Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2019

As an advisor to business owners, and an occasional angel investor, my job is to separate the actual challenges from the common misconceptions that distract many promising entrepreneurs while building the leadership team required for your solution, marketing, and finance success. Partner with experts who share the risk.

Software Review 98

Software Review Ideas Outsource Development Entrepreneur 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2016

Thus the top priority of every entrepreneur who wants funding should be to build and highlight their “dream team” of co-founders, executives and advisers, to attract the biggest and best investors. Solo entrepreneurs rarely find an investor. Investors talk to each other and they love warm introductions to up-and-coming entrepreneurs.

Startup 60

Startup Entrepreneur Software Review Technical Review 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2014

My first advice for new entrepreneurs is to pick a domain that doesn’t have the sky-high up-front development costs, like online web sites and smart phone apps. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. Set expectations accordingly. Are you ready to start?

Entrepreneur 113

Entrepreneur Funding Startup Technical Review 113

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

My first advice for new entrepreneurs is to pick a domain, such as online web sites and smart phone apps, that doesn’t have the sky-high up-front development costs. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. Set expectations accordingly. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 136

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 136

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

A few months ago I wrote about an entrepreneur, Sam Rosen, whom we brought on as an EIR at Upfront Ventures. His ideas to date hadn’t totally resonated and of course ideas matter, too. His message was that he realized he needed to move his girlfriend’s stuff into a storage facility due to apartment flooding. I felt bad.

UCSD 340

UCSD Startup Ideas Course 340

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2013

Of course there are people who are great at getting things done, but haven’t had an original idea in their life. Great entrepreneurs, like Bill Gates, are great at both. I was with IBM in the early PC days when Bill worked with us to provide PC DOS and other software. Some struggling entrepreneurs are totally event driven.

Ideas 110

Ideas Entrepreneur Startup Technical Review 110

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 20, 2018

Every entrepreneur wants to hear “yes” during the fund-raising process but I would argue that being too risk averse and not pushing hard enough and be willing to hear a “no” is what holds back many people from “yes.” Possibly offend and entrepreneur leading to reputation risk amongst other entrepreneurs.

Funding 189

Funding Software Review Entrepreneur Venture Capital 189

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 19, 2013

The era of VCs investing in successful consumer Internet startups such as eBay led to a belief system that seemed to permeate many enterprise software startups that hiring sales or implementation people was a bad thing. We only want software revenue.” We prefer to sell software, not get involved with client systems.”

Startup 403

Startup Sales Software Review Technical Review 403

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2015

My first advice for new entrepreneurs is to pick a domain, such as online web sites and smart phone apps, that doesn’t have the sky-high up-front development costs. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. Set expectations accordingly. Marty Zwilling.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Technical Review Equity 105

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2014

If you have a software development background like mine, Im sure you often get questions about when to outsource, versus building the solution in-house. If your software or your manufacturing process is your secret sauce, you need to keep the work in-house. The same applies to manufacturing and almost any process these days.

Outsource Development 95

Outsource Development Outsource Offshore Software Review 95

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 26, 2016

Perhaps the most misused terms I see these days from entrepreneurs involve CAC (customer acquisition costs) and LTV (life time value) and a lack of understanding these critical components is driving many companies to premature failure. So I spend an inordinate amount of time with entrepreneurs focused on payback. End of story.

Metrics 150

Metrics Startup SaaS Course 150

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2022

My first advice for new entrepreneurs is to pick a domain that doesn’t have the sky-high up-front development costs, like online web sites and smart phone apps. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. Set expectations accordingly. Are you ready to start?

Tips 104

Tips Startup Technical Review Equity 104

socalTECH

OCTOBER 4, 2010

The company provides SAT, ACT, and other similar test preparation courses and related software. I had worked as a tutor for Princeton Review, and Jake for Kaplan. We thought, we could put out a better product than Kaplan or Princeton Review, which would be more compelling, and also would tie in a strong social mission.

Software Review 178

Software Review Technical Review Education Startup 178

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 24, 2013

Here is an entry-level benchmark for the new software personal assistants: Simple and intuitive communication. A good assistant know how get things done efficiently, recognizing user hardware and software limitations. Of course, many are still fighting it as well, due to privacy concerns. Technology environment savvy.

Web 98

Web Entrepreneur Software Review Google 98

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 15, 2010

Of course there are people who are great at getting things done, but haven’t had an original idea in their life. Great entrepreneurs, like Bill Gates, are great at both. I was with IBM in the early PC days when Bill worked with us to provide PC DOS and other software. Some struggling entrepreneurs are totally event driven.

Ideas 95

Ideas Entrepreneur Startup Technical Review 95

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 25, 2015

” This, too, is a must read for any entrepreneur. I have many investments with early traction and I the entrepreneurs I work with must tire of my constantly saying, “Are we really making a difference? And of course it’s true in personal productivity apps, SMB apps, B2B software and so forth.

Product 150

Product Startup Metrics Technical Review 150

socalTECH

JUNE 4, 2018

We know one thing, which is that entrepreneurs come out of a world where there is disruption. There are now a number of products, technology, and services which are being brought to market, which a few years ago had no way for an entrepreneur to generate money. What's the story behind the fund? Jay Goss: Great question.

Startup 113

Startup Technical Review Software Review Artificial Inteligence 113

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2019

My first advice for new entrepreneurs is to pick a domain, such as online web sites and smart phone apps, that doesn’t have the sky-high up-front development costs. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. Set expectations accordingly. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 128

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 128

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 27, 2012

Entrepreneurs can still build big businesses on the outskirts.” David encourages entrepreneurs to stay away from the big tech firms (such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple) because they are hard to compete with. We once thought Microsoft was a monopoly on the Internet due to IE. Of course not. Laughable now.

Technical Review 299

Technical Review Venture Capital Yammer Google 299

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 9, 2019

I still have to tell some entrepreneurs that even with the best idea, they have to move to Silicon Valley to find the investors they need, or they need to move to the U.S. Of course, there are always exceptions, but how much added risk do you need for your startup? get the attention of the market they choose.

Startup 97

Startup Technical Review Oracle Software Review 97

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 6, 2011

We are now harnessing the ‘social’ aspect of the system where businesses and consumers begin to contribute to the data by adding or updating products listings as well as rate and review products.”. With that said, what books, blogs or other resources do you recommend for emerging entrepreneurs? I try hard to find that balance.”.

Entrepreneur 232

Entrepreneur Competition Software Review Course 232

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 24, 2011

We are now harnessing the ‘social’ aspect of the system where businesses and consumers begin to contribute to the data by adding or updating products listings as well as rate and review products.”. With that said, what books, blogs or other resources do you recommend for emerging entrepreneurs? I try hard to find that balance.”.

Blogging 219

Blogging Entrepreneur Software Review Course 219

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 3, 2015

It’s true that we also fund more mundane stuff like B2B software aimed at productivity improvements but we want some big bets in every fund where we feel we can contribute to “making our own little dent in the universe” as the saying goes – by backing ambitious entrepreneurs with that same goal.

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Software Review Startup Ideas 150

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2011

Finally, we want it cheap (of course). Of course, you both need to have compatible smart phones with the software already downloaded. Here is the old standby low-end hardware-based solution, a simple business card scanner for $150, with software to synchronize the data with Outlook, Windows mobile devices and smartphones.

Technical Review 83

Technical Review Technology Software Review Social Network 83

socalTECH

OCTOBER 2, 2012

We are focused on the investment in and acquisition of software firms that are generating $2.5M They've grown their businesses through word of mouth more than through a large, established sales organization and they have done that by building a software product that is very well received, and unique in their particular niche market.

Acquisition 168

Acquisition Software Review Technical Review Equity 168

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2019

My first advice for new entrepreneurs is to pick a domain that doesn’t have the sky-high up-front development costs, like online web sites and smart phone apps. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. Set expectations accordingly. Are you ready to start?

Startup 87

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 87

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2012

For example, if your startup is building a high-tech software product, a dream team of advisors would be a former CEO or high-level exec in another software company, a former software marketing executive, and a former financial executive.

Startup 95

Startup Technical Review Software Review High Tech 95

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 15, 2013

The one word the best entrepreneurs never accept. I worked in both before leaving to work in a software company at 17. “Of course I can. ” Jacob, “Of course I can have a piece. I had a business class seat due to status of flying a lot and my family was in economy. Stay with me. “What?

Sales 416

Sales Class Training Technical Review 416

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 29, 2009

If you look at what you go through, starting high school, and maybe even middle or grade school, you go through your educational life managing courses, relationships with your teachers, and relationships with your parents. It's started with managing courses and grades, on to a whole array of other services. Talk about your background?

Education 124

Education Startup Course Tool 124

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

And here’s an important point that I think modern entrepreneurs often forget: Investors are “co-owners” of your business. Reviewing financial & operational performance. There are just as many bad entrepreneurs who do bad things. Defections of large swaths of talented employees due to low morale.

Startup 325

Startup Sales Technical Review Software Review 325

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2015

I still have to tell some entrepreneurs that even with the best idea, they have to move to Silicon Valley to find the investors they need, or they need to move to the U.S. Of course, there are always exceptions, but how much added risk do you need for your startup? get the attention of the market they choose.

Startup 109

Startup Technical Review Oracle Software Review 109

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

In our industry we applaud the efforts for entrepreneurs to have tried and we know that today’s failure can bring the experience for tomorrow’s success. If you look at the structure of the travel industry above – of course we know that the hotel industry is fragmented while the airline industry is reasonable consolidated.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2011

For example, if your startup is building a high-tech software product, a dream team of advisors would be a former CEO or high-level exec in another software company, a former software marketing executive, and a former financial executive.

Startup 95

Startup Technical Review Software Review High Tech 95

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 31, 2021

over the course of 2020 (and their combined estimated price tag of nearly $100 billion), it’s not surprising that the Biden plan begins with a focus on resiliency. The vast majority of those are nowhere up to modern codes. ” Climate resiliency . Given the steady drumbeat of climate disasters that hit the U.S.

Startup 229

Startup Technical Review Invest Research 229

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2010

My favorite new software tool is DailyBurn. Problem is – Weight Watchers software TOTALLY SUCKS. There is, of course, a paid version. If you have an iPhone you can scan the UPC code on the food you eat and they will be entered directly into DailyBurn done through a partnership with a company called Occipital.

Technical Review 278

Technical Review Software Review Startup SoCal 278

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 7, 2013

I still have to tell some entrepreneurs that even with the best idea, they have to move to Silicon Valley to find the investors they need, or they need to move to the U.S. Of course, there are always exceptions, but how much added risk do you need for your startup? get the attention of the market they choose. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 102

Startup Technical Review Oracle Entrepreneur 102

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2018

I was happy to see a real focus on preparing for tomorrow highlighted in a new book, “ Start a Successful Business ,” by Colleen DeBaise, who has made a career of studying and writing about entrepreneur challenges. I often hear entrepreneurs who seem to rely wholly on their own passion, and the view of a few friends.

Customer 57

Customer Custom Technical Review Software Review 57