Berkonomics

MAY 11, 2017

As a professional investor in early stage companies, I have long discounted long, detailed business plans in favor of a concise “executive summary” followed by a believable spreadsheet-based financial forecast projecting three to five years into the future. Write these steps down in any form for now.

Summary 243

Summary Resource Writing Email 243

SoCal CTO

APRIL 2, 2013

I'm going to be looking at aspects like: Things to consider before building your MVP Features often overlooked when documenting an MVP for developers Understanding important metrics you want to measure Risks and challenges in developing an MVP. Have you Documented Your MVP for Your Developer s? What's going to go wrong?

CTO Coach 219

CTO Coach Metrics Framework Software Development 219

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

Develop an “elevator pitch” as an initial path to your goal. An elevator pitch is a problem-solution summary that anyone can understand in a sixty-second ride up to their office in an elevator. Stop talking and writing, and start executing the plan. Avoid fuzzy goals, like making big money or being a market leader.

Writing 139

Writing Startup Summary Activity 139

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 12, 2019

And this era ushered in by Amazon changed everything from the age of founders to the skill sets required to the structure of the VC industry and even to the layout of cities (yes, I would proclaim that boldly that Amazon AWS affected city development). So What Impact Did the Drop in Tech Founding Costs Have on VC?

Venture Capital 328

Venture Capital Invest Seed Funding Startup 328

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2021

Here is a summary of some key items to think about as an entrepreneur before approaching friends, family, or even fools: Don’t be afraid to ask, carefully. Communicate the risks, and write down the agreement. Look for ways to get some traction with a minimal product, while you are still developing the main event.

Invest 135

Invest Technical Review Startup Ideas 135

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 22, 2015

If you want to get schooled by a guy who’s done it all I suggest watching this video interview I did with him that has already been watched 55,000 times or if you prefer a summary version in writing it’s here. And I can’t wait to see you guys further develop your tech insights. Welcome to the family.

Conference 150

Conference Slides Social Media Summary 150

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 17, 2019

We not only have our Series A funds that can write $500k?—?$15 If you invest early and then pull back in the next 3 rounds your multiples on cash invested are much higher than if you keep writing checks. As I tell our LPs, “if I’m not making you slightly uncomfortable when I’m writing my first check I’m not doing my job.

Venture Capital 223

Venture Capital IP Startup Google 223

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 6, 2019

If you want the whole deck you can find it on SlideShare but I’ve written up a short summary with commentary below. On the other hand, the best firms have developed strategies to capture more value while their best portfolio companies stay private. But there are clear pro’s and con’s.

Venture Capital 292

Venture Capital Capital Startup Funding 292

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 16, 2009

I recently joined the board of a company that was growing slowly, running beyond breakeven, but had not approved a plan for the current year, let alone attempted to develop one for the next. Write these steps down in any form for now. It’s time to speak of some sort of business plan. Positioning.

Summary 149

Summary Resource Writing Email 149

SoCal CTO

MARCH 3, 2011

Maybe you are wondering if you have a Weak Development Team ? Do you have a Startup Founder Developer Gap ? Is it a sourcing question around whether you need a Startup CTO or Developer or both? How can you more effectively work with your developers? I'm looking for free (equity only) development, should I contact you?

CTO Hire 264

CTO Hire Startup Technical Review Development Team Review 264

SoCal CTO

MARCH 3, 2011

Maybe you are wondering if you have a Weak Development Team ? Do you have a Startup Founder Developer Gap ? Is it a sourcing question around whether you need a Startup CTO or Developer or both? How can you more effectively work with your developers? I'm looking for free (equity only) development, should I contact you?

CTO Hire 259

CTO Hire Startup Technical Review Development Team Review 259

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 20, 2013

So I thought I’d write a piece on how not to suck when you give a presentation. No one gives a s**t about your features other than your product manager and your developers. In any speech I do that is information rich I often have a summary slide at the end with the key points I want them to remember. Show some energy!

Slides 399

Slides Startup Conference Writing 399

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 11, 2011

What follows is a summary which paraphrases Naval’s responses. 3) If you were writing your book Pitching Hacks today, how would your advice differ ? The second reason is the incredible critical mass of business development, partners…the ecosystem. You can watch my interview with Naval below or on YouTube here: [link].

Startup 273

Startup Software Review Summary Technical Review 273

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 23, 2014

Just 3 years ago there was talk of institutional investors “not being able to write small enough checks.” Many pension funds are simply too large to write small checks and favor the ability to write $50-100 million checks to funds. Summary: Cheap, mobile, social, global, always-on, one-click-purchase =.

Venture Capital 398

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Seed Funding 398

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 22, 2014

So I thought I’d write about out with what I would look for in a VC knowing what I know now and why. Of course it is super helpful if a VC can drop you in to important people for business development, recruiting, PR, sales and eventually M&A. and I realized that without years of experience it is tough to answer this question.

Venture Capital 364

Venture Capital Coach Writing SaaS 364

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 27, 2011

Or if you’re pinched on time the summary is below and the time coding can help you watch a brief snippet on topics that interest you. 41:00 Transitioning from software to writing. 42:20 Did agile development influence you? 1:05:35 Middle class job of the next generation: software development! Eric is so damn good.

Social Media 301

Social Media Startup Metrics Media 301

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 23, 2013

I’ve been writing a series on a simple methodology that we used at my first enterprise software company. In an early-stage business where your product is less developed the business case might be higher level. There are many out there and many books have been written on the topic. I’ll bet that could be quantified.

Sales 328

Sales Customer Custom Examples 328

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 23, 2013

The fitness professional network develops business tools that make it easier for fitness professionals to run their businesses and keep their clients engaged between training sessions. No summary of what we did, no easy way for me to recommend my trainer to my friends, and no way for me to easily book the next appointment.

Social Network 92

Social Network Networking Training Summary 92

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2015

Thus I recommend that every entrepreneur start blogging in parallel with solution development for the following benefits: Get customer idea feedback before you commit resources. Develop an efficient and effective writing style. A great solution is necessary, but not sufficient, to build a great startup.

Blogging 110

Blogging Startup Search Engine Optimization Social Media 110

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 17, 2013

In my first enterprise software company we developed a methodology for sales that we called PUCCKA. Write down the customer pains so you’ll have them for later. If you haven’t already followed me on Twitter, that’s the fastest way to get blog updates. Click here. This post is about the “P” or pain. Listen more.

Sales 367

Sales Slides Startup Customer 367

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

I shifted my thinking a few years ago after I read Tim Ferris’s book The Four Hour Workweek (link is to a short summary I wrote). You’re writing a freaking blog post! I never get grumpy that people write. If you do randomly write me I have advice. Research & Development. I think so. [I

Email 314

Email Product Startup Writing 314

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 12, 2015

Here is my summary of some major considerations that every entrepreneur needs to evaluate against the cost and effort to attract equity investors: Completing a grant application is real work. Otherwise find an inexpensive class on grant writing. Of course, nothing is really free in the business world. Technology is not enough.

Pricing 100

Pricing Equity Technical Review Research 100

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2013

It’s a hard topic to write about because it’s almost an accepted norm that total transparency is good. They told you, “Yeah, man, I’ll gladly write the first $250,000. It is because when you share too much of this information with staff you develop an “options culture” the I find unhealthy.

Startup 417

Startup Course Venture Capital Writing 417

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 18, 2013

Summary Version. So if you want to be a content producer and want to make money you can develop content for global “niches” of watchers who might like: Japanese Anime, South Korean drama, Bollywood productions, reality TV on any topic – fashion, cooking, travel. And the show develops like this. Harlem Shake.

Startup 380

Startup Media Content Platform 380

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 19, 2011

Or read the quick, informative summary below the image! Here’s a summary of our interview. Big thank you to Darius Vasefi , of EyeOnJewels for the write up. Matt is one of the most transparent, focused & honest startup guys you’ll meet. Passion: Have to be able to motivate people, customers, team, yourself.

Acquisition 304

Acquisition Startup Customer Custom 304

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2010

You will start by developing a vision for the future of your business, then strategies to reach your vision, and finally day-to-day tactics to accomplish your strategies. Instead, you might consider a vision, strategy, and tactics plan. For example, assume that you have a vision of becoming the leading online retailer of picture frames.

Funding 90

Funding Startup Blogging Invest 90

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 16, 2011

This is where she first developed sales skills. Below is a nice summary of our interview with some great quotes from Joanne. In the next generation everybody (including women (are going to write code).&#. She doubled her salary by going into sales. In 18 months from $1.5m to $12m in sales. Start early.

Startup 311

Startup Sales Venture Capital Entrepreneur 311

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 19, 2014

Here is a summary of some key items to think about as an entrepreneur before approaching friends, family, or even fools: Don’t be afraid to ask, carefully. Communicate the risks, and write down the agreement. Look for ways to get some traction with a minimal product, while you are still developing the main event.

Startup 106

Startup Funding Technical Review Ideas 106

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2015

I must admit I discuss this very frequently with portfolio companies but hadn’t thought to write about it. Why Exclusivity Matters to Your Customers or Business Development Partners. So often exclusivity on mega deals is of huge importance to your potential customers or business development partners.

Outsource Development 150

Outsource Development Startup Customer Custom 150

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

In my opinion it’s the most natural fit and it would give Netflix a very strong presence in Los Angeles and in TV (obviously subject to getting the right writes from the studios). But for now feel free to read my short summary of the key principles. Frankly, I’m surprised Netflix doesn’t buy Hulu.

Netflix 329

Netflix Evite Pricing Hulu 329

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 22, 2012

After all, if your VCs won’t help you get access to potential buyers or business development partners – what will they do? If you find yourself writing this in an email – think twice about sending it. In Summary. Helping with a Sales Lead. I do this often. Usually it’s on behalf of a portfolio company.

Email 359

Email Venture Capital Startup Technical Review 359

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2013

Here is a summary of some key items to think about as an entrepreneur before approaching friends, family, or even fools: Don’t be afraid to ask, carefully. Communicate the risks, and write down the agreement. Look for ways to get some traction with a minimal product, while you are still developing the main event.

Entrepreneur 109

Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup Ideas 109

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 1, 2010

But I knew that to be a good decision maker I needed first hand knowledge rather than just a summary from my CTO. By the time of my second company MySQL was a much more robust solution and worked well when you had to read a lot of information but was less performant on “write&# activities.

Startup 308

Startup CTO Coach Technical Review CTO Hire 308

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 13, 2011

I wrote the summary notes in this blog post. I talked about this in the TWiVC video but I didn’t do a good enough job of writing it up in the summary notes in the post. Half baked ideas get refined, new ideas emerge and a two way dialoge develops where a one way monologue once was.&#. Beautifully written.

Venture Capital 299

Venture Capital Slides Technical Advisors Startup 299

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2011

Here is a summary of some key items to think about as an entrepreneur before approaching friends, family, or even fools: Don’t be afraid to ask, carefully. Communicate the risks, and write down the agreement. Look for ways to get some traction with a minimal product, while you are still developing the main event.

Startup 98

Startup Technical Review Ideas Entrepreneur 98

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 28, 2010

Here is a summary of some key items to think about as an entrepreneur before approaching friends, family, or even fools: Don’t be afraid to ask, carefully. Communicate the risks, and write down the agreement. Look for ways to get some traction with a minimal product, while you are still developing the main event.

Funding 93

Funding Technical Review Startup Ideas 93

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2010

Burstly, a Santa Monica based company, provides an open and free ad management platform that helps mobile application developers better monetize their inventory. As I naturally get asked all the time why we invested in Company A or Company B, I thought I’d just put forth my thesis in writing. I’ll explain in detail below.

Mobile 282

Mobile Invest Company Companies 282