Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2020

In my business of mentoring new entrepreneurs and advising small company owners, I recognize that most don’t start as experienced leaders, and most don’t realize that people leadership is a primary key to their future success. Building a business is not a one-person job, and leading by edict rarely works today.

Develop 124

Develop Development Technical Advisors Satisfaction 124

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 5, 2010

You attend five customer meetings together over a two-week period and after each meeting you replay the results in the office about what it meant. The sales rep that brings back news from the front line that is shared with the office adds to our collective knowledge about customer needs, product design flaws or partnership opportunities.

Technical Advisors 335

Technical Advisors Outsource Development Offshore Startup 335

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

If you are one of the thousands of entrepreneurs who need equity funding to get your startup going (no loans to repay), you are probably overwhelmed at the prospect of finding, contacting and pitching to the huge number of qualified angels and investment groups around the country. Collect target customer testimonials and advocacy.

Platform 94

Platform Equity Invest Technical Advisors 94

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2018

While spending years in a big company as an employee and an executive, I heard many people talking about jumping the corporate ship, dreaming of being an entrepreneur, and totally in charge of their own destiny. I’m not saying success is rare, but the list of famous entrepreneurs who started their career in a big company is small.

Startup 52

Startup Technical Advisors Entrepreneur IBM 52

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 17, 2018

Most of the entrepreneurs I advise today are ready to declare success when they get that first surge of traction with a real customer. What may have looked like an incidental cost in your base product will now grow to be a major impact on profitability, customer responsiveness, and time-to-market.

Technical Advisors 83

Technical Advisors Tool Software Product 83

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2019

Steve Jobs started his technical career creating circuit boards at Atari, before joining Steve Wozniak to build personal computers in his garage. If your job is processing transactions, you need to work on ways of enhancing transactions from a customer perspective and how to attract more business, rather than just counting transactions.

Technical Advisors 75

Technical Advisors Startup Satisfaction Custom 75

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 17, 2009

I often talk with entrepreneurs who are kicking around their next idea. When I hear entrepreneurs say that they’re kicking around ideas with friends I ask, “have you legally registered a company?&# Get customer input. Interview customers to better articulate their problems. Register a company.

Startup 365

Startup Technical Advisors IP Ideas 365

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 27, 2015

But the status symbol of this milestone is driving investors, entrepreneurs, the press and everybody into thinking you magically can achieve this status in a matter of a few years with a great team and an astounding idea. My concern is that culture of unicorns has created a generation of entrepreneurs & investors looking for short cuts.

Technical Advisors 150

Technical Advisors Startup Writing Blogging 150

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 27, 2011

Most people totally advise against stealth. I actually like finding entrepreneurs who are more circumspect, less braggadocios and generally more planned about their actions. Where Stealth is Bad – I do meet entrepreneurs who clearly fall on the other side of spectrum and are totally closed. Be careful about this advice.

Marketing 380

Marketing Startup Press Technical Advisors 380

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

In a world where the economy only heads in one direction (read: 2009-2014) most investors & entrepreneurs forget to pay attention to gross burn. You are particularly vulnerable if: You have revenue concentration (few customers each providing a large total of percentage of your revenue). Growth vs. Profitability. Valuation.

Startup 383

Startup Company Companies .Net 383

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2011

Our own subsidiary, of a major technology company, started to repair and service competitive products in order to maintain our own technical staff and service capabilities. Respect local customs and practices. We retained legal council in Milan and were advised that we would loose if the case went to trial.

Startup 90

Startup Technical Advisors Sales Examples 90

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 13, 2011

I would argue that this mostly consists of consumer Internet companies (although not exclusively) and it is predominantly early-stage people who are product gurus and have a mildly technical bend to them. The quote from Bryce is: “When an entrepreneur steps to the whiteboard the energy in the room totally changes. Mobile app?

Venture Capital 299

Venture Capital Slides Technical Advisors Startup 299

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 13, 2010

Our own subsidiary, of a major technology company, started to repair and service competitive products in order to maintain our own technical staff and service capabilities. Respect local customs and practices. We retained legal council in Milan and were advised that we would loose if the case went to trial.

Technical Advisors 48

Technical Advisors Sales Startup Coach 48

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

Even when you do sign-up initial customers it’s still not clear that your company will be a success and you’re still likely paying yourself under market rates. ” My friend Ian Sigelow wrote about this last week and advised people not to take on this kind of job. If you can and if you want to – you should.

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Startup Venture Capital IP 150

InfoChachkie

JUNE 25, 2009

It is surprising how often entrepreneurs forget this simple fact. Your lawyer is a trusted advisor, but in the end, you run your business, your lawyer does not. As noted in Frugal is as Frugal Does , entrepreneurs on The Fringe only spend their cash on items that add value to their adVentures. but They Make Great Guard Dogs.

Technical Advisors 124

Technical Advisors Technical Review IP Patents 124

Frank Addante

JUNE 4, 2006

We provide turnkey digital messaging appliances for enterprises, service providers and software developers to send marketing, e-commerce, CRM and customer service email. StrongMail’s software ensures reliable and timely delivery of their critical customer communications. SMS, MMS, Instant Messaging, etc.)

Startup 40

Startup Venture Capital Email CTO Hire 40

Frank Addante

MAY 15, 2006

. – Premium Online Advertising Company Age: 21 - 25 Time Period: 1997 - 2001 My Role: Chief Technology Officer, Technology Founder and Chairman, Advisory Board High Point: $500 million market cap; 3,000+ customers; 8 billion transactions per month; 65% Internet reach Warning, this will be a long posting. We had customers and revenue.

Advertising 40

Advertising Startup Chief Technology Officer Technical Review 40