Szycher's Practical Handbook of Entrepreneurship and Innovation

This practical and comprehensive handbook offers step-by-step instruction, guiding entrepreneurs of innovative technology startups all the way from idea to profitability. With its easy-to-follow format aimed at both experienced as well as novice entrepreneurs, this book covers all technical, financial, legal, and governmental hurdles facing startups. It discusses common causes of business failure and points out the pitfalls to avoid in getting innovative technology successfully to market.

Having conceptualized, financed, taken public, run three public companies and founded a sold a fourth over the last 40 years Dr. Szycher is a successful serial entrepreneur who has created substantial value for his shareholders over his career. As Chairman and/or CEO of these companies he was responsible for initial public offerings, acquisitions, product introductions, and spin-outs. To strengthen his capabilities as a entrepreneur and business executive he first obtained his MBA from Suffolk University, supplemented with a strong course of part-time study in business law at Massachusetts School of Law.

Section I Startups under the Microscope 1. Entrepreneurship and Innovation 2. External Factors Affecting the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem 3. Government Impact on Technology-Based Innovation 4. Entrepreneurial Venture Secret Sauce Section II Entrepreneurial Self-Assessment 5. Entrepreneurial Self-Starters 6. Entrepreneurial Personalities Section III Entrepreneurial Environment 7. Leadership Qualities 8. Communicating Value to Investors 9. Corporate Entrepreneurship 10. Marketing and Marketing Research on a Shoestring Section IV Classical Initial Decisions 11. Strategic Planning for Startups 12. Product·Market Fit 13. Growth strategies 14. Business Law 101 15. If You Cannot Innovate, Copy 16. Corporate Governance Guidelines Section V Exit Strategies, AKA Harvesting 17. Knowledge-Intensive Industries 18. Getting Your Company Ready for an Exit 19. Exit Strategies (Harvesting Options) 20. Alternative Exits: Selling Patents and Software 21. IPO Your Ultimate Exit Strategy