Tightening Operations, Finding Funding and Staying Optimistic in a Crisis
Published in
3 min readMar 18, 2020
We’ve compiled a list of resources that we’ve found useful to companies working through the crisis. Please email ali@rho.co to add additional links.
On tightening operations:
- Two proactive measures to audit costs today.
- Gumroad founder Sahil Lavingia explains how his company went from burning $350,000 per month to earning $10,000 a month in 2015. Full essay here.
- How to run a tight ship at an enterprise business. (H/T Femstreet.)
- Why you should invest in your brand during a downturn.
- A guide to customer retention.
- Getting smart about tax season.
- How to claim the $250,000 R&D tax credit.
- HR guidelines on responding to coronavirus.
- Lessons from launching a company in 2008. More here.
- Advice on cash management. More here.
- Kick sales into high gear with Workbench’s definitive guide.
- Save money on PR. Haus’ Helena Price Hambrecht shares DIY PR advice. [30:21]
- Remember your why.
- 5 strategies to reduce anxiety.
- How to re-align your brand with current events.
On funding:
- Pre-Apply for the Paycheck Protection Program with Rho.
- The U.S. Department of Commerce has a list of resources for loans, credit, and more.
- New York City is offering interest free loans for businesses with fewer than 100 employees.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans in all U.S. states.
- A comprehensive list of private and public relief efforts, from Amazon to Uber.
- American Express is offering delayed, interest free extensions for small businesses.
- Mark Suster at UpfrontVC shares his deck: “Funding in the time of coronavirus.”
- A list of the best accelerators and incubators outside San Francisco.
- A list of alternative funding sources beyond VC, and what you need to know about those sources.
- How to bootstrap to 8 figure revenue in three years.
On working remotely:
- A giant list of resources for working remotely: How to manage teams, measure KPIs, communicate well, and track success. (H/T to Notion and FirstRound.)
- How to write emails your co-workers will actually read.
- 5 rules for running remote meetings.
- For employees: “How to win at remote working”
On resources:
- A list of tools for startups.
- A list of SaaS providers with discounts and perks for startups.
- A list of free software for the next two months, from Adobe to Zoom.
- Free news subscriptions through the New York Public Library.
- 60 days of free WiFi from Comcast, Charter and AT&T.
On optimism:
- Paul Graham’s 2008 essay: “Why to Start a Startup in a Bad Economy.”
- Warren Buffett’s 2008 letter: “Buy American. I Am.”
On helping others:
- In NYC, Spacious founder Preston Pesek is collecting laptops to donate to students who may not have them, in order to learn while at home.
- Lifeforce In Later Years is organizing grocery trips for the elderly in NYC.
- Ever thought about teaching? Outschool needs 5,000 teachers. Sign up to help.
- Donate to the Meals on Wheels emergency response fund.
- For those with engineering skills, Sam Altman is highlighting projects that need help. So is Microsoft’s Frank Denbow.
- Cash donations to food banks are being asked for across the country. A little help goes a long way. Resources here.
