Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2016

Thus the top priority of every entrepreneur who wants funding should be to build and highlight their “dream team” of co-founders, executives and advisers, to attract the biggest and best investors. Solo entrepreneurs rarely find an investor. Investors talk to each other and they love warm introductions to up-and-coming entrepreneurs.

Startup 60

Startup Entrepreneur Software Review Technical Review 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2016

Most entrepreneurs work long and hard to get a handshake agreement from an investor, and then tend to relax and wait for the check to clear. For entrepreneurs, due diligence may seem like a mysterious process, with secret formulas and tricky questions, to give investors leverage. Competitive positioning and barriers to entry.

Technical Review 55

Technical Review Help Innocal Startup 55

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 3, 2016

The new war for platforms has mostly been waged by Andreessen Horowitz who have raised astounding amounts of capital and therefore had the fees to put into providing more services for entrepreneurs. And there is often competition over marketing activities, fund raising ownership and the like.

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Venture Capital Platform Startup Resource 150

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 12, 2016

Why is it that only the most successful entrepreneurs , including Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Richard Branson, admit to having a mentor and actually use them? Yet many entrepreneurs I know are too proud or too shy to even ask for advice. Most mentors don’t have the time to be your business coach to help you with generic skills.

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Mentor Coach Metrics Entrepreneur 95

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. It’s time to get the help you need. Most entrepreneurs work hard, but many don’t follow up often to check for completion.

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Writing Ideas Startup Entrepreneur 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

In the same way, great entrepreneurs and company leaders should no longer rely on faceless and nameless processes to drive business strategy and innovation to stay competitive. Here is my adaptation of his engagement principles for all the aspiring entrepreneurs I advise: Learn to adopt an outsider’s perspective.

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Social Media Metrics Customer Custom 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2016

I find that this type offers the most value to new entrepreneurs or startups in the early idea stage. Here are some of the key parameters that will help you decide where you fit in this spectrum: Your commitment to the entrepreneur lifestyle. The average startup has only a 3 percent chance of find funding with no help.

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Incubator Startup Seed Funding Equity 58

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 10, 2016

You can’t learn anything new while you’re talking, yet many business professionals and entrepreneurs seem to never stop. Shorter verbal exchanges help the conversation to flow smoothly, and lead to win-win relationships, rather than debates with a winner and loser. This will help you get more done in less time.

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Activity Resource Email Competition 104

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 29, 2016

Every new entrepreneur soon realizes he or she has some big ones, but very few figure out how to use these them to their advantage. I believe that the resourcefulness to turn constraints into competitive differentiators and new opportunities is a trait that separates the great entrepreneurs from the “wannabes.”

Startup 57

Startup Resource Entrepreneur Outsource 57

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2016

Every entrepreneur knows what it’s like to face adversity. The best entrepreneurs tackle these one at a time without losing their stride or their passion and many secretly get their highest satisfaction from overcoming an impossible problem. Successful entrepreneurs are not afraid to reach out and ask for help from peers and advisors.

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Satisfaction Activity Entrepreneur Competition 59

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

Entrepreneurs who are looking to attract investors need to develop and pitch a plan -- preferably written -- that answers every potential investor question about your startup before it is asked. This is also the place to first mention patents and any other differentiators that put you ahead of competition.

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Invest Startup Slides Equity 108

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2016

As an active angel investor myself, I understand how the process works, and I see the disappointment in the eyes of entrepreneurs who approach angel groups for funding and often get turned away for not being timely or prepared in the minds of potential investors. These are all accredited investors who risk their own money.

Angel 65

Angel Startup Technical Review Social Media 65

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2016

Unfortunately, many passionate entrepreneurs read this initial surge as success, and charge ahead with more of the same passion, leading to a series of potential pitfalls that can quickly jeopardize the health of the entire business. Early success is great, but it’s only the beginning of your hard work.

Startup 57

Startup Training Entrepreneur Customer 57

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2016

After many years of working with angel investors seriously trying to find new ventures worthy of their hard-earned money, I find their frustration often exceeds that of entrepreneurs sincerely looking for financial help. Smart entrepreneurs pre-disclose any possible due diligence issues, with full and open explanations and no excuses.

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Entrepreneur Invest Funding Patents 57

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 28, 2016

Yet there is no standardized testing or certification required or available anywhere to help you decide if you are a good fit for entrepreneurship, or founding a business is right for you. It helps to work in a similar company before you start your own. Examine the marketplace and your competition. Take stock of whom you know.

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Startup Statistics Guide Entrepreneur 71

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2016

I meet many entrepreneurs with a real passion for their new idea, but unfortunately they don’t all realize that passion is necessary but not sufficient fuel to turn their idea into a successful business. It helps to document a total business plan rather than rely on your total recollection of all essential elements.

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Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Statistics 62

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 6, 2014

zettabytes by the year 2016. As an entrepreneur, what steps can you take to help your business not only survive the data hurricane, but to thrive under these new and challenging conditions? Use the steps outlined here to stay ahead of it, and use its power to propel your startup into the future, ahead of your competition.

Startup 99

Startup Social Media Entertainment Metrics 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2016

In my own experience as a startup advisor and mentor, I find that entrepreneurs who can’t attract and maintain a highly motivated team rarely even get off the ground. Yet many managers unintentionally de-motivate their team by being too busy with business challenges to communicate, understand, or help people. Start today.

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Startup Examples Mentor Activity 58

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2017

exabytes per month at the end of 2016, of which half was video. As an entrepreneur, what steps can you take to help your business not only survive the data hurricane, but to thrive under these new and challenging conditions? The possibilities are endless, but the downside will be painful. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 55

Startup Social Media Entertainment Metrics 55

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 18, 2016

When entrepreneurs introduce new products to the market, their passion and conviction often leads them to assume that every potential customer will see the immediate need and value, and will quickly adopt the solution. Every customer has a sense of what a solution should cost, based on competition, and the cost of doing nothing.

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Product Case Study Customer Custom 95

socalTECH

APRIL 21, 2017

Georg Richter , CEO and founder of OceanX (www.oceanx.com), tells us how he's applying what he learned in many years of experience in direct selling, most recently as President and COO at Guthy Renker, to help large CPGs decode how to succeed in creating their own, physical subscription businesses. How did you get into this?

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Startup Product Customer Custom 145

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2016

Whether you are talking to peers, competitors or investors, you as an active entrepreneur will be judged on your familiarity with today’s startup and funding jargon. In that context, I offer you my latest collection of popular investor-to-entrepreneur terms and concepts. Frothy is good for entrepreneurs. Seed-round investment.

Startup 57

Startup Software Review Equity Invest 57

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 4, 2016

The good news is that everyone expects entrepreneurs to make mistakes, since founders explore uncharted territory. If the market is new and competition is minimal, then the time and costs of educating potential customers probably exceeds your survival time and budget. Marty Zwilling First published on Entrepreneur.com on 02/24/2016.

Startup 59

Startup Training Entrepreneur Customer 59

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2016

The total proceeds raised in Q2 2016 from IPOs diminished by three-quarters compared to Q2 2015. Yet I believe the trend will continue down as entrepreneurs become more aware of other considerations that make the IPO route less and less attractive. There are real ongoing costs of maintaining a public company.

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Company Companies Acquisition Entrepreneur 55

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2016

Some of you cynics may think that such a thing isn’t possible, but Shawn Kent Hayashi, who has worked for years with entrepreneurs as well as Fortune 500 giants, argues otherwise. Help team members develop a plan for their future. Marty Zwilling Published on IvyExec.com on 01/20/2016. Create a positive emotional wake.

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Coach Competition Research Develop 67

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2016

For example, if you watch the TV show “Shark Tank,” you will remember several entrepreneurs with specialty products doing well online who want money to move into big box retail. Here are some practical steps that I advise every entrepreneur to follow in setting their channel strategy: Focus on only one channel to begin.

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Pricing Customer Custom Sales 54

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 18, 2016

As an entrepreneur looking for professional investors, one of the quickest ways to lose credibility and get rejected is to start with a ridiculously high pre-money valuation. Patents filed, even provisional, as well as trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets count as barriers to entry and sustainable competitive advantages.

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Startup Patents Invest Blogging 71

Xconomy

JUNE 15, 2016

Entrepreneurs and established companies make risky decisions every day in the hope that those risks will translate into better opportunities, better performance, and greater profitability. Having a board helps you keep your eye consistently on the strategic aspects of your business which, in turn, helps you attract investors and customers.

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Framework Startup Competition Help 63

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

In our industry we applaud the efforts for entrepreneurs to have tried and we know that today’s failure can bring the experience for tomorrow’s success. Yet I can’t help thinking there are many predictable failures that come from a lack of basic planning. Competition. How much ad revenue does TripAdvisor make?

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2016

Despite a valiant effort, we only briefly succeeded in putting IBM in the personal computer business, but our efforts changed my view of entrepreneurs forever. No consideration can be given to experience running a startup, breadth of skills, or even thinking like an entrepreneur. I still enjoy the journey as well as the destination.

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IBM IBM Entrepreneur Technical Review 85

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

Valuing any company can be difficult because it requires a degree of forecasting future growth & competition and ultimately the profits of the organization. ” “This will be great for VCs and bad for entrepreneurs.” What is the True Sentiment of VCs? ” “Sure, prices are dropping. All of these are false.

Startup 150

Startup Company Companies Venture Capital 150

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2016

Why ADD Might Actually Benefit Startup Entrepreneurs. It helped me to better understand how my brain works and I began working on coping mechanisms. After seeing a doctor I found out what acid reflux even was and it turns out it’s very common in entrepreneurs. Turning the Urgency Addiction into a Competitive Asset.

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Tips Startup Help Mobile 150

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2016

I heard it again yesterday from a technical entrepreneur who should know better than to believe the old “ Field of Dreams ” sports fantasy movie theme in today’s Internet information overload environment. It also helps to create office events for family members and local community groups. “If we build it, they will come.”

Marketing 89

Marketing Coach Mentor Social Media 89

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2016

All too often as a startup investor, I hear the term “disruptive technology” from an entrepreneur, played like a trump card that should override any other potential business qualms. While struggling to net out what they are looking for, I found help in a new book, “ Wicked Strategies ,” by John C.

Technology 57

Technology Competition Customer Custom 57

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2019

They are painfully aware that tenure on the list of S&P companies is shrinking – from thirty-three years back in 1964, down to twenty-four in 2016, and predicted to be just twelve by 2027. They need inside intrapreneurs who think and act like the outside entrepreneurs who are disrupting their business. Start your tenure from today.

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Company Companies Software Review IBM 93