Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

Dig deep to get beyond the best price or best service, to find a higher cause or unique benefit that they can remember and be happy to advocate. For example , Bill Gates shared a mentoring relationship with Warren Buffett that increased the credibility of both, although their business domains were quite different.

Marketing 133

Marketing Customer Custom Outsource Development 133

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2020

As a long-time mentor to entrepreneurs, here is my collection of smart risks that investors and I look for in new startups: Focus on a tough customer problem rather than a fun technology. Risk is more manageable with subscriptions and even freemium pricing. Use metrics to measure results of marketing initiatives.

Entrepreneur 129

Entrepreneur Resource Metrics Customer 129

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2019

As a mentor to entrepreneurs, I often get asked for the magic that has made Amazon the world's most valuable brand , from a total unknown only twenty years ago. Incorporate AI-powered data and metrics systems. My simple answer is that they keep their focus on customers, rather than technology.

Marketing 123

Marketing Technical Review Customer Custom 123

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

In the short term you need customers to find you at any price, and in the longer term you need revenue, profit, and return loyalty. It’s your job as a leader to be the model high performer, quantify the team view with metrics, and expand awareness to the best outside competition and new tools.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Layoffs Social Media Metrics 124

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2020

As a mentor to entrepreneurs, I tend to see many of the same obstacles appearing in every new startup, and since I don’t want to appear to be a downer , I’m not sure how to properly warn people ahead of time to be on the alert for these challenges. Keep your plan updated, and don’t be caught off guard. First impressions last a long time.

Startup 131

Startup Entrepreneur Examples Customer 131

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

His challenge is to focus on one market, with a specific design, cost, and price. Create a written plan, with target milestones and metrics. For example, I have a friend with a Ph.D. in Physics who talks passionately about starting a business producing nuclear powered batteries. Yes, there are a lot of bridges to cross.

Ideas 126

Ideas Writing Examples Outsource 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2017

Yet, in my experience as a mentor to entrepreneurs, the majority of failures I see are related to starting and growing the business, not developing the solution. A successful business requires focus – define the customer need with a specific solution for a specific price and cost. Manage the business with metrics and goals.

Ideas 72

Ideas Startup Metrics Entrepreneur 72

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015

As a long-time mentor to entrepreneurs, here is my collection of smart risks that investors and I look for in new startups: Focus on a tough customer problem rather than a fun technology. Risk is more manageable with subscriptions and even freemium pricing. Use metrics to measure results of marketing initiatives.

Startup 115

Startup Resource Metrics Entrepreneur 115

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2018

You need to communicate quantified and updates goals quarterly, including the metrics to assess progress and success. The best companies have found that it’s important to constantly prepare team members for moving to the next level, through mentoring and training, rather than trying to keep them in their current role.

Technical Review 84

Technical Review Customer Custom Startup 84

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 25, 2016

It must be written down, with measurable team objectives, validated by metrics and compared against competition. Provide coaching and mentoring as well as training. Maybe you still remember the days when competitive advantage was all about economies of scale, advertising power and service versus price.

Customer 55

Customer Custom Startup Coach 55

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2014

As a long-time mentor to entrepreneurs, here is my collection of smart risks that investors and I look for in new startups: Focus on a tough customer problem rather than a fun technology. Risk is more manageable with subscriptions and even freemium pricing. Use metrics to measure results of marketing initiatives.

Startup 113

Startup Resource Metrics Entrepreneur 113

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 17, 2018

As a long-time mentor to entrepreneurs, here is my collection of smart risks that investors and I look for in new startups: Focus on a tough customer problem rather than a fun technology. Risk is more manageable with subscriptions and even freemium pricing. Use metrics to measure results of marketing initiatives.

Resource 64

Resource Metrics Entrepreneur Customer 64

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

There are lots of resources available for the challenge of that activity, including the Internet and mentors like me. This is the point where you must manage to metrics, work on the culture of the organization, and look for partner-based growth. Just because you think it’s a great idea doesn’t mean there is a business opportunity.

Ideas 94

Ideas Slides Technical Review Patents 94

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2019

Quantify your results in terms of cost per transaction, higher customer satisfaction, lower prices, and profit per employee, rather than number of transactions or hours worked. Help your owner get beyond the misleading metrics of employee overtime and salary increases. Highlight your productivity and efficiency rather than workload.

Technical Advisors 75

Technical Advisors Startup Satisfaction Customer 75

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2015

Bring in expert advisors and mentors to set initial goals, and build recovery plans. Smart entrepreneurs have metrics for assessing their progress against milestones and regularly communicate new insights to the team. Even though invention can’t be scheduled, detailed planning does work, both on the product side and the business side.

Startup 105

Startup Entrepreneur Marketing Satisfaction 105

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2017

Many business executives and entrepreneurs I know are convinced that business success is all about having the right solution for the right price. Some things need to be done whether we like them or not; for example, daily cash-flow analysis and business metrics. Learn to like the things that need done.

Software Review 57

Software Review Technical Review Startup Press 57

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 19, 2015

Every $10 million financing only puts more pressure on the founders to figure out how to hit the metrics to get to the next milestone and every company that raises $25 million puts a ton of pressure on their 10 competitors who haven’t. Advisors / Coaches / Mentors. Every founder knows this. Startups are All Naked in the Mirror.

Press 150

Press Venture Capital Startup Entrepreneur 150

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 30, 2012

Crowd Seats gets you in the crowd for your favorite games with ticket prices 50-90% off face value! We make it trivial to quickly aggregate and monitor your key metrics in real-time! Price: $25 (Early Bird). Followed by a FREE cocktail and apps reception for all attendees. SuperDemo: Bill Gross. Event Details. to 10:00 p.m.

CalTech 91

CalTech Company Companies Idealab 91

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 9, 2014

This was a chance to blow open the story on their companies, to address a room full of potential investors, mentors, partners, customers, and press. In seed stage funding, we’re often told that the investments are ultimately about the people/teams, and not necessarily the metrics. Rapt.FM – Rap battles over live chat.

Startup 111

Startup Mobile Commerce Education 111