Is Your Startup Cool?

After six months of writing about over 72 startups from around the nation, and after hundreds of hours of interviews with leading startup CEOs, academics, entrepreneur thought-leaders and more, the key features of "cool startups" emerged. Does your company stack up to the standards?
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One of the first questions I field about my new book, The Coolest Startups in America, is "what makes a startup cool?" It is a critical question in the entrepreneurship community because everyone wants to understand how to identify which new companies will become runaway successes. After six months of writing about over 72 startups from around the nation, and after hundreds of hours of interviews with leading startup CEOs, government officials, academics, entrepreneur thought-leaders and more, the key features of "cool startups" emerged.

Click through the slideshow below to learn about the seven qualities of cool startups. The list is an excellent litmus test for anyone looking to join or start a successful venture (or catch my eye for the next volume of the book!)

I wrote The Coolest Startups in America especially for busy professionals, new technophiles, and business owners who are looking to take their knowledge about startups or their own company's success to the next level. Hear from the experts about what makes young companies cool -- does your startup stack up to the standards?

#1: Cool Startups... Solve Real Problems

Is Your Startup Cool? 7 Qualities of Cool Startups

Doreen Bloch is the author of the business book The Coolest Startups in America, and the founder of an early-stage technology startup, Poshly. Her work has been featured by The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Forbes Women, MSN's Business on Main, Fox Business, Women 2.0, Mashable, and more. Doreen is a member of the Young Entrepreneur Council and her personal website is www.DoreenBloch.com.

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