Essentials of Bootstrapping Workshop - NWEN
Thursday, June 26, 7:30 AM - 12:00 PM, Perkins Coie Offices, Seattle Nearly every start-up company goes through a period when cash is extremely tight and the demands of fueling the company’s growth are monumental. How many compelling ideas never make it to market because the entrepreneurs couldn’t keep their companies viable until they could receive substantial outside funding or become self-sustaining. Bootstrapping - the corporate version of “Europe on $10 a day” - is a critical and immensely useful skill that enables start-ups to stay alive until they can get traction. This workshop will provide you with the techniques you need to maximize early cash inflow and control cash outflow. In addition marketing, finance and legal experts, you will hear successful entrepreneurs talk about their real-life stories of bootstrapping their companies to success.
Speakers include entrepreneurs Steve McCracken of Culturemob, Janis Machala of Paladin Partners, David Chandler of vcfo, and guerilla marketing guru Theresa Adloch Smith and Perkins Coie attorneys Ben Straughan, Mark Metcalf and Linda Walton.

June Venture Breakfast by NWEN
Friday, June 13, 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM, Bellevue Harbor Club, Bellevue The Venture Breakfast provides a place where experienced entrepreneurs, new entrepreneurs, private investors, venture capitalists, accountants, bankers, lawyers, and many others in the entrepreneur community can meet. The breakfast meeting also features guest speakers you probably won't have an opportunity to hear anywhere else, who talk about issues specific to start-up companies. We have created an informal "small-town" atmosphere at the monthly breakfast that allows you to get to know the people who can help you in your business.
Cost: $25.00 for pre-registrations, $30.00 at the door. $40.00 for non-members. Register online or call (425) 564-5701

May Think Tank: Getting Your First Sales - NWEN

Tuesday, May 27, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Seattle University, Schaffer Auditorium
You have your product idea and built a prototype or even a functioning beta. Now it’s time to get your first sale! Sales is an art and a skill and critically important for the entrepreneurial venture. Our panel will share personal insights from their experiences in building sales channels and making sales for their companies. From how to develop your sales strategy to how to close the first big one, they have done it all. Come and learn from their experiences and benefit from the lessons that they have learned along the way. Panel members include: Rip Warendorf - Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Zango, Steve Brodie - Chief Product and Marketing Officer of Skytap, and Sally J. Vilardi - Co-Founder and President of Do My Reminders.

Cost: FREE to everyone
Register online or call (425) 564-5701

WSJ (Subscribe) just reported -  "Microsoft said that it is considering an agreement with Yahoo and  opened up the possibility that it would consider buying part of the Internet company".   It was pretty ironic that I was just having a cup of tea with one of the Microsoft employees and we were discussing how Microsoft can gain market share in online search market and since Yahoo is not agreeing to a merger they should look for some other alternative.  Ballmer must have overheard us (just kidding). 

But this new announcement from Microsoft definitely shows that the popular Game Theory is at work and Microsoft is really facing the Prisoner's dilemma in order to make any progress in their search business.  I think it is a good strategy.  They should definitely pursue it and with Icahn's proxy threat, Yahoo would be willing to give in while still allowing its founder keep his pride.  And it would be cheaper for Microsoft too.  Compared to hassles of integrating an entire enterprise, they will have to simply work together on one common goal, "Taking Google Out".  The only risk to Yahoo.  Microsoft may get the know how and eventually ditch them by leaving them no good.  But that can happen anyways if Yahoo is not into any kind of deal with anyone. 

Came across a good whitepaper  by Silicon Valley Product Group on writing a good PRD.  It adresses some of the common mistakes made by Product Managers while planning a product.  I think its worth a look.