About Startup Commons Platform
Many accelerator programs, university programs, student networks, startup events and other ecosystem stakeholders use Startup Commons Platform for their open and closed online startup, investor, and expert communities in connection to their own entrepreneurial and startup services
Together these communities include tens of thousands of quality startups, entrepreneurs, advisors, investors and other “startup people” - actively connecting and networking online locally and globally.
Via Startup Commons, this startup ecosystem infrastructure is now being made available for all other relevant organizations and groups within the startup ecosystem, to be able to tap into growing startup ecosystem online and start running their startup related activities on top of the ecosystem infrastructure.
Outline of the core infrastructure
The startup ecosystem infrastructure is a continuously growing and evolving infrastructure software solution (SAAS), where organizations can create and operate their own open or closed technology networks on top of the infrastructure to manage their own processes and activities related to the startup ecosystem.
Local ecosystems are globally connected to startup commons, which is also connected to global www.crowdvalley.com funding and crowdfunding infrastructure, making it possible to be connected to hundreds of global startup and funding platforms in addition to the national level benefits and connections. Support international growth is easier, when connected to international investors, crowdfunding services and broader funding markets.
In some regions there are regional or national key partners that carry the rights and manage the platforms in their region, where it’s also being continiously developed further in close cooperation with other local partner organizations. Typically this key role is best suited for universities, city or government organizations within the local startup ecosystem, as they have a long term view on the ecosystems development.
If you are interested to becoming a regional or national key partner, please contact us via our contact form.
Networks on top of the infrastructure
Networks are similar to whitelabel type of installations, but instead of being isolated installations, via networks, organizations can seamlessly connect their own startup ecosystem and processes online to be part of the local and global ecosystems. A network can be fully branded with organizations own logos and colors, have their own organizations rules for it’s members and customers, it can be open to join or require approval to access.
Within the network, organizations own network team can manage the activities related to startup ideas and companies, entrepreneur teams, investors and other people actively involved with startup activities. In the basic functions the network caters for networking between members, matchmaking, help in team-building activities, acts as a light CRM solution to help record the activities and more.
One organization can have multiple networks that can be linked together and in addition to linking together own networks, any network can also be linked together between different organizations by simple request and approve model, where decisions are made by network managers. There are three levels of linked network connections; own network, partner network and affiliated network, to serve different levels of connections.
Depending on the level of connections, organization information can be shared between the linked networks. Shared information can include projects, events, startup evaluation data and more. Shared information can be defined case by case and in addition to basic items available for sharing, custom features can be developed.
Users
Organization can define their own internal team of users that are called “Network Team”. They have access to organization internal area and tools. Network team members can operate, administer and moderate the network and network activities.
There are also different access levels available for Network Team members, depending on their more detailed role. These are; Network Author, Network Manager, Network Admin and Network Team Member.
Other users can register and request to join the network based on the rules that are set for the network. Depending on the rules and types of users they are they can become a member get access to organization networks, member area.
These other users like entrepreneurs, advisors, investors, service providers etc. requesting to join the network can be new in the platform or already being members in any of the other networks operated in the same platform infrastructure.
Registration and profiles
All users within the entire infrastructure need to only create single user account and profile to be able to login and operate within the entire ecosystem infrastructure globally depending on their access rights in different networks. Access levels are set within each network separately by the network team that can also define what information and features the user can see and have access to.
In addition to user profiles, startups have their own profiles, that are created and managed by the founding entrepreneur and the added startup management team and where the startup team members profiles are also linked.
With a single login and profiles (person and startup profiles) depending on the rules of the networks, users can join as members to multiple networks in the same infrastructure. Rules for each network are set by the network team.
The visibility of a startup profile in the network is defined by the startup team members. In addition the network team can turn off the visibility of the public profiles that are shown also to non-registered members.
Basic features for all the users:
Features for Organizations:
Platform development
The basic features of the platform are based on systematic and market tested development since the beginning of 2009, joined by multiple people that are part of global entrepreneurial and startup ecosystem in various different roles, including; entrepreneurs, investors, business advisors, organization managers from many parts of the world. The platform has been actively built in constant dialogue based on knowledge and operative processes of these peoples and organizations activities and daily work within the startup ecosystem.
Basic features are focused on processes and activities that cater for the majority of core functions by various roles and organizational needs within the ecosystem in a simplified and unified way, that helps to add efficiency, measurability, comparability and to take advantage of shared best practices between various organizations and roles within the entire ecosystem. The on-going development is on a solid and sustainable path towards the future, constantly improving and developing new features.
The following types of organizations evolving needs as part of the ecosystem are in the center of the general ongoing development.
Some of the recognized organization groups within the ecosystem are:
Together these communities include tens of thousands of quality startups, entrepreneurs, advisors, investors and other “startup people” - actively connecting and networking online locally and globally.
Via Startup Commons, this startup ecosystem infrastructure is now being made available for all other relevant organizations and groups within the startup ecosystem, to be able to tap into growing startup ecosystem online and start running their startup related activities on top of the ecosystem infrastructure.
Outline of the core infrastructure
The startup ecosystem infrastructure is a continuously growing and evolving infrastructure software solution (SAAS), where organizations can create and operate their own open or closed technology networks on top of the infrastructure to manage their own processes and activities related to the startup ecosystem.
Local ecosystems are globally connected to startup commons, which is also connected to global www.crowdvalley.com funding and crowdfunding infrastructure, making it possible to be connected to hundreds of global startup and funding platforms in addition to the national level benefits and connections. Support international growth is easier, when connected to international investors, crowdfunding services and broader funding markets.
In some regions there are regional or national key partners that carry the rights and manage the platforms in their region, where it’s also being continiously developed further in close cooperation with other local partner organizations. Typically this key role is best suited for universities, city or government organizations within the local startup ecosystem, as they have a long term view on the ecosystems development.
If you are interested to becoming a regional or national key partner, please contact us via our contact form.
Networks on top of the infrastructure
Networks are similar to whitelabel type of installations, but instead of being isolated installations, via networks, organizations can seamlessly connect their own startup ecosystem and processes online to be part of the local and global ecosystems. A network can be fully branded with organizations own logos and colors, have their own organizations rules for it’s members and customers, it can be open to join or require approval to access.
Within the network, organizations own network team can manage the activities related to startup ideas and companies, entrepreneur teams, investors and other people actively involved with startup activities. In the basic functions the network caters for networking between members, matchmaking, help in team-building activities, acts as a light CRM solution to help record the activities and more.
One organization can have multiple networks that can be linked together and in addition to linking together own networks, any network can also be linked together between different organizations by simple request and approve model, where decisions are made by network managers. There are three levels of linked network connections; own network, partner network and affiliated network, to serve different levels of connections.
Depending on the level of connections, organization information can be shared between the linked networks. Shared information can include projects, events, startup evaluation data and more. Shared information can be defined case by case and in addition to basic items available for sharing, custom features can be developed.
Users
Organization can define their own internal team of users that are called “Network Team”. They have access to organization internal area and tools. Network team members can operate, administer and moderate the network and network activities.
There are also different access levels available for Network Team members, depending on their more detailed role. These are; Network Author, Network Manager, Network Admin and Network Team Member.
Other users can register and request to join the network based on the rules that are set for the network. Depending on the rules and types of users they are they can become a member get access to organization networks, member area.
These other users like entrepreneurs, advisors, investors, service providers etc. requesting to join the network can be new in the platform or already being members in any of the other networks operated in the same platform infrastructure.
Registration and profiles
All users within the entire infrastructure need to only create single user account and profile to be able to login and operate within the entire ecosystem infrastructure globally depending on their access rights in different networks. Access levels are set within each network separately by the network team that can also define what information and features the user can see and have access to.
In addition to user profiles, startups have their own profiles, that are created and managed by the founding entrepreneur and the added startup management team and where the startup team members profiles are also linked.
With a single login and profiles (person and startup profiles) depending on the rules of the networks, users can join as members to multiple networks in the same infrastructure. Rules for each network are set by the network team.
The visibility of a startup profile in the network is defined by the startup team members. In addition the network team can turn off the visibility of the public profiles that are shown also to non-registered members.
Basic features for all the users:
- Creating and maintaining own user profile and account details
- Creating and maintaining startup profile details; team members, startup details, attached files, video etc.
- Managing funding round details (visibility depending on individual networks)
- Available Jobs in a startup (can make sweat equity hire as well)
- Joining different networks
- Registering to events
- Discussion forum
- Projects & task tool
- Easy join and moving between different networks and organizations services.
- For startups, getting evaluated with numeric scores and feedback by various organizations or contacts via multiple channels on different occasions, catering for the journey of the startup along the lifetime
- For experts, service providers, investors: follow the progress of the startup via their lifetime at multiple stages and organizations (depending on access rights and information shared by startups)
- Fully integrated connection to growing number of startup networks and organizations locally and around the world
- Fully integrated connection to growing number of crowdfunding and other funding markets & networks around the world
Features for Organizations:
- Own branding (logos, colors etc.)
- Managing rules and access of own network(s)
- Simple project and task management tool with file attachments to help coordinate network and organization activities
- Event calendar with event details and tools to manage event registrations
- Light CRM type of features for making activity notes with time used log option related to activities with members, users and customers.
- Create and manage scorecards to be used for evaluating startups and startup ideas
- Option to create multiple networks to cater for various aspects of own organization activities
- Linking own multiple networks and networks of cooperating organizations in different levels.
- Basic newsletter tool
- Discussion forum
- Network activity feed & wall for ad hoc discussions and activity sharing between members
- Multiple Crowdfunding models technically available
- Connect to other funding and co-funding networks and solutions
Platform development
The basic features of the platform are based on systematic and market tested development since the beginning of 2009, joined by multiple people that are part of global entrepreneurial and startup ecosystem in various different roles, including; entrepreneurs, investors, business advisors, organization managers from many parts of the world. The platform has been actively built in constant dialogue based on knowledge and operative processes of these peoples and organizations activities and daily work within the startup ecosystem.
Basic features are focused on processes and activities that cater for the majority of core functions by various roles and organizational needs within the ecosystem in a simplified and unified way, that helps to add efficiency, measurability, comparability and to take advantage of shared best practices between various organizations and roles within the entire ecosystem. The on-going development is on a solid and sustainable path towards the future, constantly improving and developing new features.
The following types of organizations evolving needs as part of the ecosystem are in the center of the general ongoing development.
Some of the recognized organization groups within the ecosystem are:
- Universities
- Advisory & mentoring organizations
- Incubators
- Accelerators
- Co-working spaces
- Service providers (consulting, accounting, legal, etc.)
- Event organizers
- Startup competitions
- Investor networks
- VC companies
- Crowdfunding portals, marketplaces, brokers and other intermediaries
- Other funding providers (loans, grants etc.)
- Startup blogs & other media
- Other facilitators within the ecosystem
Additional Features & Customization
In addition to an on-going development road map, custom functionalities can be build per request for any organizations needs. Needs for custom features are evaluated, designed and built as additional development projects.
Depending on the types of features build, those can build directly as core features directly within the platform (when build customization is usable for broader audience), or those can be build to be more separate via API connections, if customization is specific for single organization and network.
General development process outline
1. Initial meeting to map up and outline the needs
-> Result: initial outline, plan and estimate of the custom development project cost and timeline
2. Initial specifications meeting and meetings depending on the scope of things needed
-> Result: Specifications in text format with refined custom development project cost and timeline
3. Follow up specifications meeting
-> Result: Approved specifications with feature visualizations in mockups, using user flows, UI wireframes and other visuals. Final cost and timeline for the actual build and delivery
4. Actual build and programming of the features
-> Result: Features built
5. Delivery meeting
-> Result: Presentation of the build, final approval and or additional development needs and next steps.
Depending on the types of features build, those can build directly as core features directly within the platform (when build customization is usable for broader audience), or those can be build to be more separate via API connections, if customization is specific for single organization and network.
General development process outline
1. Initial meeting to map up and outline the needs
-> Result: initial outline, plan and estimate of the custom development project cost and timeline
2. Initial specifications meeting and meetings depending on the scope of things needed
-> Result: Specifications in text format with refined custom development project cost and timeline
3. Follow up specifications meeting
-> Result: Approved specifications with feature visualizations in mockups, using user flows, UI wireframes and other visuals. Final cost and timeline for the actual build and delivery
4. Actual build and programming of the features
-> Result: Features built
5. Delivery meeting
-> Result: Presentation of the build, final approval and or additional development needs and next steps.