Below are excerpts and links to full article content that discusses software technology in the context of business strategy, business models and entrepreneurship rather than as pure technical articles. The articles were authored by or reference Thin Air Software principals.
SaaS: Amid growth of on-demand software, security and integration concerns remain
February 25, 2008 - On-demand software is making the advances that companies say are necessary for them to fully exploit it, said Geoff Bastow, CEO of Thin Air Software, a Milwaukee company that develops enterprise software-as-a-service products for companies throughout the U.S. - Read more...
In the business world, angel investing "commandments" are wise principles
December 3, 2007 - Making the process even more challenging is that the market does not always know what it wants. Studies have pointed out that in new software development, over 45 percent of features initially specified are never used and 19 percent are rarely used. That begs the question: Why are valuable resources being spent on features that have little market demand and that don't add true value to software? - Read more...
Will your company's next innovation be your next business?
September 18, 2007 - Most companies use innovation to create a new product offering, solve an internal operations problem or improve value delivered to the customer. But they keep their solutions within their businesses, ignoring the broad market appeal that often exists. Visionary CEOs, on the other hand, have been highly rewarded for taking those solutions to the market through corporate venturing strategies. - Read more...
Corporate venturing can nurture software success
May 31, 2007 - The most well known strategies under the corporate venturing umbrella are acquisitions in early-stage companies and joint ventures. Lesser known, but with high potential, are internally focused business creation strategies, or "internal corporate venturing" initiatives. Some are conducted informally as "skunk works" projects, ad hoc idea creation, or the pursuit of opportunity-driven innovation. - Read more...
Web-centric entrepreneurs find models that attract investment
November 10, 2006 - Five years removed from the dotcom bubble, when adolescent business models were scorching investors and questioning the value of the online world, new business models that investors find attractive are emerging. The models are both progressive in their cutting-edge approach to business and traditional in their adherence to financial realities. - Read more...
Performance: Technological advances must be part of strategic planning
October 12, 2006 - Business owners often ask about technology's strategic role in a business. Most companies would say that technology is not core to their business, but would say technology is "strategic" to their business. In Jim Collins' seminal book, "Good to Great," he addresses the role of technology in great companies by saying great companies adopt technology differently. "In great companies, technology is an accelerator, not a creator, of momentum." - Read more...
Leadership insights from co-founder of Yesmail
July 26, 2006 - At the dawn of the dot-com era and through its explosive, manic growth to its peak in March of 2000, Kenosha entrepreneur John Weiss was on center stage. He and his partners guided an Internet start-up to an IPO and eventual sale for more than $700 million in less than five years. - Read more...
