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Ask HN: Best book/resources on business modelling?
Dear readers, I'd like to study the business side of software engineering: how to design a product, how to monetize it, how to study competitors, evaluate partners, make estimation of revenues and similar. In my ignorance I would call such knowledge "business modelling" but I may be wrong.
Are you aware of any good reputable up-to-date book/resource on such topic?
Thanks a lot!
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- kespindler 6y agoThe personal MBA is probably the best resource for solid foundation of all business topics relevant to entrepreneurship.
- xyzzy21 6y agoAgreed (I should read the questions more carefully) - this is stuff you learn working on the corporate world in about 10-15 years if you pay attention or what you can learn in an MBA program IFF you don't treat the program as a rote cookbook - it's not even that. There's nothing too complicated about it - my father taught me most of this by osmosis before I even graduated from high school because he's come home and talk about all the things he did (he was a business unit director - a business unit he founded after years in engineering sales) and the political intrigue that came with it. My MBA was marginally useful - the biggest value was the paper of the diploma which small minds think is important. I learned 90% of the knowledge before I stepped foot into my first MBA course from working in industry and from my father. The one added thing: accounting is really important because everything you do as an entrepreneur generally begins and ends with accounting. All your projections and costing built into your pitch deck are derived from accounting specifically income statements. My MBA mostly cemented my accounting knowledge and my ability to use Excel to its corners (99.99% of accounting and finance uses Excel).
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- Leary 6y ago1. There are no set truths in business. 2. Learn some basic accounting/finance. For example, you should know the difference between equity and debt or the difference between Net Income and Revenue. 3. https://www.ycombinator.com/library https://www.ycombinator.com/library 4. https://a16z.com/ https://a16z.com/ 5. Start reading more financial news (Bloomberg, CNBC, WSJ, FT) 6. Find successful founders/CEOs you admire and watch their interviews. 7. Work on something that has great potential rather than an area that is too small or secularly declining. "When a management with a reputation for brilliance tackles a business with a reputation for bad economics, it is the reputation of the business that remains intact."
- akg_67 6y agoTry some of MBA coursework specifically strategy and marketing management oriented, and also Product Management. A cliffs notes version might be the interview prep books that prepare you for product Management and business consulting roles.
- michele_f 6y agoThank you very much!
- reactgeek 6y agoMeasure what matters - John Doerr | To understand how to measure success (with OKRs). Empowered - Marty Cagan | For digital product leadership insights.
- michele_f 6y agoThanks a lot!
- _448 6y agoStart with Lean Canvas(https://leanstack.com/lean-canvas https://leanstack.com/lean-canvas). Fill in the boxes in that canvas. You will understand the initial stages of building a software business. From there then watch microconf videos and listen to podcasts from indiehackers.
- michele_f 6y agoThank you!