DO AS THE ROMANS DO, BUT WITH GLITTER!!

In order to become what you desire, you must surround yourself with those people you look up to, but you have to be yourself in order to (1) be comfortable with your own existence and (2) stand out as a genuine human being with character. In better words... Do as the Romans do, but with glitter. Don't be afraid to be yourself and definitely don't be concerned about judgement.

Networking is about learning what you can, sharing what you know and working on a common goal.

Since Beau Exchange is based in NYC we have access to many other start ups and not so start up anymore companies like HUGE, Gilt Groupe and Etsy. Lucky for us we are also in the middle of the fashion industry, so we could embrace and mingle with the Mark Zuckerbergs of the world, just in Tom Ford suits.

Here is a like of conferences to consider in NYC.

1. Tech Week
2. Internet Week
3. Decoded Fashion
4. Social Media Week
5. NY Tech Summit 
6. Interop New York 
   
     

We also took it upon ourselves to have a meetup group of like minded women of color in the tech industry so we could embrace the different experiences, stories and ideas.

We organize Black Female Tech Startup Entrepreneurs in NYC (I know long, but it is as clear as day). We have over thirty member and growing strong. This is a great way for networking, sharing skills and building friendships in the industry. If you can't find them, let them find you.

YOUR INNER TECH SOCIALITE, CODING AND CHANEL! Not an it Girl, an IT Girl.

Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Olivia Palermo... Blah!

Before the hot event was New York Fashion Week now its New York Tech Week. Imagine it's now the nerds with high IQs that everyone want to be around.

Although there have been an increase in women within the tech industry their actual roles have been the same. Very few in the media are displayed as engineers, tech entrepreneurs or CEO of venture capitalist firms. I have met plenty of women who code, collect data, invent technology and started companies, but you really don't hear of them.

This is why we have to find our inner diva and make a grand entrance where ever you go. At every event Beau Exchange use to stick out like a striped giraffe so we gave them something to look at.



What you need to be a Tech Socialites

1. Send a press release to everyone (tech, fashion, women and social publications)
2. Ask for sit downs with anyone worth giving you advice (you just might make a new friend)
3. Blog and tweet for your LIFE!
4. Go to events Tech, Fashion, Art doesn't matter. Meet different people from all over and get inspiration
5. You don't have to be masculine to fit in the tech world, bringing some feminine touches to the industry is exactly what it needs. There is nothing wrong with being the new wave of pin girls (smart, sexy and could hang with the guys)
6. Make nice with the media (major hitters, smaller hitters and bloggers a like) They can teach you a thing or two and they are your frenemy 
7. Stand your ground ladies and let some underestimate you, that could be a dangerous thing for your doubter when you smack them with success
8. Donate your skills to charities, its a great way to showcase what you could do, display how you love the kids and get you to meet potential investors who happen to be heavy charity donors as well

Ladies you are strong, you are invisible and you are all woman! Go code that bi-atch!

When Web Building Goes Wrong

Lessons for finding and working with a developer

If you cannot code yourself this is for you

1. Make sure you see more than three samples of work
2. Test the developer on various aspects of coding that will prove they are capable of doing the job
3. Make sure the developer is not an arrogant person unless they could get the job done with flying colors 
4. Have a partner that understand everything the developer is talking about or a consultant or friend that could help you out.
5. Give the developer a deadline and expect some cushion but not months
6. Make sure you have a work to hire and IP agreement for the developers so they can't take all of the work done if they decide to leave.

We have learned many lessons and not on the right track with a great development team that was less money (go figure), but I recommend taking a coding class so you know the basics. 

Try these sites to fine a good developer for your site.

http://www.designquote.net

www.i-tul.com

www.angel.co

Getting that Money. Bank Account Battles!

So it was that time to open our business checking and savings account. Excited step for us YES, but it had its problems. Remember when we mentioned making sure you have a hand ready for your legal team, yeah this was one reason that was said. Of course we are suppose to receive all legal documents in a reasonable time frame, but didn't happen.

Of course I emailed the banker asking what we needed before showing up and that didn't happen either. It took us about two weeks to completely finish this task, but well worth it since now its official, we are a business to be reckoned with.

Here is a few things we learned from the experience and what we made sure to occur for ourselves

1. If there are multiple partners try to choose a bank no parties have an association with to keep things fair
2. Make sure you all have government documentation ready
3. Make sure to have your company tax ID number with you in order to open a business account
4. Do know, all parties that will have their name on the business account must be present when doing this task
5. Have one banker handle everything, maintaining that relationship keeps you from repeating yourself to different bankers
6. Make sure there is online banking available. We joined Wells Fargo because we could do everything from check our balance to pay employees right from our account, plus none of the partners have them as a personal bank
7. You should open a savings just to start building security funding for rainy days
8. Have at least $200 ready to deposit in the bank so you could activate the account 

NOW MAKE THAT MONEY HONEY!

REMEMBER THE LAWYER AND GET A LAWYER TO WATCH THE LAWYER

When starting out as a business woman you realize the challenges of really keeping tabs on everything around you. As we were progressing with the website there was the need of legal documentation for our new born company Beau Exchange Inc. Here are a few things we learned as we were becoming Beau Exchange Inc.

1. Decide where you want to be in five years. This will help shape the next steps of your company's journey.
2. After the five year plan in place decide if its best suited to be a LLC, Incorporated C or S (free legal advice is available in Brooklyn at the Business Solutions Center on Bond Street)
3. You should by this point decide if you are a start-up that plan to have investors ASAP or sustain itself privately. If you are looking into getting angel investors many start-up get incorporated in Delaware due to the flexible bylaws there benefiting investors more than you, but it still looks attractive. NY really is a great place to incorporate when you are looking for government support. 
4. Once you educated yourself on what you wanted, interview lawyers. At this point lawyers shouldn't be able to feed you hopes and dreams because you are prepared with your A game. 
5. Find a lawyer that will be there through think and thin. That person is there to legally guide you through the growing pains of being a start-up.
6. If you end up with bad legal support at least make sure you cover yourself to prevent much damage and make it clear to them that you are not the one to mess with. 
7. Another thing that is creative is getting a law student that could grow with you as you all grow-up in the company as have them eventually be your permanent legal internal counsel 

A really cool blog that may be helpful is Tech Startup Lawyer.

BONUS: Once you get your tax ID you could get things wholesale, which is a great opportunity in NYC.

Then There Were Three

The idea of partnership is a significant topic among the start-up community. There are social networks dedicated to tech start-up founders finding complimenting partners to really set the innovation or the company off to the next level. Beau Exchange is the same. As we transition from a consulting company to an eCommerce marketplace plat for we needed someone who both balanced out the two other partners but also had an expertise in technology. Enter the British sensation Esther Obanero with years of tech experience, an MBA in information technology systems and the balance needed for the ying / yang duo.

If we learned anything, its that you need to make sure that the founders understand each other, respect one another and work in harmony. With that you could tackle the world with your individual strengths and superpowers and come together unstoppable.

You could find great working partners from old classmates, old co workers or even close friends. There are plenty of networking events to meet potential partners and check out Meetup.com to meet like minded people. Do know that you are practically marrying these people and know sometimes divorces are messy so make sure you choose the right people and actually like them. My partners and I may drive each other nuts, but I feel like we respect each other and have a great laugh talking about everything not related to BeauExchange.com

OUR WEBSITE CONSTRUCTION HAVE BEGUN!!!

Our website is on its way finally after months of planning. We are excited to get this thing on the road and will see  it created to perfection by the web extraordinaire Jeffrey Fernandez of Soniku.

We had a "...Coming Soon" page up for months, but with a clear vision for the company and the business model is simplified, we now know what we are offering to the world. We are change the way people shop online, but of course we have to be reminded that it takes baby steps and perseverance.

It will take a while to get up and running, but we've waited this long to make an idea into a business. We have no problem with patience. In the meantime checkout our twitter page, @beauexchange where we give info on a large variety of topics, giving you the ability to get educated on what gets in and on your body for beauty.

SO... MAYBE THE MBA WAS WORTH THE TIME AND MONEY

As we complete the business plan and investor presentation we mentally thank our professors, Stucke, Sherman, Ali, Benton, and Sand for the lessons they taught during our MBA program. We learned everything from Operations Management, Importing and Exporting, Accounting and even conducting a corporate meeting. The most important thing that was taught... expect people to get in your way, expect boulders and there will be doubt, but don't be bothered those who believe will come out at the other end a winner.

With the lack of sleep and constant anxiety right before presentations we are now prepared for the worst in the real world; if it be strenuous work hours, regular rejection, and continuous battles.

We were able to incorporate many business school models such as the competitive analysis, SWOT, Porters Five Forces, the four Ps and Blue Ocean (everyone's favorite). We wouldn't be boring investors with the details but proud to have the chance to actual use what we learned literally and not just indirectly in our heads.

Our official incubator is now WeWorks! Yaaahh!!!! We have chosen the space because of the dynamic atmosphere and the fact that its in SOHO and have a cafe next door.

https://www.wework.com/‎

We are almost complete with our Angel List profile and excited to launch soon! It is very detailed but understandably so. We plan to raise at least $150,000 to start the project and continue from there with the progression.

https://angel.co

There is still lots to do and more adventure to experience. Follow us on twitter to get the latest on Beau Exchange @BeauExchange

THE MISSION OF BEAU EXCHANGE

With the US ethnic beauty market saturated with multiple brands and constant innovations, Beau Exchange is a company that is dedicated to representing high quality products and their boutique beauty companies into the global beauty industry with 100% individual dedication for each client reaching every potential buyer possible in the global ethnic beauty market. The company provides a platform for supply and demand to interact with each other in order to build better communication for beauty consumption. Beau Exchange will provide opportunity for those entrepreneurs that can’t otherwise reach the global market and conduct customer relationship management. 

This blog is a virtual diary recording the journey of Beau Exchange and give the opportunity to look back at the beginning stages of this amazing venture.