Berkonomics

OCTOBER 5, 2023

Fixed overhead for salaries, rent, equipment leases and more make up the majority of the “burn rate” (monthly expenses) for most companies. Since this number is budgeted and pre-authorized, managers tend to focus upon other things such as sales, marketing and product development issues. The art of good management.

Venture Capital 296

Venture Capital Product Marketing Resource 296

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 19, 2017

One of the hardest decisions entrepreneurs make when they start a company and raise outside capital is figuring out what an acceptable “burn rate” is. That is, how much should your company be willing to lose in cash every month as you make investments in staff and equipment that funds technology, sales, marketing and management.

Startup 212

Startup Venture Capital .Net Capital 212

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 17, 2017

There are certain topics that even some of the smartest people I talk with who aren’t startup oriented can’t fully grok. It’s common cocktail party chatter to hear people confidently pronounce that some well known startup is sure to blow up because, “How could they succeed when they’re not even profitable!”

Startup 227

Startup Venture Capital Sales Course 227

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 27, 2021

Shots on Goal Being great as a startup technology investor of course requires a lot of things to come together: You need to have strong insights into where technology markets are heading and where value in the future will be created and sustained You need be perfect with your market timing. the sale of the company for $1 billion.

Funding 294

Funding Startup Writing Invest 294

Tech Coast Venture Network

APRIL 22, 2010

Virgina Lorimor There are several options for financing a start-up business that tend to follow a natural course in a business’ development: Personal Investment. This is where all entrepreneurs have to start. If you are pre-revenue, have pre-sales, letters of intent and/or customer commitments.

Startup 124

Startup Tech Coast Angels TCVN Incubator 124

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

I find it amusing when a journalist writes an article about a prominent startup (either privately held or preparing for an IPO) and decries that, “They’re not even profitable!” The most obvious way to explain this is with sales people. Just be careful that it doesn’t come at the expense of investments in growth.

Startup 418

Startup Venture Capital Sales Technical Review 418

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

Research is paramount, and sources are everywhere, especially for public companies and large investment firms. Start with the “matrix method.”. You and your advisors, board or partners should start by completing what you can of the matrix shown on this page. Find up to ten likely candidates that fit your business.

Outsource Development 156

Outsource Development Paramount Outsource Research 156

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 16, 2011

After college Joanne worked for 4 years in retail apparel at Macy’s where she initially managed sales reps on the floor and then worked as a buyer of clothing. This is where she first developed sales skills. She doubled her salary by going into sales. to $12m in sales. She came in and took over the business.

Startup 311

Startup Sales Venture Capital Entrepreneur 311

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 1, 2022

I tell entrepreneurs that Google was an “exception” to all the investment and startup rules, but I’ve always wondered what it takes to be an exception. In 2003, just four years old, sales hit $1.5 If so, then you too may be the exception that even the best and the brightest will line up to support. Continue to think big.

Startup 131

Startup Google Advertising .Net 131

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 31, 2023

In the classic book, “ Driving Demand: Transforming B2B Marketing to Meet the Needs of the Modern Buyer ,” top marketing consultant Carlos Hidalgo updates the old guidelines on how to set up demand generation processes, keep them current, and measure results. Return on investment for demand generation. Lead management performance.

Metrics 102

Metrics Demand Paramount Content 102

Berkonomics

JUNE 8, 2017

Some businesses require very little capital and the founder can self-finance the enterprise and retain 100% of its ownership and control from ignition through liquidity event (startup through sale). For you who fit that description, nice work. There is a lot to say about retaining control.

Venture Capital 266

Venture Capital Class Invest Equity 266

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 26, 2012

Two founders have spent $200K of personal and family funds over a one year period to start the company, get a prototype site up and running, and have already generated some “buzz” in the Internet community. NewCo might be able to pick up an initial $50K valuation on this item. Assign real value to intellectual property.

Startup 108

Startup Invest Patents Outsource Development 108

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2022

I expect that should seem intuitive to all entrepreneurs, but every investor I know has many stories about startup funding requests with major business model elements missing. A target market is the group of customers that the startup plans to attract through marketing and sales their product or service. Sales/Marketing.

Sales 102

Sales Customer Custom Outsource 102

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 5, 2020

Today, one of the companies that is supplying produce and other items both to consumers and other services that are in turn selling food and groceries to them, is announcing a new round of funding as it gears up to take its next step, an IPO. Source tell us it is now between $400 million and $500 million.

Technical Review 343

Technical Review Startup Marketing San Diego 343

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2018

Let me start out with my premise: “Data rooms are where fund-raising processes go to die.” I have to back up and give you more context. These collective sets of documents form the basis of what somebody looking at investing would call “financial due diligence.” It doesn’t. The data room is where your process goes to die.

Funding 336

Funding Venture Capital Startup Email 336

TechCrunch LA

DECEMBER 8, 2020

Opendoor has opened the door, so to speak, for startups to apply their technical expertise in search, marketplaces and audience segmentation to rethink the very antiquated and analogue world of property. All are previous investors from the startup’s last round, a $16.55 million Series A also led by QED.

Sales 282

Sales Demand San Diego Funding 282

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2014

When someone asks me for the best way to fund a startup, I always say bootstrap it, meaning fund it yourself and grow organically. Despite all the focus you hear on external investors, over 90% of startups today are self-funded. Most startup founders already do this, rather than take a salary, to improve their offering.

Organization 111

Organization Startup Summary Entrepreneur 111

socalTECH

AUGUST 5, 2014

It looks like Hawthorne-based SpaceX is confident it will keep its headquarters in Hawthorne for quite a long time--despite setting up a commercial launch facility in Texas this week--based on details on the recent sale of the company''s leased headquarters at 1 Rocket Road in Hawthorne--to a commercial real estate investment trust.

SpaceX 170

SpaceX Hawthorne .Net Design 170

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 16, 2010

The VC industry grew dramatically as a result of the Internet bubble - Before the Internet bubble the people who invested in VC funds (called LPs or Limited Partners) put about $50 billion into the industry and by 2001 this had grown precipitously to around $250 billion. So the people who invest in VC funds have two problems.

Venture Capital 311

Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding Rustic Canyon 311

Berkonomics

AUGUST 10, 2017

Fixed overhead for salaries, rent, equipment leases and more make up the majority of the “burn rate” (monthly expenses) for most companies. Since this number is budgeted and pre-authorized, managers tend to focus upon other things such as sales, marketing and product development issues.

Venture Capital 243

Venture Capital Product Resource Marketing 243

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 24, 2019

Image by Origa via Wikipedia I tell entrepreneurs that Google was an “exception” to all the investment and startup rules, but I’ve always wondered what it takes to be an exception. In 2003, just four years old, sales hit $1.5 If so, then you too may be the exception that even the best and the brightest will line up to support.

Google 98

Google Startup Advertising .Net 98

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 14, 2014

Sponsored by VISA Business If you have a unique product or service, and you are not selling it around the world on the Internet, now is the time to start. Anyone can be an entrepreneur today, without a huge investment, bank loans, lawyers, venture capitalists, or Angels. Start simple. The cost of entry has never been lower.

Startup 100

Startup Commerce Sites Blogging 100

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 23, 2013

When someone asks me for the best way to fund a startup, I always say bootstrap it, meaning fund it yourself and grow organically. If you can, start your business in your home office, basement or garage (Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and many other legends used this approach). Take little to no net profit. Think minimum spending.

Equity 96

Equity Startup Summary Tips 96

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2013

The sad truth is that cash flow surprises kill many startups, even though they should have been adequately funded to survive. Your startup may be profitable, but broke. You can make profits without making any money, since the first priority of most startups is to reinvest everything back into the business for growth.

Startup 114

Startup Sales Layoffs Slides 114

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 12, 2015

As a startup investor in this age of the entrepreneur, I see many more startups, but innovation is still hard to find. Startups which display real innovation, such as alternative energy sources and new medical treatments, are still rare. Net result and reward. Followers and linear thinkers need not apply.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Startup Coach Metrics 101

InfoChachkie

JULY 11, 2011

Startup blogger and venture capitalist extraordinaire Fred Wilson recently published a great article on Venture Debt, which I strongly suggest you review HERE. At Rincon Venture Partners , we are in the midst of negotiating a term sheet with a cash-positive startup that is growing aggressively. Go ahead, I will wait…. welcome back.

Equity 235

Equity Startup Invest Funding 235

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2016

In the new business world, many entrepreneurs are so excited with large initial orders that they don’t anticipate the cash flow challenges that can quickly kill their startup. Your startup may be profitable, but broke. Seasonal sales fluctuations eat cash. Every startup has an unplanned pivot, and these all drain cash.

Startup 64

Startup Sales Layoffs Slides 64

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2021

I was happy to see quantified evidence of this in a new book, “ Winning on Purpose ,” by Fred Reichhheld, creator of the Net Promoter system of management, in concert with Darci Darnell and Maureen Burns. Too many businesses I know still see customer service as a burden, rather than an opportunity to gain loyalty and advocacy.

Customer 114

Customer Custom Satisfaction Metrics 114

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 18, 2011

If you have a unique creation or invention, and you are not selling it around the world on the Internet, now is the time to start. Anyone can be an entrepreneur today, without a huge investment, bank loans, venture capitalists, or Angels. In the early days (20 years ago), most new e-commerce sites cost a million dollars to set up.

Commerce 99

Commerce Startup Sites Tool 99

InfoChachkie

MARCH 2, 2019

Thus, she agreed to name the startup after her husband and his friend Harold “Matt” Matson, resulting in the name Mattel. Ruth had previously headed the company’s sales efforts, but she formally moved up to the CEO role upon Matson’s departure. In 1955, the company’s net work was $500,000 ($4.6

Company 100

Company Companies Sales Sample 100

socalTECH

MARCH 3, 2011

We spoke with David Aronchick , the CEO and co-founder of the firm to hear more about what it's up to. David Aronchick: We started about three years ago. So, we spun up the site, and got it up and going in the middle of 2008, and it just took off, particularly right after the elections. What's the story behind Hark?

Redpoint 201

Redpoint Startup Content .Net 201

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 5, 2015

In his premier film appearance in the blaxploitation send-up “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,” Chris Rock inadvertently addresses a key pricing challenge faced by most entrepreneurs. Even sales reps will invoke a cost plus logic when negotiating with me on behalf of their customers. The post Startup Pricing: Are You Selling A Giffen Product?

Pricing 100

Pricing Product Startup Customer 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

If you have a unique creation or invention, and you are not selling it around the world on the Internet, now is the time to start. Anyone can be an entrepreneur today, without a huge investment, bank loans, venture capitalists, or angels. In the early days (20 years ago), most new e-commerce sites cost a million dollars to set up.

Commerce 88

Commerce Startup Sites Tool 88

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 21, 2015

In a new book, “ Driving Demand: Transforming B2B Marketing to Meet the Needs of the Modern Buyer ,” top marketing consultant Carlos Hidalgo updates the old guidelines on how to set up demand generation processes, keep them current, and measure results. Return on investment for demand generation. Don’t just use these in isolation.

Metrics 101

Metrics Marketing Demand Paramount 101

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 20, 2018

This is true of any buying process where a customer has to make a large investment decision on your software or when an investor must decide whether to give you $5 million. These are similar to the pipeline reviews I used to do with sales reps when I was a CEO. Do they have authority to invest? Do they have influence?

Funding 189

Funding Software Review Entrepreneur Venture Capital 189

Xconomy

NOVEMBER 13, 2016

The idea was to feature early stage companies in the region that have not attracted much attention or raised a substantial amount of startup capital. I started with a list of companies already screened by the San Diego Venture Group’s annual venture summit, and consulted with investors and startup mentors to refine the list.

San Diego 40

San Diego Technical Review Artificial Inteligence Startup 40

socalTECH

JULY 7, 2010

Here are eight Southern California companies and the experienced, successful entrepreneurs heading up their efforts, who haven't had any problems finding investors--or customers--for their firms. Demand Media / Richard Rosenblatt / Los Angeles - Rosenblatt's last big win: MySpace, where he was Chairman, brokering its sale to News Corp.

Southern California 228

Southern California Entrepreneur SoCal Mahalo 228