Resources

We meet a fair number of first-time entrepreneurs who are trying their hardest to breathe life into a software application that may still be a nascent idea sketched on paper when we first see it.

It's entirely common for start-ups that have not yet found investors, or entrepreneurs who plan to bootstrap their product, to be operating with extremely limited budgets, but still hoping to get a complete software application built.

We love entrepreneurs! If we could just go ahead and build pro bono for every passionate and committed entrepreneur we meet, we'd probably do it. In the meantime, let us share some great tools that can help any first-time entrpreneur get an idea up and running.

Lean Startup and Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

If you are struggling with how on earth to get a first version of your software app or website up and running, and you aren't already with Eric Ries's concept of the Lean Startup, you'll be very glad to have made its acquaintance.

Check out Ries's blog and pay attention to the idea of the MVP (minimum viable product). Here's another site that gives a great introduction of what MVP is. Then come on back here and check out the list of nifty tools that can help you put together the first version of your app/website (and probably the 2nd, 3rd, 4th version etc., too).

Ries starts with an MVP that can be as minimal as a Google Ad, these tools are aimed at something a little more substantial, but which could still be put together in hours or days. They are not all free, but they are all affordable, robust tools

Tools We Like for Startups

• The LaunchBit Startup Guide (SaaS that "builds and tests your idea without programming.")
• FlairBuilder ("A cross-platform prototyping tool that helps you create interactive wireframes & prototypes faster, easier and with better results.")
• Lovely Charts (An easy-to-use application for creating "professional-looking diagrams of all kinds, such as flowcharts, sitemaps, business processes, organization charts, wireframes etc.")
• Wufoo (Not that you can't do a lot with forms in Google Docs, but Wufoo forms are seriously awesome! "Wufoo strives to be the easiest way to collect information over the Internet. Our form builder helps you create contact forms, online surveys, and invitations so you can collect the data, registrations and online payments you need without writing a single line of code.")
• Website ROI Calcuator from Smashing Magazine (Use the ROI calculator on your website for its entire lifecycle. Monitor your website or campaign's success. Learn more.)
• Animoto (Create terrific slide shows and montages to help demo your product.)
• Five Second Test ("Five Second Test helps you fine-tune your landing pages and calls-to-action by analyzing the most prominent elements of your design.)
• Notable ("Take any webpage screenshot, sketch or wireframe and exchange notes on specific details with your team...quickly reply, vote or suggest a better idea...arrive at the best solution in the shortest amount of time.")
• UserVoice ("You don't have enough VC money to take all your customers out for a latte. UserVoice can help you understand what your customers really want.")
• Concept Feedback ("Get website feedback and increase conversion rates with expert analysis, detailed recommendations and solutions you can implement today.")