Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 17, 2021

You can now skip the mandatory office space rental, with secretary and bookkeeping staff, or outsourcing. Social media facilitates marketing and sales. Minimize investment in prototypes and tooling. Required legal fees now average $5K or less, compared with $20K or more as a minimum.

Entrepreneur 162

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Outsource Development 162

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 9, 2020

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. That’s why investors say they invest in people (bet on the jockey, not the horse), rather than the idea. The sales professional.

Technical Advisors 123

Technical Advisors Outsource Development Startup High Tech 123

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 9, 2012

There is a mythology amongst some LPs (funds that invest in VCs) and some VCs that “entry price doesn’t matter – only investing in the absolute best entrepreneurs.” Outsourcing can be cheap. And I’m certain that many of these deals are not great returns for people because too much money went in.

Startup 323

Startup Technology Venture Capital Santa Barbara 323

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2023

Entrepreneurs need to document a process of responding to a market need, sizing opportunity, assigning a specific business model, and planning for marketing, sales, and customer satisfaction. Typically some production and delivery is outsourced, requiring formal contracts and documentation. Solution development and delivery.

Outsource Development 115

Outsource Development Startup Competition Ideas 115

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 6, 2013

I am fond of quoting that about 70% of my investment decision of an early-stage company is the team. So I naturally spend much time with the companies in which I invest helping them: recruit. Your first sales people should be consultative sellers who can fuel evangelical sales. Final startup grind from msuster.

Startup 388

Startup Slides Outsource Development Sales 388

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. But the “no sales people” mantra isn’t what I’m here to take on.

Startup 403

Startup Sales Software Review Technical Review 403

InfoChachkie

JUNE 4, 2012

As an entrepreneur, I helped create companies which achieved two IPOs and two trade sales totaling $385 million. Public relations at a startup is a sales process. In addition to paying the consultant, you must invest time to educate them. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.”. Grant Exclusivity.

Entrepreneur 272

Entrepreneur Outsource Ideas Technical Review 272

socalTECH

MARCH 1, 2018

Ahead of the conference, we sat down and spoke with Kevin Anderson , co-founder and CEO of Los Angeles-based Appetize (www.appetizeapp.com), a rapidly growing developer of point-of-sale software, on the topic of customer service. The second, was investing in relationship management and support.

Custom 113

Custom Customer Services Conference 113

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2023

On the product side, once you have a proven product and business model, all you need is money to build inventory, and a sales and marketing operation to drive the business. Customers won’t pay to see your new employees learning on the job, and outsourcing the real work to a cheap labor source is a recipe for disaster.

Startup 111

Startup Training Services Writing 111

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 7, 2020

Entrepreneurs need to document a process of responding to a market need, sizing opportunity, assigning a specific business model, and planning for marketing, sales, and customer satisfaction. Typically some production and delivery is outsourced, requiring formal contracts and documentation. Solution development and delivery.

Entrepreneur 131

Entrepreneur Outsource Development Startup Competition 131

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2020

On the product side, once you have a proven product and business model, all you need is money to build inventory, and a sales and marketing operation to drive the business. Customers won’t pay to see your new employees learning on the job, and outsourcing the real work to a cheap labor source is a recipe for disaster.

Startup 174

Startup Training Services Writing 174

InfoChachkie

MAY 16, 2011

1) Expect Independent Channel Sales Reps To Perform Missionary Sales. Rationale: I cannot afford to hire a direct sales force. Fallacy: Third-party, OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) representatives succeed once the sales process is defined, proven and documented. Public relations at a startup is a sales process.

Startup 242

Startup Outsource Development Outsource Sales 242

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. That’s why investors say they invest in people (bet on the jockey, not the horse), rather than the idea. The sales professional.

Technical Advisors 105

Technical Advisors Outsource Development Startup High Tech 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2015

Investors don’t invest in services startups. Here are some pragmatic tips on how to make your startup more scalable and investable: If you need investors, start with a scalable idea. These are more likely scalable and investable. Outsource what is non-strategic to optimize leverage. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 103

Startup Outsource Invest Ideas 103

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2018

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. That’s why investors say they invest in people (bet on the jockey, not the horse), rather than the idea. The sales professional.

Technical Advisors 57

Technical Advisors Startup Outsource Development High Tech 57

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2014

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. That’s why investors say they invest in people (bet on the jockey, not the horse), rather than the idea. The sales professional.

Technical Advisors 98

Technical Advisors Startup Outsource Development High Tech 98

socalTECH

DECEMBER 12, 2014

We provide a turnkey, back end, managed service offering for brands and retailers on an outsourced basis. We are an option for brands who don''t want to build it themselves in-house, from soup to nuts, or don''t want to outsource to a single vendor. But, the real investment focus for us in the technology and service capabilities.

Commerce 203

Commerce Venture Capital Internet Brands Startup 203

socalTECH

APRIL 30, 2018

The business model, is people use this to do better marketing and sales targeting when they sell their own products. The company has grown very rapidly and well for a startup, but we're now at the point where sales is the name of the game. That was in the support space, where we were doing outsourced technical services.

Santa Barbara 113

Santa Barbara High Tech Outsource Development Startup 113

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2013

Investors don’t invest in services startups. Here are some pragmatic tips on how to make your startup more scalable and investable: If you need investors, start with a scalable idea. These are more likely scalable and investable. Outsource what is non-strategic to optimize leverage.

Tips 111

Tips Startup Outsource Ideas 111

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

Investors don’t invest in services startups. Here are some pragmatic tips on how to make your startup more scalable and investable: If you need investors, start with a scalable idea. These are more likely scalable and investable. Outsource what is non-strategic to optimize leverage.

Funding 67

Funding Startup Outsource Ideas 67

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2014

You can now skip the mandatory office space rental, with secretary and bookkeeping staff, or outsourcing. Social media facilitates marketing and sales. Minimize investment in prototypes and tooling. Required legal fees now average $5K or less, compared with $20K or more as a minimum.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Commerce 104

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 22, 2014

While not investing in certain areas may seem like a good idea in the short-term, not spending enough on key elements could shortchange your business, leading not only to headaches but requiring expensive fixes down the road. Here are some areas where it pays to make the necessary investments to get it right the first time: 1.

Startup 97

Startup Outsource Development Software Review Sales 97

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2012

A target market is the group of customers that the startup plans to attract through marketing and sales their product or service. Sales/Marketing. Be specific on sales channels and marketing initiatives. Be specific on sales channels and marketing initiatives. How will you reach your customers? Production. Distribution.

Sales 97

Sales Custom Customer Outsource 97

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2015

Entrepreneurs need to document a process of responding to a market need, sizing opportunity, assigning a specific business model, and planning for marketing, sales, and customer satisfaction. Typically some production and delivery is outsourced, requiring formal contracts and documentation. Solution development and delivery.

Outsource Development 99

Outsource Development Startup Competition Ideas 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2011

A target market is the group of customers that the startup plans to attract through marketing and sales their product or service. Sales/Marketing. Be specific on sales channels and marketing initiatives. Be specific on sales channels and marketing initiatives. How will you reach your customers? Production. Distribution.

Sales 98

Sales Custom Customer Outsource 98

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2018

On the product side, once you have a proven product and business model, all you need is money to build inventory, and a sales and marketing operation to drive the business. Customers won’t pay to see your new employees learning on the job, and outsourcing the real work to a cheap labor source is a recipe for disaster.

Services 72

Services Startup Training Writing 72

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 5, 2016

Entrepreneurs who don’t have someone else’s cash for outsourcing come up with the more innovative and creative approaches to get things done. Every round of investing makes the next more expensive and less likely. Thus they will insist on a sale or public offering at every opportunity, which will likely force you out.

Entrepreneur 67

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Outsource Development 67

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2016

Entrepreneurs need to document a process of responding to a market need, sizing opportunity, assigning a specific business model, and planning for marketing, sales, and customer satisfaction. Typically some production and delivery is outsourced, requiring formal contracts and documentation. Solution development and delivery.

Ideas 62

Ideas Outsource Development Startup Competition 62

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2014

On the product side, once you have a proven product and business model, all you need is money to build inventory, and a sales and marketing operation to drive the business. Customers won’t pay to see your new employees learning on the job, and outsourcing the real work to a cheap labor source is a recipe for disaster.

Services 105

Services Startup Training Writing 105

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 21, 2014

We started looking to see if we could use technology disrupt the agency business, for companies serving the performance marketing area, the cost-per-sale area. After the acquisition, we have been investing dramatically in that team. At the time, when we were an agency, it was quite a crowded market. Why is LA key to that?

Media 162

Media Advertising Startup Platform 162

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2011

It’s the whole basis of my investment philosophy, which I call “ The Entrepreneur Thesis.&#. I had my sales teams telling me we needed certain features to be competitive. He didn’t feel my pressures on sales, marketing and ops. The former was outsourced, the latter was our own team.

Development Team Review 374

Development Team Review Technical Review Startup Resource 374

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 5, 2016

Selling new products, opening new markets outsourcing business functions and every other decision affects the bottom line. Since business conditions are constantly changing, management must be aware of trends and technologies that will give its entity the highest return on its investment. The Bottom Line.

Software Review 40

Software Review Technical Review .Net Outsource Development 40

socalTECH

APRIL 21, 2017

At the end, it's all about systems, the knowledge behind the databases, and making smart investment decisions. They don't have to hire staff and make a huge investment, they just have to invest in their product line. The other thing I see, is trying to outsource all of this stuff your self. Georg Richter: I see several.

Startup 145

Startup Product Custom Customer 145

Tech Zulu Event

OCTOBER 11, 2012

The firm says nearly 20% of all brides now shop for or sell a gently used wedding dress online, compared with just 6% in 2009 and they firmly believe Recycled Bride is helping make the sales even more possible. Then funds are released to the seller, and Recycled Bride takes a 9% commission on each sale. What is Recycled Bride?

Design 84

Design Social Media Sales Sites 84

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2016

On the product side, once you have a proven product and business model, all you need is money to build inventory, and a sales and marketing operation to drive the business. Customers won’t pay to see your new employees learning on the job, and outsourcing the real work to a cheap labor source is a recipe for disaster.

Services 61

Services Startup Training Writing 61

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 19, 2011

They outsource the critical negotiations and “trust their advisors to handle the details.&# You can’t outsource this to a recruiter. I have investment money at stake so I’m a principal in the negotiation, too. We’re both principals in a sale. You name it. And yes, VC’s, too. We need them all.

Venture Capital 319

Venture Capital Pricing Startup Outsource 319

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

But in the end we selected David Lin , a superstar who did 4 years at the technology investment banking firm Montgomery & Co and 4 years as Director of Strategy at the comparison shopping site PriceGrabber where he dealt with many operational issues. I tell people regularly that I only invest in companies where the DNA is software.

Startup 337

Startup Venture Capital Study Course 337