ReadWriteWeb

Last week, Alex Williams posted a list in ReadWriteWeb's Cloud Computing channel of the "!0 Common Mistakes Made by API Providers." Alex's post points to some of the problems that occur in both the technical and the business realms of API development. In the case of the latter, he lists "Poor Community Management" and "Not Recognizing the API as a Core Line of Business" as common business-related errors.

The API has long been seen as a cornerstone of BizDev 2.0, a term coined by Hunch co-founder Caterina Fake. But parallel perhaps to the misconception that "if you build (a product), they will come," is the notion that simply because you've developed an API for your business that you have, in fact, upgraded your business development to that 2.0 level.

Any frequent reader of ReadWriteWeb should know that mobility is one of the most significant trends we've been tracking. One thing we haven't discussed much in the realm of mobile, however, is how startups and entrepreneurs can take advantage and prepare themselves for a venture into mobile. Today I spoke with Steve Eisenberg, a business development consultant for MRN Digital Media, and he was kind enough to share some insights that startups may find valuable before diving into the mobile market head-first.

Just because you've been in talks doesn't mean the deal is done. Entrepreneurs need to remain diligent about timelines in order to ensure that the deals they've set in motion actually come to fruition. If you're negotiating a term sheet, building a partnership or on the verge of an acquisition, get the papers signed. Legendary GRP VC investor Mark Suster has seen his fair share of successful deals, and he writes, "don't pop the champagne until the ink is dry on the contract and the money is in the bank."

With the Super Bowl less than a week away, I am reminded of 2002 and the New England Patriots, which defeated the St. Louis Rams and won the NFL title that year despite being labeled a clear underdog. During the player introductions, each Rams starter soaked up the limelight one after another. The Patriots however chose to enter the stadium as a team, waiving their rights to player-by-player introductions. The Patriots went on to shock the world by upsetting the talented Rams team, and ever since, Super Bowl teams have followed in their footsteps by entering the field as a team.

If you're an early-stage entrepreneur and this is your first startup company, you are not alone. Thousands are toiling over code in the hopes that their product will gain users and revenue. The problem with being someone who can build a great product is that you might know more about your core technology then you do about the business of startups. In the past few weeks ReadWriteWeb has covered emerging tech hubs in Israel, Austin and Boulder and the common thread amongst them is that each community encourages mentorship. Today we're looking at what you need to know to find a great mentor.

A website (whether a URL, domain, brand, etc.) is a place where the owner, individual visitor, and broader web community come together for a shared purpose. At first, the web adopted a feudal model of "place": owners held all the authority; they depended on the serfs (visitors) to extract value but allowed them no participation in governance, content, or presentation. That model has largely disintegrated.

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When publishing an API, there are two preparatory steps to take before jumping into implementation. First, create metrics for determining the success of your effort. Secondly, take a good look at what you already have so that you can find out what you need to do before you publish.