We launched Backboard to the Stanford community two weeks ago. After emailing classes that require extensive collaboration and flyering campus at 2am, we sat back to see what would happen.

“Quite an interesting idea.. :-)”

“Why doesn’t it support music?”

“…the ease of use of backboard makes me think that I would actually prefer to use your application.”

The Stanford launch resulted in a bunch of new Backboards being created and (even more importantly) tons of great feedback from Backboard’s first users. We’ll be adding features to address many of these requests over the next few months. In the meantime, if you would like to give us feedback, we’ve created a Backboard about Backboard.

Just so you know, audio file (music) support is possible. If enough people express interest, we will build it for you. If you would like an audio Backboard, let us know!

Increo’s newest product is called Backboard (find it at getbackboard.com). Backboard is a simple, lightweight utility that allows you to get feedback on documents, images and web pages. You don’t need an account, just upload your document and we’ll give you a dedicated URL. Distribute that URL to colleagues and friends, and they can leave feedback.

It’s a simple concept, yet it solves a problem we’ve all had — reconciling several emails with feedback, sorting out comments and corrections and distributing the next draft.

At Increo, we use Backboard all the time for power point presentations, PDFs, logo designs, and, of course, blog posts. Try it out and let us know what you think.

There is of course no “right order” to approach the practical and logistical things you need to do in a startup. Some, like bringing on the first software engineer or getting company email addresses are very intuitive. You just know the time is right. But more often, you find yourself wishing you could expedite a credit card approval or delay an important client meeting. I’ve split up some of the early action items into those to get on top of now, and those that can wait ’til the last minute.

Now - Don’t wait, just get started. Even if it seems too early, or if you’re not quite sure what you need.

1. Get a P.O. Box. A small box costs as little as $10 for 6 months, and saves the hassle of using your brother-in-law’s aunt’s home address. Reason to do it now: USPS can take several weeks to get you a number.

2. Find a Lawyer and Incorporate. For a multitude of reasons, it’s a good idea to incorporate early–well before closing funding. As soon as you have enough money, or find a lawyer crazy enough to go along with you, figure out set up your Delaware Corp. Reason to do it now: Nobody wants to delay funding or pay more taxes.

3. Write an Executive Summary. I’m a huge advocate of writing the executive summary before the business plan. We’ve used ours over and over for a whole range of meetings. Reason to do it now: Never having to prepare a short description of your business again.

4. Hire a Summer Intern. Every company needs to make its own decision about intern strategy, but inexpensive, non-permanent summer help definitely has its benefits. Reason to do it now: The best interns go fast. Most students start looking in January and many accept offers by March.

Hold Off - Some arrangements can be made last-minute, and at times, you’re better off waiting.

1. Building a business plan. Go through the pieces that you need, but don’t spend more time than you need putting together the whole package, unless somebody asks for it. Reason to wait: For every 30 pages of plan, you could have at least 10 pages of web application.

2. Looking for funding. It goes without saying hold off as long as you can, but try to delay your first meetings even a while longer. Reason to wait: Once you get a funding offer, you need to be able to act quickly.

3. Opening up a bank account. Bank accounts become active extremely fast, and it worth it to shop around and see what is out there. Reason to wait: There’s no reason to pay bank fees until you have to.

4. Finding an office. There isn’t a convincing reason to rush, office space opens all the time (especially in the valley). Reason to wait: A garage is cheaper and makes for better stories.

Before I started working with Jeff full time on Increo, I used to go over to his place with all my ideas. I would literally open up my little red notebook and explain how we were going to build a network to connect ideas with resources, or spark creativity in small businesses by delivering boxes of inspiration. We would toss ideas back and forth, good ones, bad ones, and some terrible enough that they still inspire laughs at Increo headquarters.

I have found that it is extremely important to have people surrounding me who can provide feedback on my ideas and initiatives from many different angles. Generally, I look for some optimists and some pessimists, and people who thoroughly understand the feasibility of many different technologies and models. By asking people with different perspectives, my initiatives get that much better.

Increo Solutions, Inc. is a software company located in Silicon Valley, CA founded in early 2007. We produce software to support teams throughout the innovation process, with a focus on intuitive products that encourage great ideas.

I’m Kimber Lockhart, and you will catch me blogging here frequently alongside my co-founders Jeff Seibert and Rebecca Illowsky. I’m a computer scientist by training, but an entrepreneur at heart, and I want to work on ideas that improve people’s lives and change the status quo.

We started Increo on Ideas to:

• Reflect on innovation trends inside and outside the enterprise. It’s hard to argue against innovation, but generating new ideas can be a difficult process to manage. We regularly talk with companies and individuals to get a better feel for what they are actually doing to foster innovation. We will focus here on interesting or insightful ideas trends– from here in Silicon Valley and around the world.
• Chronicle the adventures on an early-stage startup. Deeply involved in Stanford’s entrepreneurship community, we have witnessed many new startups’ successes and failures. Increo on Ideas will follow our own story. And it will be an adventure.
• Tell the world about new Increo releases. Get the latest on Increo’s newest products, features and releases. You will find it here first.

Our goal at Increo is not only to create groundbreaking products, but to encourage groundbreaking advances from our clients and users. I am excited to be part of this effort. Stay tuned for more.