Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2015

Too many founders have learned that passion and free beta products do not imply a sustainable business. Proof of any business model starts with a finished product or solution, sold to a new customer for full price, with high satisfaction for the value received. Start selling it before you build it.

Startup 107

Startup Sales Customer Custom 107

socalTECH

JULY 10, 2019

For this morning's interview, we spoke with Los Angeles-based Halla , a venture backed startup, focused on personalized recommendations for the food ordering industry. What were you doing before you started Halla? We ended up all going to three different colleges in the Fall of 2015. The company has raised $1.9M

Pricing 113

Pricing Startup North Hollywood Platform 113

socalTECH

MAY 2, 2017

He was just trying to collect more data for his startup on what was happening on real estate deals that the company had been referring to brokers. However, starting in 2015, we found that creating this was really hard. So, what I did was pick up the phone, and start talking to those agents.

Sales 145

Sales Startup Email Tool 145

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 20, 2015

We love capital efficiency until we love land grabs until we abhor over funding until we get huge payouts and ring the bell for more funding until we attract every non-VC on the planet to invest in startups until it crashes and we start the cycle all over again none the wiser. the more money you give a startup the faster they grow.

Funding 150

Funding Venture Capital Startup Marketing 150

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

In a startup, or any business with limited resources, the last thing you need is people who put in lots of time and effort, but never seem to move the ball. Successful entrepreneurs must never stop looking for ways to improve their own productivity, as well as the efficiency and momentum of the team.

Training 105

Training Entrepreneur Tool Metrics 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 7, 2016

Every startup begins with an idea, but from that point forward, it’s all about execution. billion in 2015. Continuous improvement applies to the business model as well as the product. Set business goals and milestones, and use metrics to track performance. Merely keeping up with previous results is falling behind.

Ideas 59

Ideas Technical Review Google Startup 59

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 21, 2015

Successful entrepreneurs start with a customer problem, and develop a solution, rather than the other way around. They build a startup culture of working for customers rather than pushing a product. Manage by metrics rather than by crisis and emotion. It’s time to step up the game by adopting a growth mindset.

Startup 55

Startup Entrepreneur Technical Review Customer 55

socalTECH

MARCH 6, 2017

Los Angeles-based Maple Media (maplemedia.io) recently announced a big, $30M funding from Shamrock Capital, to assemble a collection of mobile applications in the utility, productivity, games and entertainment verticals. We caught up with co-founder Clark Landry to chat about his new startup, which he co-founded with Michael Ritter.

Media 153

Media Mobile Startup Acquisition 153

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 19, 2015

They suffered in trying to live up to public perceptions and the demands to continue their successes. Mark Suster (@msuster) July 19, 2015. The road is littered with startups that shined bright before burning out. Startups are All Naked in the Mirror. jordandhudson Very heavy. But needed to be seen. It was a lot to bear.

Press 150

Press Venture Capital Startup Entrepreneur 150

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 14, 2015

Every entrepreneur is quick to tell friends and potential investors about his or her vision of changing the world, about all the customers who have expressed an interest, and about all the other investors who are lining up to get a piece of the action. Especially for free or freemium products, the rate of new signups is critical.

Acquisition 100

Acquisition Entrepreneur Customer Custom 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Too many entrepreneurs look for that one magic bullet -- an exciting new technology, perhaps, or their own determination to make the world a better place -- to override any shortcomings in their startup model. Such failures ignore the essential business elements investors look for before committing to a startup.

Pricing 100

Pricing Technical Review Entrepreneur Startup 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 19, 2015

As an angel investor, I get requests almost every day to review a new product or website, and provide feedback on its potential success. Yet I can’t remember the last time any entrepreneur asked me to assess personal potential, despite the fact that most investors will admit they invest in the person more than the product.

Startup 106

Startup Incubator Entrepreneur Metrics 106