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. 1) Expect Independent Channel Sales Reps To Perform Missionary Sales. Rationale: I cannot afford to hire a direct sales force.

Startup 242

Startup Outsource Development Outsource Sales 242

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

Outsourcing your core competency does not work. Running a new company cannot always be a consensus-driven process, especially when hard decisions need to be made that affect everybody’s lives. The sales professional. A sales fanatic on the founder team helps to contain that risk. The trusted leader. The financial suit.

Technical Advisors 105

Technical Advisors Outsource Development Startup High Tech 105

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2018

Outsourcing your core competency does not work. Running a new company cannot always be a consensus-driven process, especially when hard decisions need to be made that affect everybody’s lives. The sales professional. A sales fanatic on the founder team helps to contain that risk. The trusted leader. The financial suit.

Technical Advisors 57

Technical Advisors Startup Outsource Development High Tech 57

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2014

Outsourcing your core competency does not work. Running a new company cannot always be a consensus-driven process, especially when hard decisions need to be made that affect everybody’s lives. The sales professional. A sales fanatic on the founder team helps to contain that risk. The trusted leader. The financial suit.

Technical Advisors 98

Technical Advisors Startup Outsource Development High Tech 98

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 20, 2010

I recently did a post for startups on understanding sales people. The CTO / Lead Architect - If you want to build a great technology company, you’ll need a “rockstar&# engineering lead. So I believe that every great technology startup has the technology visionary inside the company. What makes a great tech team?

CTO Hire 400

CTO Hire Fractional VPE Startup Outsource Development 400

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2019

Very few entrepreneurs have the range of skills and experience to be the solution creator as well as business creator, or operational as well as sales leader. Look at the big picture first of development, finance, and marketing/sales. The challenge is to recognize and recruit that ideal partner match early with minimal cost and risk.

Software Review 88

Software Review CTO Hire Outsource Development Startup 88

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2012

There are dozens of sources to help you construct your business model, and a good example is a recent book by venture capital investor Elizabeth Edwards, simply named “ Startup ,” which is really designed as a handbook for launching a company for less. Sales/Marketing. Be specific on sales channels and marketing initiatives.

Sales 97

Sales Customer Custom Outsource 97

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2018

On the product side, once you have a proven product and business model, all you need is money to build inventory, and a sales and marketing operation to drive the business. With services, scaling the business often implies cloning yourself, since you are the intellectual property and the competitive advantage.

Services 72

Services Startup Training Writing 72

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2012

A business plan is an “outward facing” document for external investors, or for C-level executives within your own company. Enough detail is required so that someone else can build it without you (outsourcing). Competition analysis. Market research and competition. Market research. Development and rollout.

Product 92

Product Outsource Development Competition High Tech 92

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2011

There are dozens of sources to help you construct your business model, and a good example is a recent book by venture capital investor Elizabeth Edwards, simply named “ Startup ,” which is really designed as a handbook for launching a company for less. Sales/Marketing. Be specific on sales channels and marketing initiatives.

Sales 98

Sales Customer Custom Outsource 98

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 6, 2016

For example, at any given moment in your business, you may be limited by development, marketing, or sales. Evaluate outsourcing as a quick solution to break the constraint. Acquire or merge with another company. The organic solution is to hire more people, spend more money, and ramp up your focus.

Startup 56

Startup Outsource Development Organization Outsource 56

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2011

A business plan is an “outward facing” document for external investors, or for C-level executives within your own company. Enough detail is required so that someone else can build it without you (outsourcing). Competition analysis. Market research and competition. Market research. Development and rollout.

Product 93

Product Entrepreneur Outsource Development Competition 93

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2014

On the product side, once you have a proven product and business model, all you need is money to build inventory, and a sales and marketing operation to drive the business. With services, scaling the business often implies cloning yourself, since you are the intellectual property and the competitive advantage.

Services 105

Services Startup Training Writing 105

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2016

On the product side, once you have a proven product and business model, all you need is money to build inventory, and a sales and marketing operation to drive the business. With services, scaling the business often implies cloning yourself, since you are the intellectual property and the competitive advantage.

Services 61

Services Startup Training Writing 61

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2011

I believe that over capitalizing companies too early often favors the VC. In the late 90′s I saw a dangerous trend creeping into the startup world, which was that companies were suddenly raising huge amounts of money too early in their existence. Over funding often produces bad behavior in early-stage companies.

Development Team Review 374

Development Team Review Technical Review Startup Resource 374

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 1, 2013

Especially keep an eye on the balance between expenses and sales. Before going through the expensive process of sourcing, recruiting, and hiring an employee, look into outsourcing, especially for non-core functions such as HR, accounting, and legal. Do your due diligence to perform competitive analysis.

Startup 93

Startup Pricing Outsource Competition 93

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2013

Executives from large companies have sometimes long forgotten how to do this (“My people will contact your people to work out the details.”). Others hire consultants, or outsource much of the real work. Too many entrepreneurs are reluctant to start the sales process, preferring to tweak and refine the product. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 103

Startup Entrepreneur Template Mentor 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2017

Very few entrepreneurs have the range of skills and experience to be the solution creator as well as business creator, or operational as well as sales leader. Look at the big picture first of development, finance, and marketing/sales. The challenge is to recognize and recruit that ideal partner match early with minimal cost and risk.

Software Review 56

Software Review CTO Hire Outsource Development CTO Coach 56

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2014

This will include the first version of many critical processes that can be split out later, including market opportunity, requirements, product definition, business model, sales process, and organization. If you are contracting or outsourcing, this is even more important. But having no process does not make you more competitive.

Startup 107

Startup Outsource Development Training Outsource 107

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2014

Look at the big picture first of development, finance, and marketing/sales. The passion has to be in the business context – meaning results oriented, customer oriented, and sensitive to competition. Passion for what they do. In many cases, experts with academic or research credentials are not good partners for a business venture.

Software Review 107

Software Review Entrepreneur CTO Hire Outsource Development 107

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2012

Her focus is on crafting a customer experience that caters to people not like you, including social media aficionados, to bring in new customers and create a competitive advantage. That means forget using interns or outsourcing this function. Give you a significant competitive edge, by better serving broader customer groups.

Social Media 91

Social Media Customer Custom Media 91

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2012

Executives from large companies have sometimes long forgotten how to do this (“My people will contact your people to work out the details.”). Others hire consultants, or outsource much of the real work. Too many entrepreneurs are reluctant to start the sales process, preferring to tweak and refine the product. Marty Zwilling.

Entrepreneur 94

Entrepreneur Startup Template Mentor 94

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

Look at the big picture first of development, finance, and marketing/sales. The passion has to be in the business context – meaning results oriented, customer oriented, and sensitive to competition. Passion for what they do. In many cases, experts with academic or research credentials are not good partners for a business venture.

Software Review 103

Software Review Equity CTO Hire Outsource Development 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 11, 2013

Her focus is on crafting a customer experience that caters to people not like you, including social media aficionados, to bring in new customers and create a competitive advantage. That means forget using interns or outsourcing this function. Give you a significant competitive edge, by better serving broader customer groups.

Social Media 99

Social Media Customer Custom Media 99

socalTECH

APRIL 21, 2017

What's the secret to creating a profitable, successful, physical subscription based business--and to do that at the scale of large, consumer product goods (CPGs) companies? xWe spoke with a few companies in the recurring revenue area space, ahead of the Recurring Revenue Conference ([link] which we are helping to sponsor next week.

Startup 145

Startup Product Customer Custom 145

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2010

A business plan is an “outward facing” document for external investors, or for C-level executives within your own company. Enough detail is required so that someone else can build it without you (outsourcing). Competition analysis. Market research and competition. Market research. Development and rollout.

Product 48

Product Outsource Development Competition High Tech 48

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2013

This will include the first version of many critical processes that can be split out later, including market opportunity, requirements, product definition, business model, sales process, and organization. If you are contracting or outsourcing, this is even more important. But having no process does not make you more competitive.

Outsource Development 92

Outsource Development Training Outsource Metrics 92

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

This will include the first version of many critical processes that can be split out later, including market opportunity, requirements, product definition, business model, sales process, and organization. If you are contracting or outsourcing, this is even more important. But having no process does not make you more competitive.

Startup 102

Startup Outsource Development Writing Training 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 29, 2011

Look at the big picture first of development, finance, and marketing/sales. The passion has to be in the business context – meaning results oriented, customer oriented, and sensitive to competition. Passion for what they do. In many cases, experts with academic or research credentials are not good partners for a business venture.

Software Review 96

Software Review CTO Hire Startup Outsource Development 96

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2010

This will include the first version of many critical processes that can be split out later, including market opportunity, requirements, product definition, business model, sales process, and organization. If you are contracting or outsourcing, this is even more important. But having no process does not make you more competitive.

Startup 95

Startup Outsource Development Writing Training 95

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2010

Look at the big picture first of development, finance, and marketing/sales. The passion has to be in the business context – meaning results oriented, customer oriented, and sensitive to competition. Passion for what they do. In many cases, experts with academic or research credentials are not good partners for a business venture.

Software Review 92

Software Review CTO Hire Outsource Development Startup 92

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

This continues my series of posts: Top 30 Startup Posts for July 2010 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 Here they are: How to Minimize Politics in Your Company - Ben's Blog , August 24, 2010 “Who the f@#k you think you f$&kin’ with.

Startup 191

Startup Venture Capital Blogging CTO Hire 191

InfoChachkie

MAY 19, 2011

As noted in parts I and II of this series, agreements with Big Dumb Companies (BDCs) can be alluring and potentially fatal. This series describes how entrepreneurs can craft company-changing agreements with BDCs, while avoiding Kiss of Death contract provisions. Unmitigated exclusivity can be the death knell of a small company.

Outsource Development 193

Outsource Development IP Technical Review Entrepreneur 193

Frank Addante

MARCH 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. FounderBlog’s 1 Year Anniversary!

Outsource Development 40

Outsource Development Startup .Net Venture Capital 40

socalTECH

DECEMBER 9, 2008

It really doesn't suit a publisher well to have exclusive representation, except in some instances--for example, if a site has an outsourced sales agency. It looks like your company has been seeing some great growth. Finally, how big is the company, and are they all here in LA? Tell us the story behind the growth?

Advertising 100

Advertising Beverly Hills Networking Customer 100

socalTECH

DECEMBER 9, 2008

It really doesn't suit a publisher well to have exclusive representation, except in some instances--for example, if a site has an outsourced sales agency. It looks like your company has been seeing some great growth. Finally, how big is the company, and are they all here in LA? Tell us the story behind the growth?

Advertising 100

Advertising Beverly Hills Networking Customer 100

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 3, 2013

We also spoke about technology systems in the perspective of global competition. The numerator (return) encourages more sales, which is fine. But “on capital employed” encourages companies to push more off balance sheet and thus into offshore & outsourced situations.

Venture Capital 403

Venture Capital Education Offshore Outsource Development 403