Tara Dalrymple is a founder and former CEO, and the current Community Manager of Galway’s Superpixel Labs, a co-working space.
Tara Dalrymple has held that position at Superpixel Labs since February, and the co-working space will hold its official launch party tomorrow night (1 April).
As well as being a co-working space, Superpixel Labs provides events, resources and a supportive network for those using the space.
Dalrymple was previously the founder and CEO of BusyLizzie.ie and, immediately prior to her role at Superpixel Labs, she was the founder and chief maker at SaaS company, and former Siliconrepublic.com Start-up of the Week, Feelsright.
In your opinion, which areas of technology hold the greatest scope for opportunities?
Internet of things (IoT), it’s a term that is bandied around all the time in the media, but the possibilities are endless. It opens up so many possibilities and solutions, in the developing world, especially.
Are good entrepreneurs born or can they be made?
I have had this debate many times over the years. I truly believe that you are born an entrepreneur. Yes, we can all improve ourselves and our understanding on business acumen, process and behaviour, but a true entrepreneur has a gut instinct that trumps any theoretical or academic methodologies.
What are the qualities of a good founder?
An ability to recognise their strengths and, more importantly, their weaknesses, and then create a team around them that plugs the gaps. Someone who is able to take criticism on the chin, and to be able to let go of their ‘baby’ should the time arise.
‘A true entrepreneur has a gut instinct that trumps any theoretical or academic methodologies’
– TARA DALRYMPLE, SUPERPIXEL LABS
What does a successful entrepreneur need to do every day?
Read, upskill and learn from their peers, colleagues, competitors, mentors, advisory board and any other support group they have in place. We never stop learning and, if we do, that is when the trouble arrives.
What resources and tools are an absolute must for your arsenal?
There are so many, but my real go-to list would comprise of:
- Google Analytics
- Google Keyword Planner
- Slack
- Mailchimp
- Buffer
- Trello
- Stormboard
- Canva
- CreateSpace
- Newspaper Club
- Glyphicons
- Pexels
- Subtle Patterns – pretty much what it says on the tin; for backgrounds and textures
- Fiverr
- OnePageCRM
- Hootsuite
- LastPass
- Email Hunter
How do you assemble a good team?
Work out the areas, or more importantly, parts of the business, that you are always procrastinating on. Then find people who have an aptitude for such tasks. Go to events like Startup Weekend, hackathons and Dublin/Galway BETA and network. Put the word out to the community that you are looking for someone with ‘X’ skillset; in the past that approach has paid off in dividends for me.
What is the critical ingredient to start-up success?
Research to the nth degree before even starting up, make sure and test that there is a market out there for the product or service you are creating.
Create an advisory board, and get them all around the table every quarter (at least) with structure and an agenda and give them a good feed!
Bootstrapping is king: beg, borrow or the other for as long and as much as is possible.
What are the biggest mistakes that founders make?
Launching/shipping the product too late. It’s never too early to get your MVP out there. Just pivot/iterate, learn from your mistakes and early adopters and move on.
Who is your business hero and why?
Tough one, I have a few, but the queen of business would be The Body Shop founder Anita Roddick. Since I was nine-years-old I was obsessed with what I now know as branding, ideology and mission. She was out there fighting for the ozone, indigenous people and fair trade before it all become de rigueur.
What’s the No 1 piece of advice you have for entrepreneurs?
Get your intellectual property sorted and in place ASAP!
