Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 23, 2021

Some investors seem to focus wholly on the strengths of the management team, or a sustainable competitive advantage, and in reality these are the core attributes for every funding equation. That means educating targeted supporters is key, even before you start to sell. A startup needs to find a voice relevant to its ecosystem.

Education 151

Education Customer Custom Sales 151

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2022

Do you believe that you have an idea for a company that you can implement better than anyone, and maintain a competitive advantage? What resources do you have, skills and functions, and what do you do best? What resources do you have, skills and functions, and what do you do best? Assess customer demand.

Startup 115

Startup Resource Training Ideas 115

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 11, 2013

As I visit the websites of many startups, as well as more mature businesses, I still too often see a “contact” page offering nothing but a sterile form for customers to submit, never to be heard from again. Customers are not all like you, and they have choices, so a “one size fits all” customer service is no longer a viable option.

Social Media 99

Social Media Customer Custom Media 99

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 8, 2022

In order to be a successful entrepreneur, discipline is a must, and accept your new bosses as investors, partners, and customers. Fire your worst customers. We have all had customers who take advantage of us, to the detriment of other good customers. You can’t please everyone all the time. Consider it a waste of time.

Entrepreneur 117

Entrepreneur Startup Customer Custom 117

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 19, 2020

Instead, they need to validate a customer problem and real market need first. Don’t create solutions looking for a problem , since investors ignore these, and customers other than early adopters will be hard to find. Customers buy solutions, not technology. Prototype your solution for customers, and discount friends and family.

Technology 127

Technology Marketing Social Media Customer 127

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 3, 2020

Cornerstone, which led the Talespin Series B round, will also be partnering with the company to develop human resources training tools in virtual reality. “We Talespin ’s technology is a perfect fit in our suite of products, and we look forward to working together to deliver great solutions for our customers.”.

Training 220

Training Los Angeles Tool Cornerstone OnDemand 220

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 18, 2019

Do you believe that you have an idea for a company that you can implement better than anyone, and maintain a competitive advantage? What resources do you have, skills and functions, and what do you do best? What resources do you have, skills and functions, and what do you do best? Assess customer demand.

Startup 94

Startup Resource Training Ideas 94

Berkonomics

APRIL 8, 2021

Retail or end user web sites aren’t even noticed by potential users or customers without being discovered through a real marketing program, aimed at finding the flywheel effect (the moment of going viral that makes all the difference between failure and success.) Well-tuned metrics are an absolute must. Fifth: reaction.

Sites 156

Sites Product Social Network Press 156

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2019

Some investors seem to focus wholly on the strengths of the management team, or a sustainable competitive advantage, and in reality these are the core attributes for every funding equation. That means educating targeted supporters is key, even before you start to sell. A startup needs to find a voice relevant to its ecosystem.

Startup 97

Startup Education Customer Custom 97

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2019

If you are looking for funding and customers for your new business, you need to identify your “unique selling proposition” (USP) right up front, in 30 seconds or less, to differentiate yourself in today’s information overload. Investor and customer attention spans are short, and both will write you off quickly.

.Net 73

.Net Examples Customer Custom 73

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 26, 2018

However, most enterprises are overlooking an existing, in-house bank of computing resources--desktops and otherwise idle computers--which could help reduce the costs and give them more control over their cloud computing. We had an idea to recapture what we saw was a huge pool of unlimited corporate resources. Explain what Kazuhm does?

Cloud Computing 133

Cloud Computing Resource Startup Software 133

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 27, 2017

Unfortunately, often the result is potential customers who are confused, the limited resources of your business are spread too thin, and customers and investors look elsewhere for a better fit. Customers want a solution from you, not many. Realistically characterize the competition.

Entrepreneur 63

Entrepreneur Competition Customer Custom 63

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 24, 2014

Investors hear this as trying to do too many things with limited resources, meaning the startup will not shine at anything, and will not survive the competition. Startups that try to mix a non-profit entity with a for-profit entity to share resources don’t work, and scare off investors. Realistically frame the competition.

Entrepreneur 103

Entrepreneur Competition Technical Review Oracle 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2019

In order to be a successful entrepreneur, discipline is a must, and accept your new bosses as investors, partners, and customers. Fire your worst customers. We have all had customers who take advantage of us, to the detriment of other good customers. You can’t please everyone all the time. Consider it a waste of time.

Entrepreneur 92

Entrepreneur Startup Customer Custom 92

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 1, 2015

Do you believe that you have an idea for a company that you can implement better than anyone, and maintain a competitive advantage? What resources do you have, skills and functions, and what do you do best? What resources do you have, skills and functions, and what do you do best? Assess customer demand.

Startup 109

Startup Resource Training Ideas 109

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 27, 2013

Investors hear this as trying to do too many things with limited resources, meaning the startup will not shine at anything, and will not survive the competition. Startups that try to mix a non-profit entity with a for-profit entity to share resources don’t work, and scare off investors. Realistically frame the competition.

Startup 103

Startup Competition Technical Review Oracle 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 25, 2017

Your concept has to be understood by customers and investors in 30 seconds or less, and everyone needs to immediately see how awesome it would be, or that they would be nuts not to have it. I’m looking for the “hook” right up front, or I lose interest quickly, just like every customer and investor these days.

Startup 58

Startup Education Ideas Customer 58

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 20, 2016

On the other hand, large companies with existing resources and qualified people have different rules for innovative efforts. First-to-market is a key competitive advantage. Too many startups are proud of being the first-mover in a new market -- only to be overrun by big gorillas with more resources who see the startup traction.

Startup 58

Startup Resource Entrepreneur Ideas 58

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2017

Do you believe that you have an idea for a company that you can implement better than anyone, and maintain a competitive advantage? What resources do you have, skills and functions, and what do you do best? What resources do you have, skills and functions, and what do you do best? Assess customer demand.

Startup 57

Startup Resource Training Ideas 57

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2013

Some investors seem to focus wholly on the strengths of the management team, or a sustainable competitive advantage, and in reality these are the core attributes for every funding equation. That means educating targeted supporters is key, even before you start to sell. A startup needs to find a voice relevant to its ecosystem.

Startup 117

Startup Education Customer Custom 117

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 4, 2013

Do you believe that you have an idea for a company that you can implement better than anyone, and maintain a competitive advantage? What resources do you have, skills and functions, and what do you do best? What resources do you have, skills and functions, and what do you do best? Assess customer demand.

Entrepreneur 97

Entrepreneur Startup Resource Training 97

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2015

Social media is now one of the key marketing tools, but not the only one, so the challenge is to manage the resource tradeoffs effectively by constantly assessing payback versus cost. Startups should begin by selecting just a few of the vast array of social media offerings out there, and customize based on results.

Social Media 108

Social Media Media Startup Tips 108

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 20, 2014

According to a recent Forbes article , UC Santa Barbara''s Technology Management Program offers students a superior startup education over the University of Pennsylvania (home of Wharton), as well Harvard, Northwestern and even its acclaimed southern neighbor, the University of Southern California. All-Star Alumni. Am I biased?

Santa Barbara 258

Santa Barbara Technical Review Startup Venture Capital 258

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2012

Some investors seem to focus wholly on the strengths of your management team, or your sustainable competitive advantage, and in reality these are the core attributes for every funding equation. That means educating targeted supporters is key, even before you start to sell. A startup needs to find a voice relevant to its ecosystem.

Startup 99

Startup Education Customer Custom 99

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 18, 2014

However, a lot of people didn''t know how, because they have no means or resources to buy a ticket to Africa, or how to do things except spend their whole life donating to charities. I had worked along with some of these organization son the ground, who were employing people, providing microfinancing, education, and help. READ MORE>>.

Commerce 140

Commerce Help UCLA Organization 140

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

Do you believe that you have an idea for a company that you can implement better than anyone, and maintain a competitive advantage? What resources do you have, skills and functions, and what do you do best? What resources do you have, skills and functions, and what do you do best? Assess customer demand.

Entrepreneur 106

Entrepreneur Startup Resource Training 106

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 17, 2016

Some investors seem to focus wholly on the strengths of the management team, or a sustainable competitive advantage, and in reality these are the core attributes for every funding equation. That means educating targeted supporters is key, even before you start to sell. A startup needs to find a voice relevant to its ecosystem.

Capital 58

Capital Startup Education Customer 58

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2017

In order to be a successful entrepreneur, discipline is a must, and accept your new bosses as investors, partners, and customers. Fire your worst customers. We have all had customers who take advantage of us, to the detriment of other good customers. You can’t please everyone all the time. Consider it a waste of time.

Entrepreneur 71

Entrepreneur Startup Customer Custom 71

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2014

In order to be a successful entrepreneur, discipline is a must, and accept your new bosses as investors, partners, and customers. Fire your worst customers. We have all had customers who take advantage of us, to the detriment of other good customers. You can’t please everyone all the time. Consider it a waste of time.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Startup Customer Custom 107

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

Instead, they need to validate a customer problem and real market need first. Don’t create solutions looking for a problem , since investors ignore these, and customers other than early adopters are hard to find. Customers buy solutions, not technology. Look for customer willingness and ability to pay.

Technology 114

Technology Startup Social Media Customer 114

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 5, 2017

According to Small Business Trends , over half of the existing small businesses in the US already have international customers. This kind of disruption used to happen only a few times per century, but now it is commonplace Customer and employee power trumps stakeholders. Use two-way communication. Translation costs go down every day.

Social Media 74

Social Media Demand Customer Custom 74

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

I wanted to connect LA’s incredible entrepreneurs with the larger business community and with the resources of USC.”. The second annual USC Silicon Beach event, hosted by the four professional schools at USC, featured a pitch competition and a conference filled with informational panels and interviews. Startup Pitch Competition.

USC 98

USC Cornerstone OnDemand Southern California Netflix 98

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2013

In order to be a successful entrepreneur, discipline is a must, and accept your new bosses as investors, partners, and customers. Fire your worst customers. We have all had customers who take advantage of us, to the detriment of other good customers. You can’t please everyone all the time. Consider it a waste of time.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Customer Custom 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 9, 2011

Do you believe that you have an idea for a company that you can implement better than anyone, and maintain a competitive advantage? What resources do you have, skills and functions, and what do you do best? What resources do you have, skills and functions, and what do you do best? Assess customer demand.

Startup 94

Startup Resource Training Ideas 94

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 7, 2012

Here are a few thoughts on a process that will keep you on the right track: Get real customer input first. Temper your product with actual market and customer feedback. Show your prototype to real customers, and listen. Analyze how competition will react. Quantify the pain points.

Technology 91

Technology Funding Competition Entrepreneur 91

socalTECH

OCTOBER 25, 2012

I've really gotten an in-depth education about what women want when buying and selling online. RecycledBride was really the testing ground and gave us an education of the ins- and outs- of this market an dhow it works, and gave us extensive user testing. The easiest way to do that, was to become a resource for great content.

Startup 236

Startup Education Acquisition Funding 236

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 2, 2017

We're a disruptor, the third wave in human resources technology. We got really serious after the success of that customer, who wanted to make this technology available for all of its employees across the globe. How is it your first customer was in Australia? What is Fuel50? The whole space has been neglected. READ MORE>>.

Help 100

Help Southern California Startup Technical Review 100