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. Highlight existing presence on the Internet and social media.

Angel 65

Angel Startup Technical Review Social Media 65

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 25, 2016

Many entrepreneurs assume that everyone will love their solution as much as they do, so they tune their marketing focus based on their own needs and wants. Include mobile-app support and new social-media channels. Incorporate social consciousness into your message. Word-of-mouth is an inadequate strategy.

Customer 55

Customer Custom Marketing Social Media 55

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 20, 2016

I’m a strong proponent of new entrepreneurs starting with a big vision, and believing anything is possible -- but I’m also a pragmatist who believes in factoring some realism into any plan. Entrepreneurs who expect funding at the idea stage are usually disappointed. First-to-market is a key competitive advantage.

Startup 58

Startup Resource Entrepreneur Ideas 58

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. Use social media and live customers to eliminate any reality distortion in your internal perception of value.

Startup 62

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Statistics 62

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 16, 2016

After listening and working with hundreds of entrepreneurs, I have heard many focused only on their next million dollar idea, but very few make any money from an idea alone. Both groups are missing the essence of an entrepreneur – the business focus. Every entrepreneur needs ideas and the focus on building a great solution.

Ideas 54

Ideas Entrepreneur Customer Custom 54

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. Marty Zwilling First published on Forbes on 08/13/2016. That’s a win-win combination for everyone.

Startup 57

Startup Training Entrepreneur Customer 57

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 3, 2018

Both are required to stay competitive. I have added my own insights, based on my experience advising and working with entrepreneurs and startups: Pay for results, rather than pay for work. Use of collaborative and other social media platforms. Measuring results in itself is not new. Freelancers now make up 35% of U.S.

Startup 61

Startup Case Study Platform Yahoo 61

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 25, 2016

On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, a well-written and complete business plan demonstrates that you understand the issues and have a real plan for execution. If you have a great social cause, perhaps you should be looking for philanthropists instead of investors. Secret sauce' or competitive advantage is not clear.

Funding 57

Funding Social Media Startup Patents 57

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

socalTECH

APRIL 21, 2017

Georg Richter: For the five years before I started the company in January of 2016, I was at Guthy Renker, which is one of the largest and biggest direct marketing companies in the world. You can get orders at a low cost in the beginning using things like social media. Strangely enough, there's no competition there.

Startup 145

Startup Product Customer Custom 145

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. But that’s harder to build in 2016 than it was in say 2005. You may have paid marketing: SEM, Social Media Ads, Banner Ads, email lists, etc.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 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. Marty Zwilling First published on Huffington Post on 12/07/2016. “If we build it, they will come.” Give credit. Reward success.

Marketing 89

Marketing Coach Mentor Social Media 89