One of the most common questions I’m asked by startups is what are the best tools other startups have used to help them set up and run their companies. With the workload mounting on my own desk, I went out to ask current SETsquared members for their thoughts. After all, they are the driving force of their companies, managing businesses, growing teams and fundraising at the same time.
“Time management trick: Saying ‘no'”
I was intrigued what is their favourite business app they can’t live without, what is their best time management tip they could share and who keeps them inspired. Here is what I gathered:
Rob Hutton, co-founder of Trimetis
Favourite business app: Xero – Get a real-time view of your cashflow
Time management trick: Schedule time for everything in your calendar (with purpose), even thinking time, and especially taking breaks (lunch, run, walk)
Business hero: Dr Gary A Klein (my mentor, ex-colleague and friend), pioneer of decision making/thinking skills in business/work.
David Gilroy, CEO of Conscious Solutions
Favourite business app: Slack – Team communication for the 21st century
Time management trick: Write down your top five things to do each morning. Do No.1 until it’s done or you can do no more. Do NOT open email until No.1 is ‘done’
Business hero: Kim Hare, Kaizen Training
Gareth Williams, Founder and CEO of Yellowdog
Favourite business app: Excel
Time management trick: A single prioritised to-do list accessible on every device I own.
Business hero: Seth Godin
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Emily Kent, Co-Founder of My Action Replay
Favourite business app: Receipt Bank – For massively reducing the hassle of paper accounts
Time management trick: Outsourcing our payroll to our accountants and using Hipchat when the team are working remotely
David Standingford, Director at Zenotech
Favourite business app: Xero (I’m passionate about cash!)
Time management trick: Saying “no”
Business hero: Peter Jones (Dragon’s Den) – business savvy techie
William Britton, Founder and CEO of Inclusive Media Solutions
Favourite business app: Slack
Time management trick: Google Calendar – syncing up my calendar across all devices and sharing it across platforms etc.
…and my own…
Monika Radclyffe, Centre Director at SETsquared
Favourite business app: Slack & CamCard (business card scanning)
Time management trick: Scheduling everything, limiting email time, post-it notes as to-do lists
Business hero: Elon Musk
If you’d like to learn more about SETsquared, officially the world’s best university incubator, then you can visit the SETsquared website or follow them on Twitter @SETsquared
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