Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. They understand startup realities. Use social media for early marketing.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 108

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 16, 2013

Today’s startup innovators come from about six hours south of Silicon Valley. Fun Fact: One of the most prominent figures from their firm, Mark Suster t, runs a blog startups follow religiously. Social Enterprise: Hub LA. Abrams, Jim Wiatt, and Zach James have presented at Amplify’s Wednesday evening mentor events.

Startup 111

Startup Snapchat Venice Social Media 111

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 7, 2012

Southern California has had its share of new startup accelerators launch in the last few months, however, few people here have actually experienced an accelerator firsthand. Alex Benzer: I'm actually building two startups. SocialEngine is four years old, and that's the startup we applied to TechStars with.

Startup 242

Startup CTO Coach Blogging Social Media 242

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 7, 2019

In my role as a mentor to many business professionals, I still see some who have no idea how to adapt to the new realities. The simple answer is that we all have to start thinking like entrepreneurs, rather than entitled employees. Start tracking your costs as well as income elements. Market your business expertise.

Artificial Inteligence 96

Artificial Inteligence Startup Social Media Training 96

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

Here are some of the key new rules I have learned by starting my own company, investing as an angel in other startups and mentoring many more new entrepreneurs over the last few years: Do incorporate a company, but keep it simple. Take advantage of social media and free websites for marketing. Both are wrong.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Social Media Outsource Development 108

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

Usually these are described as revenue growth drivers, as outlined in a new book, “ The Revenue Accelerator: The 21 Boosters to Launch Your Startup ,” by Dr. Allan Colman. In this age of instant communication through the Internet and social media, people remember personal images more than a product or service name.

Marketing 133

Marketing Customer Custom Outsource Development 133

From the Venture Trenches

APRIL 30, 2013

Amplify Mentor Panel in full swing. Amplify’s close mentoring is by design. Like good mentors Paul, Jeff, Richard, Oded and David as well as Chris and Kris create an atmosphere in which the motivated founders can take advantage of the knowledge base to which they are exposed. Setting up for Eric Garcetti.

Web Design 103

Web Design Social Media Seed Funding Design 103

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2013

My internal compass has always steered me strongly toward the belief that founders who can scale with their startup companies are better to back that founders who eventually need to hire a CEO. Very few founder CEOs go into the job ever expecting to give up their seat. So give up the CEO role? It’s your baby.

Startup 303

Startup Technical Review Product Blogging 303

socalTECH

DECEMBER 22, 2016

Today, we have Cody Simms , Executive Director of Techstars (www.techstars.org), which has been very active this year in the startup accelerator and mentoring area. Cody Simms: Locally in LA the Snapchat IPO will have a huge impact on our local startup ecosystem. What was the biggest news from you or your firm this year?

Southern California 100

Southern California Snapchat Yahoo Social Media 100

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

According to a recent poll , contractors and freelancers could make up half of the American workforce within a decade. Every entrepreneur and every startup needs to have a clear “elevator pitch,” which identifies a unique strength and value they bring to the table. Start today thinking at least one job ahead.

Startup 98

Startup Outsource Development Competition Social Media 98

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

A new startup Meritful, out of Michigan Univeristy and accelerated and funded through Ann Arbor SPARK has launched into public beta to unite both students and mentors or even teachers. Meritful is a professional network for students and mentors. Meritful is like LinkedIn for high school – with showcases and mentors.”

Help 68

Help Social Media Mentor Study 68

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

in Physics who talks passionately about starting a business producing nuclear powered batteries. I find the best business plans are not books, but may actually should start as a one-page “elevator pitch” that succinctly encompasses your business goals, problems and solution, opportunity, competition, and business model.

Ideas 126

Ideas Writing Examples Outsource 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2014

Sponsored by VISA Business With all the new technology available today for video conferencing, interactive social media, and webinars, you may think that travel is no longer a requirement for starting a small business. Yet I still see business plans and funding plans for startups that have minimal or no allocation for travel.

Startup 100

Startup Tips Mentor Conference 100

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2014

Cashflow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. They understand startup realities. Use social media for early marketing.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 105

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

Based on my experience and data from the field, over seventy-five percent of new startups fail, even with venture backing. There are lots of resources available for the challenge of that activity, including the Internet and mentors like me. Any startup with no patents, trade secrets, or other secret sauce is very high risk today.

Ideas 94

Ideas Slides Technical Review Patents 94

From the Venture Trenches

APRIL 30, 2013

Amplify Mentor Panel in full swing. Amplify’s close mentoring is by design. Like good mentors Paul, Jeff, Richard, Oded and David as well as Chris and Kris create an atmosphere in which the motivated founders can take advantage of the knowledge base to which they are exposed. Setting up for Eric Garcetti.

Web Design 40

Web Design Social Media Seed Funding Design 40

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2017

People follow influencers on social media to find what they buy, who they vote for, and which social causes they support. Based on my current role as a mentor to entrepreneurs, I will paraphrase and recommend Whiddon’s top techniques in business terms: Build an image of likability and rapport.

Social Media 58

Social Media Customer Custom Entrepreneur 58

From the Venture Trenches

APRIL 1, 2013

Of the three horses in a brand’s marketing troika: owned , paid and earned – earned media is the least understood and least utilized, despite the fact that a conscious effort to leverage the channel can be extremely effective and long lasting. However, they do require a constant vigil, particularly in regards to earned media.

Media 45

Media Social Media Geni Mentor 45

From the Venture Trenches

APRIL 1, 2013

Of the three horses in a brand’s marketing troika: owned , paid and earned – earned media is the least understood and least utilized, despite the fact that a conscious effort to leverage the channel can be extremely effective and long lasting. However, they do require a constant vigil, particularly in regards to earned media.

Media 40

Media Social Media Geni Mentor 40

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2018

The market is changing so fast these days, and if you are not planning a solution today for tomorrow’s customers, you may be setting yourself up for failure and don’t even realize it. The alternative is to be into the mode of playing catch-up, which can cause you to make mistakes in execution, or even get there too late.

Customer 57

Customer Custom Technical Review Software Review 57

SoCal Delicious

AUGUST 23, 2010

Why should a startup thinking about moving to a new place choose LA? Southern California companies are second to only Silicon Valley in raising venture capital , there are three major universities to recruit talent – UCLA, Caltech, and USC – and a thriving startup community to mingle with.

Guide 42

Guide Startup Mahalo GRP Partners 42

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 25, 2013

But Mark, many of the great firms are $500 million and up! When it went to raise its fund 10 years ago the rumor was that many LPs were disappointed with recent returns and did not re-up. And hard for me to imagine the Fred Wilson and Albert Wenger weren’t instrumental mentors to David. I use social media.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Invest Funding 374

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

Most of you business professionals that I know have at least thought about or talked about starting their own business, to get more control, make more money, or to get more satisfaction out of their life. As a mentor to young aspiring entrepreneurs , I often get asked for tips on a strategy to get started.

Startup 114

Startup Tips Coach Satisfaction 114

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

August was a slow month in terms of traffic and I was away for a lot of the month, but there were some really great posts at the intersection of startups, technology, product and being a Startup CTO. He blogs to 10,000 web entrepreneurs at Software by Rob and co-hosts the podcast Startups for the Rest of Us.

Startup 191

Startup Venture Capital Blogging CTO Hire 191

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 4, 2012

Today they say its Africa’s largest and fastest growing social networking utility with over 4,000 daily new sign-ups. They also add that LAGbook ranks #2 in the city of Yaba-Lagos, where the social network was incepted, and #37 in the city of Hirtshal, Denmark. Who are your mentors, role models? What is LAGbook?

Social Network 100

Social Network Networking Advertising Startup 100

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 1, 2011

I was initially skeptical, but it was a pure delight for me from start to finish. For the same reason I loved the much more flawed story of Anvil , who interestingly came from Toronto, about 100 miles away from where Justin Bieber grew up. It all has to start from talent. Usher worked hard to set up meetings (including L.A.

Entrepreneur 398

Entrepreneur Startup Writing Blogging 398

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 15, 2018

Thus I find that two heads are usually better than one in a startup. Way back in the early eighties, I had the privilege of working with Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, when Microsoft was still a startup. Your best friend, spouse or a family member is the least likely candidate, so don’t start there.

High Tech 55

High Tech Entrepreneur Writing Startup 55

SoCal CTO

AUGUST 3, 2010

Some great content around the intersection of startups and being a Startup CTO in June this year. This continues my series of posts: Top 30 Startup Posts in June 2010 Top 29 Startup Posts May 2010 Startup CTO Top 30 Posts for April 16 Great Startup Posts from March The following are the top items based on social signals.

Startup 217

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Software Review 217