Successful business owners understand the importance of cost-effectiveness. However, early stage companies shouldn’t cut corners on these three core elements.

Incubators & Accelerators vary widely making it difficult for the potential client to understand the differences between the two. Because of the applied variations related to the attributes within each, the differences are even somewhat difficult to explain.

Do you have an investor friendly executive summary? What does that mean for your business? Here’s a guide to avoid the purgatory of being non-fundable to startup investors.

Startup capital can come from various types of investors. Here are 4 types you may encounter and some tips on how to deal with each of them.

Funding not only provides financial backing for the entrepreneur, but also validates the startup’s concept. Here are 8 resources every beginning entrepreneur should explore for concept stage funding.

The quick answer is no, it is not unrealistic. In the article “8 Options Entrepreneurs Utilize for Startup Concept Funding” I discuss numerous funding options for concept companies to pursue.

Attending our hackathons doesn’t just make you a part of our community, but makes you a better entrepreneur with more opportunity.

The simple answer to the difficulties raised in this question is that establishing a startup is a full time endeavor. By definition one cannot work full time employed for a third party and full time in their startup.

If you are accepted into a formal accelerator program, you will not be able to leverage the benefits of the program unless you are available full time. Similarly, significant investment is unlikely from investors if the key founder is not working full time on the opportunity. Additionally, concept and seed level investors generally desire that the startup use investment proceeds to grow the endeavor, not pay salaries, i.e. your earning your sweat equity. That said, most are comfortable with subsistence salaries once the startup is demonstrating some traction. Note however that most investors will avoid startups with founders demanding six figure salaries unless they have significant sales and scalability which is proven.

We would suggest working part time on the startup while you save enough money to facilitate leaving your full time job and moving full time to the startup. Once that occurs, you will be able to focus on growing and accelerating the startup, regardless of process chosen.

FounderFuel has accelerated 67 companies since 2011, with 14 acquisitions, 13 shutdowns and the remaining in operation.

Each year, top early stage companies graduating from each of the nine accelerator programs in Tennessee are nominated to participate in The TENN, the state’s Master Accelerator Program. The nominees then enter a multi-tier screening process