TechCrunch LA

JUNE 3, 2022

“We want to inspire, but we also want to be realistic and show beauty in real life,” Glossier founder and CEO Emily Weiss said in a 2017 interview with Inc, just as the brand had reached what Weiss herself described as “cult status.” billion company in the brutally competitive beauty industry, especially one with such broad appeal.

Startup 280

Startup Netflix Los Angeles Innocal 280

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2017

Based on my own years of experience in this space, I would like to highlight a critical subset of his key ingredients for success, to save you from the frustrations and setbacks we both have felt: Implement real competitive differentiation. Use visibility and social media to pull clients in.

Social Media 56

Social Media Pricing Technical Review Demand 56

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2017

With the advent of the Internet, social media, and instant communication via texting, customer expectations for service, as part of their entire customer experience, have changed. With every business being global in scope and always-on, a phone-in service available in a local time zone during work hours only, is not competitive.

Customer 57

Customer Custom Services Social Media 57

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2017

The advent of social media and real-time interactive feedback via the Internet allows every customer to build and expect a relationship with your business, rather than just touchpoints. Satisfied but unenthusiastic customers who can be easily wooed by the competition. Show your passion and creativity in every solution.

Customer 85

Customer Custom Product Marketing 85

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 25, 2017

The more potentially disruptive your technology, the more important it is that this message be quick, simple, and quantified. Will the solution give you an “unfair competitive advantage,” meaning no competitor already has it, or can replicate your solution without your skills or intellectual property. Do include some quantification.

Startup 58

Startup Education Ideas Customer 58

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2017

Start with a new understanding of real customer solutions needs, their search process in finding you (referral, website , social media), and most desired payment model, like one-time payment versus subscription, or lease versus purchase. Marty Zwilling Published by Xerox Small Business Solutions on 04/06/2017.

Search Engine Optimization 58

Search Engine Optimization Startup SEO Customer 58

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2017

In addition, today’s customers judge a company by perceived people relationships through social media, phone conversations, and sales experiences. Today’s pace of change in the market and in technology is unprecedented. Marty Zwilling First published on Huffington Post on 04/19/2017. What goes around, comes around.

Entrepreneur 78

Entrepreneur Coach Organization Mentor 78

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 6, 2017

In this new world of constant cultural and technological change, the only source you can trust is your own ability to learn faster and be more creative than your competition. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 10/23/2017.

Ideas 60

Ideas Social Media Press Mentor 60

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 14, 2017

He talks in detail about ten of the key challenges that Facebook faced in their growth, to move from a tiny social media upstart to one of the most successful companies in the world. Revenue and competitive position followed. In this age of technology, the advent of a better alternative is inevitable.

Competition 65

Competition Social Media Metrics Customer 65

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 27, 2017

For example, it’s all too common for a technology entrepreneur to highlight a new battery technology as the ultimate power for smartphones, medical heart pacemakers, and home lighting. Realistically characterize the competition. Claiming you have no competition also implies lack of focus on competition.

Entrepreneur 63

Entrepreneur Competition Customer Custom 63

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 20, 2017

This is a common challenge for technical entrepreneurs, who are fascinated by what they can do with a new technology, and are revered by peers for their expertise. The irony is that the average customer is afraid of any new technology, needs time, and may have a different view of the problem. Add a buffer to your funding calculations.

Startup 65

Startup Competition Resource Snapchat 65

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2017

In my role as an angel investor in startups, almost every pitch I see highlights some real innovation in technology, business model, or market opportunity. Innovation is necessary to get you into the game, but even a disruptive technology won’t assure you business success. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 11/14/2017.

Netflix 54

Netflix Social Media Competition Customer 54

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 5, 2017

Technological innovations disrupt stable markets. Today’s hyper connected people through social media, and linked economies through global finance cause even tiny country woes to ripple quickly through businesses around the world. Interact on social media to sense trend impacts on your business early.

Social Media 74

Social Media Demand Customer Custom 74