I'm developing a website and mobile app that connects customers with local businesses. My challenge is that I need merchants to sign up before I can launch. How can I get merchants to sign up as beta testers or early adopters?

I suggest you do a beta test in one city or even one part of a city and just go door to door and pitch them. Many others have done this, including our portfolio company Thinknear.

you type:	you see:
italics	italics
* item 1 * item 2 * item 3	item 1 item 2 item 3
1. item 1 2. item 2 3. item 3	item 1 item 2 item 3
Paragraphs are separated by one or more blank lines: The first paragraph. Another paragraph.	The first paragraph. Another paragraph

I'm developing a website for young people 16-24 and stuck on a domain name. One of your fellow experts said do not use numbers ie 16 24 as users are confused and may write ...

Answered by Joe Stump – Founder of SimpleGeo.

I use a thesaurus and Wiktionary's translations to find cool words that are easy to pronounce in other languages. I'm also a big fan of non-.com domains. (more)

Hi Jen. I am developing a product and when it is done I would like to send out a "press release" (hate that term) to some small, niche blogs and publications. I would like ...

Answered by Jen Evans – Founder, Sequentia Environics Posted in Marketing

You can find some tips in some of my previous answers; seems this is a challenge many entrepreneurs are looking to solve! To summarize: don't wait to build the relationship... (more)

Mark, I am developing a website on my own, with limited skill it is proved daunting. How can you find a partner, you can give hypothetical equity to in return for work?

Answered by Mark MacLeod – Partner, Real Ventures Posted in Management

Depends on where you are, but there are many cities that have events geared towards finding co-founders. Here in Montreal, we have "co-founder" Mondays put on by a local ac... (more)

I'm in a startup which is about to launch. My best friend/business partner and I owns 80% together. The remaining 20% is with our board, employees and our business angel. I...

Answered by Mark Suster – Partner, GRP Partners

Ugh. I hate to hear that. Sorry. It's why I'm not a huge believer in starting with co-founders. Get a lawyer. You need to understand your options before taking next st... (more)

If i have a very innovative idea for a new electronic device that facilitates every day life and has a consumer market aimed towards anyone with a house hold and another fo...

Answered by Tim Berry – Founder of Palo Alto Software Posted in Marketing Money Product Development

You're in luck you have the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Florida (http://warrington.ufl.edu/fire/entrepreneurship/cei/) and that's your f... (more)

Sign up for Sprouter