Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2022

I found some good lessons in this regard in a classic book, “ Becoming Facebook ,” by Mike Hoefflinger, the former Head of Global Business Marketing at Facebook. Too many choices confuse all customers, and make your job in marketing, distribution, and support much more difficult. Revenue and competitive position followed.

Startup 144

Startup Social Media Metrics Customer 144

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2022

Almost instantly, via the Internet or on their smartphone in the store, they can find the lowest price alternative or their favorite features, without waiting for push marketing or listening to your best sales person. This is a key moment where your customer acquisition costs go way down, and your profits go way up.

Customer 146

Customer Custom Startup Course 146

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

How long does it take me to pay back my original customer acquisition costs? What sized team can I afford in order to sell, market & provide service to these customers? But expanding beyond our core customers was going to take more effort than simply launching in new markets. How profitable is my product or service?

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 286

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 19, 2015

Computers and the Internet have now brought in a new era that relies on data to make profitable business decisions in the competitive environment. Below is a full explanation of how small businesses can leverage technology to earn a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Cloud Services. Social Media Automation Tools.

Competition 40

Competition Technology Social Media Tips 40

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 25, 2023

Google reached $1B in revenue within five years of incorporation, and now has a market capitalization of over $1 trillion. It’s only been in the last decade or two, that social media companies, like Facebook and Twitter, have achieved market valuations in billions of dollars (unicorn status), while clearly sacrificing revenue to gain users.

Organization 94

Organization Invest Customer Custom 94

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2020

Google reached $1B in revenue within five years of incorporation, and now has a market capitalization of over $1 trillion. It’s only been in the last decade or two, that social media companies, like Facebook and Twitter, have achieved market valuations in billions of dollars (unicorn status), while clearly sacrificing revenue to gain users.

Organization 173

Organization Invest Customer Custom 173

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 6, 2023

A smart investor will take an independent final reading in the market on barriers to entry, active competition, demographics, and price sensitivity. Sales and distribution channel activity will be analyzed, as well as cost of customer acquisition, to make an independent assessment of your financial projections.

Technical Review 118

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Invest 118

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 31, 2018

In this age of constant market evolution and new technology, there is no such thing as a static business that is self-sustaining. Competitors tend to focus on price and other variations to existing offerings. Populating new domains to sustain your market. Implement a plan of regular strategic acquisitions.

Examples 99

Examples IP Acquisition Social Media 99

InfoChachkie

JULY 28, 2015

He told the homeowner that he represented someone who wanted to purchase the ranch at a substantial premium over its current fair market value. Although this is a somewhat unusual real estate transaction, it reflects a surprisingly common scenario in the business world of mergers and acquisitions, with one important distinction.

Company 100

Company Companies Santa Barbara Pricing 100

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 14, 2012

“it’s smart to use an impending investment valuation to drive a higher acquisition valuation” I would like to amend her statement slightly to read, “it’s smart to use an impending investment valuation to drive an higher acquisition.” to justify a “strategic” price.

Venture Capital 316

Venture Capital Pricing Social Network Acquisition 316

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2022

Last year was quite a year for IPOs, largely influenced by the significant rise in the number of special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) who went public, despite almost uniformly negative returns. Violent market swings usually hit public companies first. The M&A alternative looks simple by comparison.

Startup 98

Startup Report IBM IBM 98

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 8, 2021

Airlines, for example, have difficulty scaling up through mergers and acquisitions (M&As), but they can spin off their maintenance businesses and let the spin-off do the M&A in its own field. Parent companies provide services or infrastructure to the spin-off at below-market prices or for an excessively long period of time.

Company 125

Company Companies Startup Examples 125

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

And we wanted a head of global marketing. In the same year they won Business Insider’s Startup competition. RedBeacon went on to sell to HomeDepot in what was considered a very successful acquisition on all sides. But Ethan had left by the time of the acquisition. Nice sweep! When he left I called him immediately.

CTO Coach 359

CTO Coach Google CTO Hire Yammer 359

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2020

Almost instantly, via the Internet or on their smartphone in the store, they can find the lowest price alternative or their favorite features, without waiting for push marketing or listening to your best sales person. This is a key moment where your customer acquisition costs go way down, and your profits go way up.

Customer 124

Customer Custom Startup Course 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2015

As a model, think high-quality marketing collateral, with text and graphics in columns and sidebars, but focused on the value of your business, rather than selling your product. Skip the fuzzy marketing terms, such as "easier to use," "lower cost" and "disruptive technology."

Summary 101

Summary Patents Technical Review Competition 101

SoCal CTO

FEBRUARY 25, 2009

Fantastic post by Christian Gammill - Startup Delta Force… From a competitive perspective (e.g. all the other folks out there that will try to enter the same market) the barriers have been dropping over the last few years. How’s that for duality.

Startup 150

Startup SEM IP SEO 150

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

When they look at buying your company they often think in terms of “how long will it take until I earn back the profits to pay for my acquisition price?” As I like to say, “If you’re really on to an enormous idea then other people in the market are going to spot that and want to compete with you.

Startup 418

Startup Venture Capital Sales Technical Review 418

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 24, 2014

1) Your market has changed. Whether due to technological, regulatory, or competitor driven factors, key market dynamics you envisioned when you came up with your idea, did your research and developed your business plan, no longer apply. Your products and approach haven’t been market tested. 2) Your investors are getting nervous.

Startup 98

Startup Competition Examples Customer 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 24, 2021

A smart investor will take an independent final reading in the market on barriers to entry, active competition, demographics, and price sensitivity. Sales and distribution channel activity will be analyzed, as well as cost of customer acquisition, to make an independent assessment of your financial projections.

Technical Review 151

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Invest 151

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 6, 2020

We're really focused on the consumer getting the right car at the right price. As time has gone on, the company then shifted into the ridesharing market, essentially operating as a car availability platform for Uber and Lyft drivers. There's real competition in this area. The other part, is car subscriptions are very expensive.

Startup 124

Startup Pricing Platform Study 124

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

If a consumer will pay a fixed price for a product or service then the battle over who gets the margin in any sale is between the person who merchandises a product and the person who manufactures it. There has always been tension between CPG (consumer packaged goods) companies and the retailers who sell their products to consumers.

Product 296

Product Course Customer Custom 296

socalTECH

MARCH 7, 2012

Energy Innovations reportedly has been looking for a buyer since earlier this year for the business, which developed concentrating solar photovoltaic modules, aimed at the commercial rooftop market. Energy Innovations--which had entered the solar market late--was backed by Idealab and Mohr Davidow Ventures. READ MORE>>.

Technical Review 145

Technical Review Idealab High Tech Pasadena 145

socalTECH

JANUARY 28, 2013

Steven Sesar: FreedomPop is all about bringing the freemium model to the wireless Internet market, and disrupting the telephone companies. Currently, users pay up front for data packages, and there are inefficiencies in that market. We've got less infrastructure, and we're not having to pay hundreds of dollars for consumer acquisition.

Startup 245

Startup IP Networking Encino 245

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 11, 2014

I actually really enjoyed many of the points Muhammad made about marketing in general and I found myself nodding through the entirety of the article except for it’s core premise. It’s about looking out for and catching the next major marketing wave before others have grokked it. I laughed as I did at much of his rant.

Technical Review 384

Technical Review SEM SEO Marketing 384

socalTECH

MAY 8, 2015

In a world awash with on-demand startups, Los Angeles-based Serviz (www.serviz.com) stands out--not because of the market segment it is tackling, but because it was founded by two, very experienced serial entrepreneurs-- Zorik Gordon and Michael Kline. We have a very unique approach to the market, very much like Uber.

Services 100

Services ReachLocal Demand Startup 100

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 11, 2017

From my perspective, projecting financial returns is part of the homework every business person needs to do in sizing customer opportunity, product costs, pricing, competition and customer value, before expending their own resources in a highly risky venture. Project unit-volume and price levels.

Pricing 57

Pricing Startup Entrepreneur Invest 57

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

In the short term you need customers to find you at any price, and in the longer term you need revenue, profit, and return loyalty. Strategic threats, including new competitors, market changes, and environmental issues need deeper analysis and full resolution, before they jeopardize your business survival.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Layoffs Social Media Metrics 124

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

Lately I’ve been having to say things I thought I’d never have to remind people, like, “getting to positive gross margin in several territories is a very low bar to claim success” or “profitable excluding marketing costs” is not actually a real thing. Market Size. MakeSpace provides physical storage.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

socalTECH

DECEMBER 19, 2008

According to the DOJ, it has filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Microsemi over the firm's recent acquisition of Semicoa Inc.'s Microsemi paid $25M in cash for Semicoa, a provider of semiconductors for the military and commercial market, in July. The lawsuit seeks to undo the transaction, by selling off the assets of Semicoa.

Acquisition 100

Acquisition Pricing Competition Sales 100

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 15, 2019

I found some good lessons in this regard in a classic book, “ Becoming Facebook ,” by Mike Hoefflinger, the former Head of Global Business Marketing at Facebook. Too many choices confuse all customers, and make your job in marketing, distribution, and support much more difficult. Revenue and competitive position followed.

Social Media 87

Social Media Metrics Customer Custom 87

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2018

My friend Michael Broukhim, founder & co-CEO of FabFitFun and I recently had a catch-up meeting for 3-miles on the Santa Monica “Bird Trail” No company has ever elicited so many questions by friends, colleagues, entrepreneurs, fellow VCs and journalists as has Bird, the company that pioneered the electronic scooter as a service market.

Santa Monica 256

Santa Monica Funding Startup Course 256

socalTECH

AUGUST 20, 2009

The DOJ had sued Microsemi in December, after the July acquisition of the assets of Semicoa, a provider of semiconductors for the military and commercial market. Department of Justice, after the firm sold the assets of semiconductor firm Semicoa to an unnamed, third party. READ MORE>>.

Competition 100

Competition Pricing Acquisition Report 100

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

Investors are looking for a concise description of your product or service without technical jargon or fuzzy marketing terms with value quantified in customer terms. This is also the place to first mention patents and any other differentiators that put you ahead of competition. What are your specific marketing and sales plans?

Invest 108

Invest Startup Slides Equity 108

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 10, 2010

For entrepreneurs who want to learn about how to work with investment banks, how to position yourself to be acquired and what the IPO markets look like this is the episode to watch. They can also help raise larger rounds of capital and often at higher prices. 1 party = low price. This is often in the 5-7% range.

Venture Capital 242

Venture Capital Mission Ventures Capital Help 242

InfoChachkie

MARCH 16, 2010

He told the homeowner that he represented someone who wanted to purchase the ranch at a substantial premium over its current fair market value. Although this is a somewhat unusual real estate transaction, it reflects a surprisingly common scenario in the world of mergers and acquisitions, with one important distinction.

Company 160

Company Companies Pricing Santa Barbara 160

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 3, 2009

and the subsequent acquisition sprees of companies like Google, Yahoo!, The last couple of years has also seen the huge initial success of Ycombinator, the Lean Startup and many other product driven approaches to going to market. What about your competition – how much do they charge? portfolios. Do so at your peril.

Web 2.0 334

Web 2.0 Venture Capital Web Technical Review 334

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2016

The right channel for marketing and distribution is one of the basic “four Ps” of business (product, promotion, price and placement). For growing revenue and market share, it’s a key element of your overall strategy, and one that can make or break you. In many product areas, especially retail, the channel is the market.

Pricing 54

Pricing Customer Custom Sales 54