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Hammad Siddiqui Blog

Entrepreneurship, Capacity Building & Training

A working journal from Hammad Siddiqui on mentoring recent graduates, building startups that survive their first year, and using social media to grow a brand with a human voice.

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Field notes for early-stage founders

Hammad writes from years of mentoring recent graduates and aspiring entrepreneurs. Posts cover the 21 things a startup must look at beyond a brilliant idea, the value of mentors, lessons from pricing strategy failures, and how to humanize a brand on social media.

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Mentorship Startup Essentials Social Media Strategy Brand Building Pricing Lessons Entrepreneurial Events

We need more mentors for young entrepreneurs

Published September 28, 2012. A reflection on why new graduates benefit from real conversations with founders who have already walked the path — and on the 21 things every startup should consider beyond a brilliant idea.

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Startups

21 things to look at beyond the brilliant idea

A guide drawn from a Facebook chat with a fresh graduate in Islamabad — covering passion, investment and the unglamorous parts of building a technology startup.

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Social

11 rules for creating value in the social era

Notes on Nilofar Merchant's book and how creative thinking is reshaping how companies connect with communities across social platforms.

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Branding

Humanizing your brand on social media

Inspired by Amy Jo Martin and Digital Royalty: humans connect with humans, not logos — and access to personality is the new currency of brand.

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Looking for your next move?

Browse posts on the Startup Weekend spirit with Marc Nager, ten cool tips for Twitter users, and five lessons from the JC Penny pricing strategy failure — all written from the desk of an active mentor.

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