Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2020

Show focus and your understanding that your company is something more than just a good idea. When we say 'team,' that's what we want to hear about: a group of people who are working with the person who had the original idea to give this company its market advantage, including salespeople and finance people.

Technical Advisors 162

Technical Advisors Tips Startup Equity 162

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2020

Here are some key drivers that will likely lead you to a fundable idea: A business crisis. Other countries can provide e-commerce with different business models, outsource manufacturing at low cost, and a huge market for new products. So why do I see some many funding requests for products along these lines? Existing infrastructure.

Customer 167

Customer Custom Startup Outsource Development 167

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 5, 2021

Here are some tips from a classic book by Harvey Mackay, “ Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door ,” which work even better in a startup than they do in a bigger company: Make yourself indispensable. You can’t outsource that one. It pays to be visible in any way that’s positive for the company. Think big picture.

Startup 125

Startup Journal Outsource Tips 125

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Almost anyone can start a company today on a shoestring budget, following these cost-cutting recommendations: Establish a solid legal structure for your business. You can now skip the mandatory office space rental, with secretary and bookkeeping staff, or outsourcing. Work out of your home, and keep your own books.

Entrepreneur 162

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Outsource Development 162

Jason Nazar

JULY 1, 2016

Entrepreneurs often lament big companies, but most of us hope we’ll create just that. Add in public company demands, lawsuit targets, & millions of customers to continually satisfy, and you have to have great respect for those doing it well. Decisions that take entrepreneurs an hour, often take months at large companies.

Entrepreneur 55

Entrepreneur Company Companies Outsource Development 55

InfoChachkie

JUNE 4, 2012

As an entrepreneur, I helped create companies which achieved two IPOs and two trade sales totaling $385 million. Attempt To License An Idea. Rationale: My idea is so mind-blowingly fantastic, I can sit back and collect licensing fees while someone else does all the work required to turn my idea into a successful business.

Entrepreneur 272

Entrepreneur Outsource Ideas Technical Review 272

socalTECH

AUGUST 7, 2014

We spoke with Bryce Maddock , founder of TaskUs, about the company and how it has been providing the manpower behind a lot of LA''s technology startups. Bryce Maddock: TaskUs is the best provider in the world of customer care and back office services for emerging growth companies. Who are some of those companies?

Startup 231

Startup Technology Outsource Santa Monica 231

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 21, 2020

Driven by the current pandemic, smart entrepreneurs of all ages are jumping into the fray with new ideas, new recovery strategies, and discarding outmoded business models. Maybe it’s time to outsource that call center operation, or complex manufacturing setup. Every dark cloud has a silver lining. Snap up top talent.

Geni 172

Geni Layoffs Entrepreneur Outsource 172

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2020

Many platforms, such as IndieGoGo , allow startups to solicit funding commitments from non-professional investors in exchange for a pre-defined reward or perk, such as a T-shirt or other recognition, but no ownership in the company. The crowd gets the satisfaction of helping, with minimal risk, and no expectation of any high return.

Entrepreneur 129

Entrepreneur Outsource Development Satisfaction Equity 129

Frank Addante

MAY 12, 2007

Outsourcing ► April (1) GoogleClick - Who owns your cash register? ► November (1) 2 Ears and 1 Mouth: There's a Reason ► October (2) Be Best at Something Tear Down Your Firewalls ► September (3) Elements of Sustainable Companies We're Not Saving Lives. I am still a big fan of outsourcing.

Outsource Development 40

Outsource Development Outsource Software Review Startup 40

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2011

In fact, we are all media companies now, with our cell phones, computers, and professional-looking publishing tools. Offer a story, entertainment, or a compelling idea that you can link convincingly to your brand, rather than trying to sell products or services directly. Try branding yourself, not selling a product. Marty Zwilling.

Media 91

Media Startup Company Companies 91

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. That’s why investors say they invest in people (bet on the jockey, not the horse), rather than the idea. The trusted leader.

Technical Advisors 105

Technical Advisors Outsource Development Startup High Tech 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2023

I find that many entrepreneurs are so passionate about their own idea that they can’t stop selling it to potential partners. A business startup is not an academic environment, or a big company research organization. On the other hand, there are many technology companies successfully started and run by non-technologists.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Technology High Tech Startup 104

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2020

I find that many entrepreneurs are so passionate about their own idea that they can’t stop selling it to potential partners. A business startup is not an academic environment, or a big company research organization. On the other hand, there are many technology companies successfully started and run by non-technologists.

Competition 174

Competition High Tech Startup Social Media 174

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2018

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. That’s why investors say they invest in people (bet on the jockey, not the horse), rather than the idea. The trusted leader.

Technical Advisors 57

Technical Advisors Startup Outsource Development High Tech 57

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2019

Here are some tips from a classic book by Harvey Mackay, “ Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door ,” which work even better in a startup than they do in a bigger company: Make yourself indispensable. You can’t outsource that one. It pays to be visible in any way that’s positive for the company. Think big picture.

Tips 100

Tips Startup Journal Outsource 100

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 6, 2013

I am fond of quoting that about 70% of my investment decision of an early-stage company is the team. How you build out your team in the first few years can have a huge impact on the trajectory of your company. So I naturally spend much time with the companies in which I invest helping them: recruit. figure out roles.

Startup 388

Startup Slides Outsource Development Sales 388

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2022

With no competitive advantage, startups with new ideas gaining traction are never feared, and are usually eaten for lunch as sleeping giants wake up. Talent – Every startup needs talents to give the company value. Talent can also be outsourced, but surviving in the business jungle without talent is unlikely.

Startup 112

Startup News Framework Outsource 112

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2014

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. That’s why investors say they invest in people (bet on the jockey, not the horse), rather than the idea. The trusted leader.

Technical Advisors 98

Technical Advisors Startup Outsource Development High Tech 98

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2021

After you have sold your first company for several hundred million, you can then afford to challenge Elon Musk on the next line of electric vehicles, or Apple with a new and better smartphone. Surprisingly, I still find many aspiring entrepreneurs who assume that if their idea is good enough, funding will appear.

Startup 161

Startup Resource Customer Custom 161

InfoChachkie

MAY 16, 2011

As an entrepreneur and startup investor, I have helped create companies which achieved two IPOs which collectively raised over $100 million, as well as two acquisitions which totaled $385 million. 3) Attempt To License An Idea. Fallacy: As discussed in Spilling The Beans , ideas are worthless, while skillful execution is priceless.

Startup 242

Startup Outsource Development Outsource Sales 242

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 24, 2015

We tried to use third parties, but rich media companies are great ad serving agencies, but not so good at serving publishers. Why don't those companies serve publishers that well? Chris Tragos: Traditional rich media companies, like Seismic or Pointroll, and not fully integrative. What's the hardest challenge for your company?

Buzznet 100

Buzznet Outsource Development Design HTML 100

socalTECH

MARCH 1, 2018

Our customers tell us that, especially, compared to our legacy competitors, that's the different between hearing immediately from a live person who cares versus having to open a support ticket from someone they've outsourced customer support to overseas, and not hearing back for several days. So how big is the company now?

Customer 113

Customer Custom Services Conference 113

Tech Coast Venture Network

APRIL 21, 2010

Start on your own, and outsource later. While outsourcing labor may prove a much easier time for you as a small business owner, it will also add additional costs that you may not yet have the money to pay for. Benefits outsourcing through professional employer organizations, however, is another matter. Brandon Carl.

Outsource 100

Outsource Tips Venture Capital Resource 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2020

I’m sure you have all seen entrepreneurs and startups with great ideas that never seem to live up to their potential, while others with more mundane solutions seem to take off quickly and never slow down. Richard Branson , founder of the Virgin Group, now drives the strategy of over 400 companies. But even he started with just one.

Startup 123

Startup Outsource Development Entrepreneur Outsource 123

socalTECH

MARCH 15, 2013

Forsblom is now in Los Angeles and San Diego, and reinventing himself with a mobile application company called TenFarms (www.tenfarms.com). What we do, is I identify things and start defining features around ideas. I then went back to Europe to create a company called Fruugo, which was a big startup back in the day, in 2006 in Europe.

Mobile 233

Mobile Southern California Startup Outsource Development 233

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 19, 2013

They enjoy discussing their startup ideas and revel in the positive social status afforded entrepreneurs. Circa 1996, I ran into a former co-worker who had departed my then-current startup, Computer Motion (NASDAQ: RBOT, purchased by Intuitive Surgical), to join an Internet company. Confused, I asked him about his shirt.

Cloud Computing 176

Cloud Computing Web Entrepreneur Marketing 176

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2011

Nobody really knows whether or not the idea is yet going to be big, so I believe in not over capitalizing too early. I believe that over capitalizing companies too early often favors the VC. If you’re creating truly innovative products, you often have no idea whether the proverbial dog will eat the dog food.

Development Team Review 374

Development Team Review Technical Review Startup Resource 374

SoCal CTO

OCTOBER 15, 2009

Steve Gilison worked as a market researcher and product manager at a startup where my company, TechEmpower , did the software / web development. It’s very difficult to communicate the value of my services and it’s even harder to find people/companies looking to outsource their product development to a business guy like myself.

Los Angeles 179

Los Angeles Product Angel Startup 179

socalTECH

DECEMBER 12, 2014

One Los Angeles company-- OneStop Internet (www.onestop.com) has created a growing business handling exactly that. John Tomich: OneStop Internet is an e-commerce services company. We provide a turnkey, back end, managed service offering for brands and retailers on an outsourced basis. Our clients like that a lot.

Commerce 203

Commerce Venture Capital Internet Brands Startup 203

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2014

Almost anyone can start a company today on a shoestring budget, following these cost-cutting recommendations: Establish a solid legal structure for your business. You can now skip the mandatory office space rental, with secretary and bookkeeping staff, or outsourcing. Work out of your home, and keep your own books.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Commerce 104

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 6, 2013

Here are some tips from a book by Harvey Mackay a while back, titled “ Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door ,” which work even better in a startup than they do in a bigger company: Make yourself indispensible. You can’t outsource that one. It pays to be visible in any way that’s positive for the company. Think big picture.

Startup 103

Startup Entrepreneur Journal Outsource 103

socalTECH

OCTOBER 20, 2011

Dan Tamkin: I was brought in by some of the venture capitalists and angels behind Unified Dispatch, after I did a prior company turnaround at Computer Motion, the first medical robotics company, where I had been CFO, and which had just been sold. The original company found that getting IVR deployed was actually very hard.

Outsource Development 190

Outsource Development Startup Outsource Altadena 190

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 14, 2017

Here are some tips from a classic book by Harvey Mackay, “ Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door ,” which work even better in a startup than they do in a bigger company: Make yourself indispensable. You can’t outsource that one. It pays to be visible in any way that’s positive for the company. Think big picture.

Startup 58

Startup Journal Outsource Tips 58

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2019

With no competitive advantage, startups with new ideas gaining traction are never feared, and are usually eaten for lunch as sleeping giants wake up. Talent – Every startup needs talents to give the company value. Talent can also be outsourced, but surviving in the business jungle without talent is unlikely.

Startup 94

Startup News Framework Outsource 94

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Many platforms, such as IndieGoGo , allow startups to solicit funding commitments from non-professional investors in exchange for a pre-defined reward or perk, such as a T-shirt or other recognition, but no ownership in the company. The crowd gets the satisfaction of helping, with minimal risk, and no expectation of any high return.

Venture Capital 108

Venture Capital Angel Satisfaction Equity 108

socalTECH

JANUARY 3, 2011

Jamie tells us the interesting story behind how the company started plus how the company managed to quickly land investor interest. Will had this idea about unsubscriptions, and formulating an idea around creating a way to unsubscribe people from newsletters, and he started talking to me about it. We raised $2.1M

Newsletter 216

Newsletter Startup CTO Hire Blogging 216