Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

As a mentor to young aspiring entrepreneurs , I often get asked for tips on a strategy to get started. I favor the more cautious approach, and would offer the following insights to help you make the right decisions: Join a startup or take a role in an existing business. Write a business plan for your desired new business.

Startup 114

Startup Tips Coach Satisfaction 114

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

I can’t help you get into the right mindset, but I can offer some proven specific steps for translating a business dream into reality, based on my own years of experience working at all levels in the business world: Narrow your focus, to identify your major business goal. Stop talking and writing, and start executing the plan.

Writing 139

Writing Startup Summary Activity 139

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2020

Many aspiring entrepreneurs I mentor can talk at length about their innovative ideas and passions, and ask lots of good questions, but never make much progress in building a real business. Writing something down is the first step toward moving forward and making it real. List items to achieve the goal, and network now.

Ideas 121

Ideas Writing Startup Entrepreneur 121

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 24, 2019

The second is that they are usually very experienced operators that can mentor the founding team. Of course there is usually an inverse relationship between how senior the person is, how much time they have available and on the other side how much time they’ll spend helping you and getting involved in details.

Startup 187

Startup Writing Venture Capital Oracle 187

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2023

Based on my own experience as a mentor and angel investor, I find that as many as ninety percent of startups fail in the first five years, despite their best efforts. It helps to advertise your new presence with a grand opening, viral video, and traditional advertising to highlight entry into the arena.

Social Media 98

Social Media Metrics Media Tool 98

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

Huddlewoo a live video platform set to launch early 2013 to give people the ability to access extraordinary people for one-on-one conversations and mentoring. Our focus is providing anyone who is active online already with the ability to leverage their existing social networks for monetized one-on-one conversations. How does it work?

Mentor 94

Mentor Platform Social Network Chief Technology Officer 94

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2017

It does mean that you need to look, listen, and participate in the business world around you, and network through all available channels, like business-oriented social networks online (LinkedIn), local business organizations (Chamber of Commerce), and events or conferences in your school or industry. Nominate someone as your mentor.

Startup 75

Startup Social Network Networking Mentor 75

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2015

It does mean that you need to look, listen, and participate in the business world around you, and network through all available channels, like business-oriented social networks online (LinkedIn), local business organizations (Chamber of Commerce), and events or conferences in your school or industry. Nominate someone as your mentor.

Startup 108

Startup Social Network Mentor Entrepreneur 108

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2013

It does mean that you need to look, listen, and participate in the business world around you, and network through all available channels, like business-oriented social networks online (LinkedIn), local business organizations (Chamber of Commerce), and events or conferences in your domain. Nominate someone as your mentor.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Tips Startup Social Network 108

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

I have found that the process of writing down your idea, with a plan for implementation, and reviewing that plan with a business advisor, will force you to learn and acknowledge the real requirements for implementation. Build your own personal brand image through blogging, industry forums, and networking.

Ideas 126

Ideas Writing Examples Outsource 126

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 3, 2020

As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m often asked what it takes to switch and get real satisfaction from this lifestyle. I found some great help in outlining the elements of this process in the classic book, “ Disruptors ,” by Kunal Mehta. Then write them down. One obvious alternative is to become an entrepreneur.

Entrepreneur 123

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Writing Startup 123

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 4, 2012

Today they say its Africa’s largest and fastest growing social networking utility with over 4,000 daily new sign-ups. They also add that LAGbook ranks #2 in the city of Yaba-Lagos, where the social network was incepted, and #37 in the city of Hirtshal, Denmark. Who are your mentors, role models? What is LAGbook?

Social Network 100

Social Network Networking Advertising Startup 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2013

While I agree that successful company builders usually have a natural inclination to be entrepreneurs, a good education helps polish that apple. Many colleges offer courses on entrepreneurship, to help you think like one. An MBA is helpful, but not required. Business networking is key. Build a business plan early on.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Course Education 105

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2012

It does mean that you need to look, listen, and participate in the business world around you, and network through all available channels, like business-oriented social networks online (LinkedIn), local business organizations (Chamber of Commerce), and events or conferences in your domain. Nominate someone as your mentor.

Startup 97

Startup Tips Social Network Networking 97

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. Really great feedback that’s going to help us build an awesome product. Why did you venture into fitness? There’s something like 4.5

Social Network 92

Social Network Networking Training Summary 92

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2011

While I agree that successful company builders usually have a natural inclination to be entrepreneurs, a good education helps polish that apple. Many colleges offer courses on entrepreneurship, to help you think like one. An MBA is helpful, but not required. Business networking is key. Build a business plan early on.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Course Education 105

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 23, 2015

So part of playing an effective coach is helping the team to see the answer for themselves. Fred has of course been a public mentor to us all with his market-defining terminology that he popularized including “freemium” and “mobile first.” I remember writing about online video nearly 5 years ago.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Startup Writing Blogging 150

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2016

Too many aspiring entrepreneurs I mentor can talk at length about their innovative ideas and passions, and ask lots of good questions, but never make much progress in building a real business. Writing something down is the first step toward moving forward and making it real. List items to achieve the goal, and network now.

Writing 100

Writing Ideas Startup Entrepreneur 100

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

It does mean that you need to look, listen, and participate in the business world around you, and network through all available channels, like business-oriented social networks online (LinkedIn), local business organizations (Chamber of Commerce), and events or conferences in your domain. Nominate someone as your mentor.

Entrepreneur 96

Entrepreneur Tips Startup Social Network 96

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 27, 2011

If I can help you avoid some of my first-time mistakes it would be a victory. I worked with an entrepreneur who was to appear at a startup networking event where he was to talk about his company’s plans. It also helps to keep down issues with crowds getting too big, too early. Not everyone has a spare 40 mill for a re-do.

Marketing 380

Marketing Startup Press Technical Advisors 380

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2010

While I agree that successful company builders usually have a natural inclination to be entrepreneurs, a good education helps polish that apple. Many colleges offer courses on entrepreneurship, to help you think like one. An MBA is helpful, but not required. Business networking is key. Build a business plan early on.

Technical Advisors 90

Technical Advisors Startup Course Entrepreneur 90

Tech.Co

MARCH 1, 2018

The event is open to tech enthusiasts who want to join an event filled with some of the top leaders, investors and mentors from tech industry to network, find mentors and build their companies. InSpirAVE is helping people “save for what matters,” and reduce impulsive spending. The Mentor Method (Washington, D.C.).

Startup 79

Startup Mentor Platform Help 79

InfoChachkie

JUNE 9, 2015

Obtaining funding is a key milestone, but equally important is helping fledgling companies build institutional mass once they leave the relatively safe confines of an accelerator. Convert Graduate-Founders Into Mentors. Bringing an accelerators’ graduates back as mentors provides value to the next class, certainly.

Startup 100

Startup Class LAMP Santa Barbara 100

SoCal CTO

OCTOBER 5, 2010

Why Every Entrepreneur Should Write and 9 Tips To Get Started - OnStartups , September 27, 2010 "The best part of blogging is the people you will meet"- Hugh MacLeod repeating wisdom from Loic Lemeur to me at the Big Pink at 2 am in South Beach after the Future of Web Apps 2008. Why You Should Write. Why You Should Write.

Startup 191

Startup Product Technology Venture Capital 191

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 5, 2013

Kevin Cope, in his book “ Seeing the Big Picture ”, does a great job of outlining the basics of business acumen for executives, and helped me assimilate some practical ideas on building the essential elements for entrepreneurs: Reserve time daily to research the market, as well as technology. Network in the industry as well as outside.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Mentor Ideas Startup 101

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Natalia Oberti Noguera is on a mission to help change the demographic of investment with her Pipeline Fellowship. Pipeline Fellowship teaches women to become angel investors and become a more powerful and helpful voice in the investment world. We have three main components: education, mentoring, and practice.

Mentor 84

Mentor Invest Entrepreneur Startup 84

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2014

Of course these are great places to network with other investors, meet great entrepreneurs and keep your connections strong with senior execs at larger companies like Yahoo!, I know I can’t be in every deal and I know that the easy part of being a VC is writing the first check in a deal. A little Groucho Marx always helps.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Invest Press Startup 374

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 10, 2012

During the weekend participants with a technical background write code for prototypes, designers create branding and user interfaces, business people model potential revenue sources and test marketing strategies, and everyone engages potential customers. 5:00pm – Networking. 2:00pm – Mentors help teams one-on-one.

UCLA 87

UCLA Startup Ideas Mentor 87

From the Venture Trenches

APRIL 30, 2013

Amplify Mentor Panel in full swing. Amplify’s close mentoring is by design. Like good mentors Paul, Jeff, Richard, Oded and David as well as Chris and Kris create an atmosphere in which the motivated founders can take advantage of the knowledge base to which they are exposed. Setting up for Eric Garcetti.

Web Design 103

Web Design Social Media Seed Funding Design 103

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

The number is much higher for those who choose to go it alone, without help. There are lots of resources available for the challenge of that activity, including the Internet and mentors like me. Writing down key parameters will force you solidify the specifics, and mentally commit to them.

Ideas 94

Ideas Slides Technical Review Patents 94

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 2, 2011

Thiel and friends will also agree to mentor these young entrepreneurs. Actually, they’ll get even more attention because this selection will put them in an even more exclusive peer group and will introduce them to even more connected mentors. In Poly Sci I learned critical thinking and writing. So is this a good idea?

Education 322

Education Startup Incubator Class 322

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2012

A new book by Kevin Cope, “ Seeing the Big Picture ”, does a great job of outlining the basics of business acumen for executives, and helped me assimilate some practical ideas on building the essential elements: Reserve time daily to research the market, as well as technology. Network in the industry as well as outside.

Technology 95

Technology Mentor Ideas Entrepreneur 95

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 31, 2014

As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m often asked what it takes to switch and get real satisfaction from this lifestyle. I found some great help in outlining the elements of this process in a recent book, “ Disruptors ,” by Kunal Mehta. Then write them down. One obvious alternative is to become an entrepreneur.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Startup Writing 100

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 2, 2010

It does mean that you need to look, listen, and participate in the business world around you, and network through all available channels, like business-oriented social networks online (LinkedIn), local business organizations (Chamber of Commerce), and events or conferences in your domain. Nominate someone as your mentor.

Entrepreneur 58

Entrepreneur Startup Social Network Mentor 58

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 15, 2018

As a mentor to aspiring business owners, I often get asked to find that partner for them, since founders are usually too busy with their solution. Thus I always recommend a common series of steps that I have seen working for other entrepreneurs: Write a partner description for that ideal co-founder.

High Tech 55

High Tech Entrepreneur Writing Startup 55

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2012

You may have great credentials as a public servant in your home town, but that won’t get you money to build a social network on the Internet, or start a software company. Network of followers and business associates. What if you can’t convince Jim Clark (Silicon Graphics, Netscape, WebMD, MyCFO, Juniper Networks) to run your startup?

Startup 94

Startup Resource Social Network Mentor 94

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2017

Based on my current role as a mentor to entrepreneurs, I will paraphrase and recommend Whiddon’s top techniques in business terms: Build an image of likability and rapport. Highlight your interest in helping and giving back. Going out of your way to help a customer or help a good cause pays big dividends these days.

Social Media 58

Social Media Custom Customer Entrepreneur 58