Entrepreneurship Success Guide

The Pentagon Just Handed American Drone Startups a $1 Billion Golden Ticket On July 10, SECDEF dropped a memo that changes everything for drone manufacturers. Combined with Trump's June 6 executive order, we're witnessing the most radical shift in defense procurement since World War II. Here's what just happened:  The Pentagon ripped up years of red tape that kept innovative companies out of defense contracts. Now they're treating small drones (under 55 pounds) like ammunition - expendable, mass-produced, and urgently needed. The numbers are staggering: • Every Army squad gets attack drones by FY2026 • Production target: Millions of units annually • Weaponization approvals: Cut from years to 30 days • Battery certifications: Down to one week For companies eyeing this opportunity, here's your roadmap: Step 1: Compliance First (Immediate) Ensure NDAA compliance - zero Chinese components. Review the Blue UAS Framework. This isn't negotiable. One foreign chip kills your entire opportunity. Step 2: Prototype Fast (12-18 months) Build modular systems under 55 pounds. Think swappable payloads for ISR or strike missions. The 18 prototypes showcased on July 17 averaged 18 months of development vs. the traditional 6 years. Step 3: Get Certified (Ongoing) Apply to DIU's Blue UAS program. This is your fastest path to approved vendor status. The memo expands this list with AI-managed updates coming in 2026. Step 4: Find Your Entry Point (30-90 days) • Respond to the Army's July 8 solicitation for low-cost systems • Partner with established primes as a subcontractor • Target frontline units are now empowered to buy directly Step 5: Scale Smart (By 2026) Secure private funding. Explore DoD purchase commitments. Participate in the new drone test zones launching in 90 days. The brutal reality? We're playing catch-up. China produces 90% of commercial drones globally. But that's precisely why this opportunity exists. The Pentagon needs American manufacturers desperately. Watch for these challenges: • Supply chain constraints for non-Chinese components • Fierce competition from AeroVironment and Kratos • Higher production costs vs. Chinese competitors • Maintaining cybersecurity while moving fast Stock prices tell the story - drone companies surged 15-40% after the announcement. Private capital is flooding in. America is building a new arsenal, and drones are the foundation. If you have manufacturing capability, AI expertise, or can build at scale, this is your Manhattan Project moment. The difference? This time, we know exactly what we're building and why. The window is open. But it won't stay that way.

Thinking of entering defence? Good. But read this first, or get crushed. You’re not building a startup. You’re entering a war zone with Excel sheets instead of bullets. And here’s the first landmine: Defence doesn’t care about you. Not until you matter. And by the time you matter, it might be too late. So here’s your brutal, field-tested playbook 👇 🔻 1. Run a Dual-Use Strategy or Die Trying Don’t “pivot into defence.” Don’t “add military as a target customer.” Build something with teeth in both markets — or you’ll starve while waiting 24 months for a MoD reply. Dual-use = survival. Omni-use = dominance. 🔻 2. Your Actual Competitor? Paper. You're not fighting primes. You're fighting outdated workflows, 94-page requirement PDFs, and evaluation committees who’ve never used the tech. You’re not selling innovation. You’re selling the idea that innovation should exist. 🔻 3. Never Ask for Feedback — Ask for Budget Lines Everyone will “love” what you’re doing. They’ll invite you to panels, workshops, incubators. None of that pays your team. Ask: “Which budget pays for this in Q4?” If they can’t answer, walk. 🔻 4. Find a Uniformed Insider, or You’re Screwed No matter how good your pitch is, you need a believer inside the system. Someone who speaks procurement and can say, “This solves my mission.” Without that: enjoy limbo. 🔻 5. If You’re Not Testable, You’re Not Real Defence doesn’t buy PowerPoints. You need a testable MVP fast. No test = no traction. No traction = no procurement route. No route = you're just theatre. 🔻 6. The First Deal Will Break You It’s slow. It’s painful. It’ll take months, maybe years. But once you break the wall once, you become “pre-approved.” Then the real business begins. 🔻 7. Ignore All of This If You're Building Slideware This advice is only for builders. For founders ready to live in uncertainty, raise from niche VCs, and get 50 no’s before one test flight. If you're not all-in: stay in SaaS. This is the most misunderstood opportunity of our time. Europe is waking up. The U.S. is doubling down. And the next industrial revolution will wear camouflage. Startups who learn the terrain will dominate. Speed. Testability. Dual-use. Insider access. That’s your survival kit. Use it. #DefenceStartups #DualUse #InnovationInDefence #OmniUse #MilitaryTech #InsiderIntel #BoldMovesOnly #WakeUpEurope

When starting a business, here's my advice. Build an Minimum Viable Product (MVP) with minimal capital expenditure (CAPEX) and low operational expenditure (OPEX). Your cash outlay at the beginning very much determines the longevity of your business. Certain businesses do require cash to start because it needs a physical presence. In most cases, this might be a retail store, or a restaurant. The thing is, do you need to start big, or do you start small - test, iterate, and build from there? Case in point, my friend Debby used to run a lifestyle business, Indiigo Culture, that connected Southeast Asian designers to the world by getting them online. While the goods they sold were physical - clothes, jewelry, fashion accessories etc., she did not have a physical storefront. Rather, she ran pop-ups (once very happily at Jekyll & Hyde), and kept inventory to a certain level. In this way, there was no fixed cost for rental and inventory, and allowed her to scale up and/or scale down the business as desired and required. And, in the same way, building an MVP and seeing your level of success before scaling can be a very powerful exercise, and also save your wallet in the long run. 🥞 If you think you have a great food concept, do a pop up with a restaurant or bar, try out home dining, or start small with delivery. 🎁 If you think your retail idea might go great, start by selling online, and selling your items at pop up events, build your social media presence and see how people interact with the brand 🎉 If you want to host an event, start with 10 or 15 or 20 people. Are people signing up and attending? Are they willing to pay the price point you have set? I wish I had known this and thought about doing this before buying over an entire bar business. But, lessons learned, and I'm now sharing it with you. Starting a business doesn't mean you need to go all-in from day one. By doing so, you can gauge interest, tweak your offerings, and build a sustainable business model. This approach not only conserves your resources but also sets a solid foundation for future growth. Work smart, stay agile, and be adaptable. Learn from every step, and your business will have a much better chance of thriving in the long run. #entrepreneurship #business #lessons

Something everyone needs to know about... The F-E-A-R Paradox. Fear isn't going anywhere. It's a basic defence mechanism, and it's there to keep you safe. But if you don't understand it, it can end up controlling you... Instead of fueling you. Most people perceive fear as a warning sign telling them to stop. But it can also be a signal pointing towards growth. Some people see fear and run. Others see fear and rise. It's the same feeling, with two vastly different outcomes. In practice, fear shows up in the moments that matter most. - The investor pitch you're avoiding. - The sales call you're putting off. - The hard conversation with your co-founder. Every high performer I've known has leaned into these moments.  Because they've learned to reframe what fear actually means. The F-E-A-R Paradox teaches three critical lessons. First, reframe the signal. Fear usually points directly to the thing that will grow you.  If you're scared to do it, that's often a sign you probably should. The question isn't "how do I eliminate fear?"  It's "what is this fear trying to tell me?" Second, shrink the step. Fear is louder when the task feels massive.  Break it down into the smallest possible move forward. Don't think about launching the business.  Think about sending one email today. Finally, detach the outcome. The fear of failing is heavier than failure itself.  Shift the goal from "succeed" to "take action." Success compounds when you stop protecting your ego,   And start protecting your progress. After building and scaling businesses for over a decade,  I've faced my fair share of fear. I've had pitches go sideways.  Launches that completely flopped.  Times when our systems completely fell apart. And I'm grateful for those moments. Every single one taught me a lesson I never would have learned playing it safe. So, I urge you to adopt the F-E-A-R Paradox: Reframe the signal, shrink the step, and detach from outcomes. Your comfort zone is not where growth and success take place.  It's always in the things you fear doing. Face fear, and rise. What's one thing you've been avoiding because of fear? Let me know in the comments below. For more frameworks that help you reframe your mindset,  And build the life you want... My weekly newsletter, Step by Step, is a great resource. Join 200k+ builders already learning. Subscribe here:  https://lnkd.in/eUTCQTWb ♻️ Repost this to help others in your network face their fear.  And follow Chris Donnelly for more personal development insights. 

Here’s a conversation I have way too often, and I wish I didn't. Me: Tell me about your Amazon launch plan. Brand: We'll launch our product and run ads. Me: How many reviews do your competitors have? Brand: Most have 500-2000. We'll get there eventually. Me: That approach won't work... Brand: What do you mean? Our product quality is great, much better than the competition. (except with no reviews, who would know that!) Me: Imagine you're walking through a flea market. What makes you stop at one stall versus another? Brand: The one that catches my eye, I guess. Me: Exactly. On Amazon, reviews are a MASSIVE part of "catching your eye." I won't even click a listing with 3 reviews. Most customers won't either. Brand: So what's the solution? Me: Math. If 3-5% of customers leave reviews, work backward. You need a strategy to drive significant sales volume early. Brand: But we can't afford to sell at a loss. Me: Your first 6 months aren't about profit. They're about becoming relevant in your category. Brand: How do we know when we're relevant? Me: If your competitors have 40,000 reviews, you need thousands to compete. If they have 1,000, you might only need 500. Brand: There has to be a shortcut... Me: The only shortcut is strategy. Aggressive pricing, lightning deals, subscribe & save, outside promotion. Your goal is to drive volume until you hit your review threshold. Brand: What about influencers? Me: Now you're thinking! If customers get social proof from trusted influencers, they rely less on Amazon reviews. It's all about building trust somewhere. The conversation has shifted MANY strategies. The truth is, there's no hack for Amazon success. But there is strategy. And strategy beats hope every time. Launch strategy matters → incrementumdigital.com

One of my mentees asked me which soft skills I think entrepreneurs should pay more attention to and the practical activities I have recommended over the years (and undertook myself) to enhance them. Not an exhaustive list. No silver bullet. Life as an entrepreneur is a never-ending learning journey to improve oneself a little bit more every day. Curious if you have other suggestions. 1) Emotional Intelligence - Feedback Gathering: Reflect on emotional reactions & adjust behavior - Journaling: Document your feelings after key decisions or events - Mindfulness Meditation: Helps in recognizing & managing emotions - Engage in Role-Playing: Play out difficult scenarios with a coach or trusted colleague 2) Resilience and Grit - Set Stretch Goals: Goals that push you beyond your current capabilities - Failure Analysis: Analyze what went wrong & strategize for the future - Positive Affirmations: Remind yourself of your strengths & abilities, especially during challenging times - Regularly Read Biographies: Learn how successful entrepreneurs overcame their challenges - Join an Entrepreneur Support Group: Share challenges and solutions 3) Adaptability - Scenario Planning: Consider various future scenarios for your business - Rotate Roles: Temporarily swap job roles within your team - Continuous Learning: About new industries or technologies - Travel: Expose yourself to new cultures and environments - Attend Cross-Industry Conferences: Broaden horizons beyond your field 4) Communication Skills - Public Speaking Workshops: Enhance your ability to articulate ideas and inspire/engage teams - Write Regularly: Hone your ability to communicate complex concepts succinctly and clearly - Seek Feedback on Communication: Particularly after presentations or meetings 5) Negotiation Skills - Negotiation Workshops: improve negotiation strategies & understand different negotiation styles - Role-Play Negotiation Scenarios: With a colleague or coach - Analyze Past Negotiations: Reflect on what went well & what could be improved - Read Books on Negotiation: Regularly update yourself with new techniques - Seek Mentorship 6) Networking - Attend Industry Events - Set Regular Networking Goals: Such as meeting X new people a month - Follow-Up Practice: Send thank-you notes or emails after meetings - Join Entrepreneurial Organizations - Host Events: Establish yourself as a connector in your industry 7) Conflict Resolution - Conflict Resolution Training: Acquire techniques to mediate & resolve disputes effectively - Mediation Practice: Act as a neutral party in team disputes to find common ground & solutions - Seek Feedback on Conflict Handling: After resolving disputes 8) Active Listening - Practice Reflective Listening: Engage in conversations where you actively reflect or summarize what the other party is saying - Avoid Multitasking: During meetings or conversations. - Seek Feedback on Listening Skills: Particularly from direct reports Image by macrovector on Freepik

🚨 The Real Impact of the TikTok Ban - 5 Days to Go Let's cut through the noise. While many on LinkedIn dismiss TikTok as Gen Z's playground, the platform's impact on the US economy is staggering. You may view it as a tool for timewasting and doom scrolling - Oxford University Press even announced "Brain rot" as the word of 2024.... I'm not a constitutional lawyer, but as a marketer here's what we're about to lose: 1️⃣ Creator Economy 💡 Not just dance trends - we're talking about a revolution in content creation. 1M+ American creators have built legitimate businesses through TikTok's game-changing algorithm. Unlike Instagram or YouTube, TikTok's content-first approach, in-app editing tools and immersive viewing experience, means anyone can go viral based on quality, not follower count. That's democratized creativity at scale. 2️⃣ Commercial Impact 📈 The numbers are mind-blowing: $24B contributed to US GDP. 224,000 American jobs. 7M+ small businesses thriving. TikTok has become the most cost-effective marketing tool for entrepreneurs - turning mom-and-pop shops into viral sensations overnight. Those empty "TikTok Made Me Buy It" sections at Target? That's not coincidence, that's impact. 3️⃣ Cultural Transformation 🌟 Forget perfectly curated feeds. TikTok sparked a authenticity revolution in social media. Raw, honest, unfiltered content is winning. It's not just changing how we consume content - it's reshaping how brands connect with customers, how stories are told, and how communities are built. Watch my 60-second breakdown for the full picture 👇 Love it or hate it, this ban affects more than your social scroll. What's your take? #TikTokBan #CreatorEconomy #Marketing #TIkTok

This pani puri vendor makes ₹5-8 lakhs per month. Without fancy apps. Without VC funding. Without a tech team. Just street-smart hustle and smart decisions. I met him outside a college campus where he started, with just one small cart selling pani puri for ₹30 a plate. Here’s the full story: - Started in 2018 with 1 cart, serving 300 plates daily. - Today, he runs 5 carts in high-footfall areas, each serving 350 plates daily. - That’s 1,750 plates every day, or roughly 50,000 plates a month. - With an average price of ₹30, that’s ₹15 lakhs gross revenue per month. - After paying wages for 15 college students (on shifts), raw materials, rent, and other costs, he nets about ₹5-8 lakhs monthly. What’s fascinating is how he scaled without typical startup “advantages”: 1️⃣ Zero funding, zero fancy tech. No investors, no app. Just QR codes for fast ordering, simple tech that cuts queue time by 30%. 2️⃣ Smart hiring = low fixed costs. By hiring college students on shifts, he slashes labour costs by 30% compared to full-time staff. 3️⃣ Branding that builds trust. A clean, branded cart increased repeat customers by 40%, proving that even street food benefits hugely from perceived quality. 4️⃣ Hyper-focused customer experience. Fast service, hygiene, and tasty pani puri made him the go-to spot for thousands daily. Now here’s the insight for anyone building or scaling a business: - You don’t need to chase the latest tech or burn cash on marketing. - Solve a clear, simple problem better than anyone else. - Use tech smartly, not for the sake of tech. - Build a brand — even a street food brand — to create trust and repeat business. - Use flexible staffing to keep overheads low and scale sustainably. This guy’s monthly ₹5-8 lakh net income beats many Zomato-listed cloud kitchens that spend lakhs on ads and app development but miss out on these basics. As a founder and product guy, this is a masterclass in product-market fit and operational excellence done the right way. No pitch decks. No boardrooms. Just a parking spot, some pani puri, and relentless hustle. So, what’s your “one cart” idea that you can start now? Share your thoughts, I’d love to hear your hustle stories! #Entrepreneurship #BootstrappedSuccess #HustleSmart #SmallBusinessBigDreams #MSMEIdeas #StartupJourney #SimpleWins #RealIndia

The Key to Success: Preparation Over Timing ⚡🌍 When I first entered the clean tech and microgrid space, I didn’t wait for the “perfect timing.” Instead, I focused on preparing for the opportunities that would eventually come. Here’s the truth I’ve learned: Luck is important, but you need to be ready for when it strikes. Here’s how I positioned myself to succeed: 1) Build the Skills Before You Need Them 🛠️ I didn’t wait for the clean energy boom to be obvious. I was already learning, networking, and building expertise long before the market caught up. I was selling energy efficiency in homes. My success there allowed me to move to C&I. My success there led me to aggregate demand response customers for Lockheed. I made money, but nowhere near the money these companies made off of my work. I was learning and growing my skills and network. 2) Position Yourself Where Lightning Strikes ⚡ By attending the right conferences, forming partnerships, and building relationships in clean energy, I ensured I was at the forefront when demand spiked. The public power safety power shutoffs (PSPS) were the first lightning that hit when PG&E began shutting off power because of the wildfires. Now, wildfire season in CA is year-round! 3) Be Ready When Opportunity Knocks 🚪 Opportunity doesn't always announce itself in advance. It’s about being prepared when it comes knocking. In 2017, Jigar Shah and I would have regular calls about "stuff," and in Sept, he said, "AJ, I need you to build microgrids, and my company (Generator Capital) will finance them." This was because he knew the PSPS was coming and wanted to make sure we could support the businesses and communities when it happened. 4) Don't Wait for “Perfect Timing” ⏳ Perfect timing doesn’t exist. It’s about positioning yourself and seizing the moment when it comes—because it will come. Microgrids have been around for a long time, but there wasn't a real plug-n-play solution. Many didn't even want to deal with the one-off nature of each deal, but if you keep yourself in the mix, showing that you are a problem solver, that gives you an edge. The Key Takeaway You don’t need perfect timing to succeed in business. You need preparation and positioning. What you do with the opportunities that come your way defines your success. What’s your secret to success in entrepreneurship?

The best founders I know share more than ambition. They share a mindset. A recent Entrepreneur Media called out emotional intelligence, risk tolerance, and resilience as core traits of successful leaders, and I couldn’t agree more. These qualities help entrepreneurs stay steady under pressure, lead through ambiguity, and keep teams aligned when the future is still unfolding. From my own experience building and scaling startups, I’d add two more: 1. Adaptability: The strongest founders know when to shift. Whether it’s adjusting the roadmap or responding to customer feedback, they move with clarity and purpose. 2. Curiosity: Great leaders stay open. They ask questions, explore new ideas, and seek feedback, even when it’s uncomfortable, because they know real progress often starts with hard questions. When founders lead with this mindset, they build stronger teams, make better decisions, and lead with more confidence through every stage of growth. What traits have you seen make the biggest difference for today’s entrepreneurial leaders? https://lnkd.in/gFUefF89 #Entrepreneur #Founder #Leadership