the startups.com platform about startups.comCheck out the new Startups.com - A Comprehensive Startup University

Categories

Browse Search

Loading...

Clarity

Douglas Craver

Cleveland, Ohio

An entrepreneur with a hyper-focus on hiring right, managing risk, and reducing waste for the startups/ESVs I work in, coach, advise and invest in. 3 tech exits, one in 2014, one in 2016, one in 2022 + too many failures to list.

Creating value by sharing my knowledge and building ventures with smart people. International experience working with founders and their startups from India to South Africa and in-between.

$4.17/min

3

3 Calls

19

19 Reviews

38 minutes
Avg. call

Lean Startups Entrepreneur Cross-functional Team Leadership Early-stage Startups Agile Project Management Culture Building Technical Recruiting Exit Strategies Start-up Operations Onboarding

Answers 5
Reviews 19

Answers

Douglas Craver answered

Do I need a prototype to sell my app idea?

Yes. Otherwise, you'll waste too much time trying to get your idea across. Speed is your friend.

Schedule a call • Share • Flag

Business Strategy

Douglas Craver answered

What would be the promising business model for 2021?

Any business model that is sustainable through a pandemic is the only one I would consider. Make sure you start something that won't need bailed out by your government. And with cyber terrorism on the rise your systems better be as secure as possible.

Schedule a call • Share • Flag

Business Development

Business planning

Business Strategy

Douglas Craver answered

As a niche start-up, how do you price company related swag for your customers?

What are you solving for by offering company related swag?

Schedule a call • Share • Flag

Marketing Strategy

Douglas Craver answered

Should I keep finding a co-founder or continue working on the startup?

Continue working on your startup. Finding a co-founder is over rated and doesn't solve any problems. Believe in attraction vs increasing the risk and waste in your startup by looking for a co-founder.

Schedule a call • Share • Flag

Early-stage Startups

Founder

bootstrapping

Douglas Craver answered

As a startup, is it better to find a way to pay for services (i.e. design) or trade equity for it?

Pay. You'll only increase risk and waste by compensation with equity. Plus you cheapen your venture.

Schedule a call • Share • Flag

Early-stage Startups

Start-ups

Equity Funding

Reviews

Doug was able to give me good advice on several complex topics and a shot of positivity that I sorely needed as a battle fatigued entrepreneur.

Jay Rice Source: Clarity

Doug has helped me on many occasions with business thinking, idea generation and has always encouraged me to test and validate ideas before jumping in. He also has a wealth of experience and strategies to grow and market businesses. I would recommend him to any entrepreneur!

Parag Jagdale Source: LinkedIn

Doug is an exceptional out-of-the-box thinker, while at the same time has an extraordinary knack for understanding mission-critical objectives and how to meet them. He understands the digital marketing space like few others, very completely and holistically.

Doug was instrumental in getting our online presence launched and nurtured. He's an invaluable asset to any organization in the tech space.

Mike Mouser Source: LinkedIn

Doug has been a great startup coach. He helped us aligned our strategic thinking and assisted with finding creative ways for us to validate our product and re-iterate it quickly. To do so, a start-up needs to be laser focused without doing it with blinders on, and Doug has been instrumental in guiding us in that process.

Donna Lee Source: LinkedIn

Doug is a wise, straight-talking advisor with a lot of experience helping people start and grow companies. He is a good listener. He combines what he hears with what he knows and is able to provide valuable counsel to those who need it. Even with his vast experience, he sees every situation with fresh eyes. He avoids making assumptions and therefore can design strategies that are custom fit to current needs. He has a great mind. I highly recommend him.

Ryan Wooley Source: LinkedIn

“I met Doug to validate my thought process for my third start-up in B2B eCommerce space. Over lunch, Doug came up with several different approaches for market validation and product differentiation. He has considerable understanding and experience of interactive eCommerce market place, and it showed in the insights he shared. Doug is a great resource.”

Mukul Mehta Source: LinkedIn

Doug is one of the most knowledge professionals I had the pleasure working with. At Realeflow, Doug was the ultimate problem solver, using his vast knowledge of the internet to quickly solve our technology needs. What makes Doug unique is his ability to provide start-ups with the tools for success. When I require guidance, Doug is the first person I contact. I considered him a true professional, along with a mentor and friend.

Jim Masie Source: LinkedIn

I have had the pleasure of working with Doug on several occasions and consider him a trusted advisor and expert on many business related subjects. Doug is one of the most creative, business savvy guys I know and I would highly recommend him for any position or project that calls for an honest, intelligent, experienced, all around good guy.

Taylor Nipper Source: LinkedIn

Doug did a tremendous job for me at Realeflow and helped us set the foundation for our INC 500 award last year. He has an uncanny ability to see the future and where things are going and even more importantly how to take advantage of them. I would highly suggest working with Doug if you get the chance.
Greg Clement CEO Realeflow/App Giraffe

Greg Clement Source: LinkedIn

Doug refined our approach making it simpler and more efficient. He's knowledgeable yet thoughtful and considerate with an impressive ability to communicate cutting edge technology in strategic layman's terms.

Chris Waddell Source: LinkedIn

Doug has an amazing mind for marketing, technology and is an information guru! He has a great personality and has a light-hearted way of making everyone around him feel comfortable. He studies his environment and ready knows what he is talking about. I could listen to Doug for hours talk about technology and his insights are always dead on accurate and almost prophetic. I worked on creative projects with Doug while he mixed the social habits and modern trends of the day to accurately produce amazing trigger point results. He really knows what he is talking about!

Michael Gorfido Source: LinkedIn

Member since May 2012