1: MindflashBreakthrough online training app launched yesterdayNo new softwareAutomated course managementEasy-to-add QuizzesReal-time reportsAllows anyone to create a course in minutes

13. Leverage Case Study #2: Mindflash

14. API Resources

15. Run your business for a fraction of their cost

16. Finance/Billing*Lean StartUp Company* Shopping List Customer Service/ForumsRecruitingFinancial ForceFreshBooksNetSuiteZuoraSalesforce.comGet SatisfactionLinkedInJobScoreSolvateElegant.ly$100$500$999MarketingHR Dev Management$999$0-$999RallyJiraTriNetSuccess FactorsTaleo99 DesignsPardotAdWordsHubSpotSEOMozMail ChimpWordPress$999 Web HostingAmazon Web ServicesRightScaleSliceHost$4,000

17. Lean Strategy Impact on CostsTotal annual cost of running your business on great and inexpensive B2B SaaS applications? $70 to $120 K

18. In contrast ...

19. Running a lean company on these apps:

20. Reduces the amount of capital you need to raise

21. Retains equity for founders and employees

22. IMO, gives you faster and better insights into your customers, operations and business modelThe Catch? You’ve got to get DemandMore than Big Co’s, Small Businesses *have* to identify a real pain point … preferably one which costs the user real money

23. Have to get the Product right … ideally first-to-market with a Minimum Viable Product1

24. Have to have right Customer Development mindset,processes and technology to continually learn and improve21 Eric Ries, StartUpLessonsLearned.com2 Steve Blank, Four Steps to the Epiphany

25. Move Faster, Learn Faster

26. Collaboration*Lean Company* Shopping List Web AnalyticsResearchZoomerang

27. SurveyMonkey

28. HootSuite