Frank Addante

OCTOBER 12, 2021

That’s what my wife said to me back in June after I had been “retired” since 2017. Well, after months of soul searching and talking to 100 people (one of my key rules before starting any business or product) — I figured it out! “You need to go back to work, you need to get back to doing what you love – building businesses!”

Startup 105

Startup Case Study Ideas Invest 105

socalTECH

JANUARY 22, 2019

This morning's interview is with Kevin O'Connor , a longtime investor and serial entrepreneur, who is now running venture capital investment firm ScOp Venture Capital. Kevin sold his last company, Santa Barbara-based Graphiq, in July of 2017 to Amazon, but has a long history of successful companies, including founding DoubleClick.

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Venture Capital Startup Invest Capital 145

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2017

Aspiring entrepreneurs and new business owners often ask me for a secret formula for success, and they seem surprised when I tell them there isn’t one. Many managers and entrepreneurs love to play the game of persecutor, rescuer, and victim, on every initiative that doesn’t go exactly as planned.

Coach 57

Coach Mentor Organization Entrepreneur 57

LATechDigest

MAY 13, 2016

Each mentor spoke for nearly an hour to the entire group, answered questions, and sat with each company for one-on-one mentoring. Trakfire : a platform that enables its community to curate the best music from emerging artists, the third company founded founded by 19 year old USC Iovine Young Academy sophomore Arjun Mehta.

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Mentor Venture Capital Draper USC 75

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2017

In my own experience as an investor, I have concluded that success is more about the people than the product. I found this perspective validated in a new book, “ Plan Commit Win: 90 Days to Creating a Fundable Startup ,” by serial entrepreneur and strategic consultant Patrick Henry. Develop the right mentoring relationships.

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Technical Review Startup Mentor Study 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 22, 2017

It has a huge impact on productivity, as well as morale and loyalty to the company. Everyone knows and admires the leaders , including Google and Zappos, but most entrepreneurs have only a fuzzy idea of what to do to get there. Trust causes the brain to release oxytocin, which stimulates productivity and raises motivation.

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Develop Development Claremont Mentor 58

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 10, 2017

Even after many years mentoring entrepreneurs and advising businesses, I continue to be surprised by the primary focus on products and processes, and the often incidental attention to hiring and nurturing the right people. It’s the same for customers and products, where analytics have long proven their value.

Tool 53

Tool Entrepreneur Statistics Metrics 53

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2017

Entrepreneurs are people who dream up new ideas, and then commercialize them into new businesses. Yet, in my experience as a mentor to entrepreneurs, the majority of failures I see are related to starting and growing the business, not developing the solution. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 01/17/2017.

Ideas 72

Ideas Startup Metrics Entrepreneur 72

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2017

As a new business advisor, I am no longer surprised that every new entrepreneur believes the hard part is creating the first product and the business. Most importantly, this is not just in the products and services you offer, but in the way your company operates. Your task is follow-up in support, mentoring, and setting goals.

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Company Companies Startup Mentor 55

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2017

As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I often get asked for next sure-fire idea. Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and other famous entrepreneurs are examples of dedicated people who looked for inspiration, rather than ideas for their next business. Customers don't care about your product or service's features.

Ideas 54

Ideas Study Entrepreneur Customer 54

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Unless you are a serial entrepreneur with a string of successes behind you, you need a business plan to convince investors that you can build a business out of the dream that has been driving your passion to change the world. Professional investors look for the right people, more than the right product.

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Startup Writing Patents Competition 65

Frank Addante

OCTOBER 12, 2021

That’s what my wife said to me back in June after I had been “retired” since 2017. Well, after months of soul searching and talking to 100 people (one of my key rules before starting any business or product) — I figured it out! “You need to go back to work, you need to get back to doing what you love – building businesses!”

Startup 52

Startup Case Study Ideas Invest 52

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2017

A good entrepreneur is not necessarily born a good salesman. Julie is known as the entrepreneur’s selling mentor, for both men and women. In my view, every entrepreneur has to be a great salesman to succeed (among the many other required skills), so you should take a hard look at these points: Dust off your moxie.

Social Media 56

Social Media Sales Mentor Customer 56

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 17, 2017

Based on my years of experience mentoring and advising entrepreneurs, you need to attack problems and challenges with a mindset of success, or it is unlikely that you or your business will survive. Every good entrepreneur I know has pivoted at least once. Marty Zwilling First published on Huffington Post on 12/16/2017.

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Guide Entrepreneur Help Mentor 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 28, 2017

We all face pressure in our lives, but there’s nothing like that of an entrepreneur facing customer crises and the competitive challenges of a new business. Thus, here is my own reframing of the authors generalized rules into some specifics for an entrepreneur or business leader: Reframe competitive threats to opportunities.

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Entrepreneur Competition Press Mentor 56

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2017

Team members seem to be spending more and more time venting to anyone who will listen about the motives and actions of others, and less time introspectively focused on their own productivity and accountability. Countering drama with more emotion or violently shaking them up is not productive. hours per day distracted by drama.

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Satisfaction Coach Mentor Training 55

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 26, 2017

In my role as a mentor to entrepreneurs and an angel investor, I find that too many are stuck in this myth that a good pitch, and good marketing content, should consist of more product features, and more hype on customer benefits. Just remember that business is about people, more than products and solutions.

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Marketing Startup Social Media Guide 69

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 1, 2017

I was mentoring some graduate students at a local university recently, and I sensed again that profit seems to be a dirty word these days to many aspiring entrepreneurs. Every business needs to develop a revenue model even before a product. Every business needs to develop a revenue model even before a product.

Pricing 66

Pricing Customer Custom Advertising 66

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2017

Many business executives and entrepreneurs I know are convinced that business success is all about having the right solution for the right price. Thus most investors I know claim to invest in the person, rather than the product. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 08/02/2017.

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Software Review Technical Review Startup Press 57

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 26, 2017

Most entrepreneurs believe they are leaders, even though the feedback I get from their team and partners may indicate otherwise. Affirming all shared values is the way to building productive and working relationships. Marty Zwilling First published on Huffington Post on 05/24/2017. Without trust, you can’t lead.

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Activity Entrepreneur Mentor Writing 55

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 23, 2017

As an advisor to startups, and a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m still surprised at the number who are determined to go it alone. Thus top entrepreneurs spend as much time getting the right team in place to run the business as building the product or service. That’s a win-win for both partners.

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Help Startup Course Technical Review 66

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 21, 2017

A key part of her message that resonated with me, as a mentor to entrepreneurs, is her guidance on how to deal with the constant demands and requests that every business founder faces. Otherwise don’t let guilt trick you into thinking you are actually doing something productive for you. If yes, apologize, then do better.

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Startup Tool Coach Satisfaction 58

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2017

Business productivity is all about having the right people, even though I’m bombarded daily with online tools and mobile apps that promise to solve every problem with automation and data. Trevor is a veteran coach who has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs, organizations, and business families across the country.

Coach 57

Coach Training Summary Tool 57

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2017

As a long-time business advisor and entrepreneur mentor, I see this problem all too often. Trying to cure procrastination by putting in more hours and skipping time off is counter-productive. Maintain a positive attitude and maximum productivity to get things done on time. Don’t procrastinate.

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Satisfaction Guide Mentor Help 60

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2017

In my years of mentoring and advising business leaders, I find that real planning for the future always gets the short shrift. It now means shared values and true empowerment, which is the new key to employee productivity and profitability. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 04/04/2017.

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Company Companies Artificial Inteligence Technical Review 55

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2017

People who are the most productive, and also make good coaches, are keenly self-aware, understand how to manage their emotions, and are able to create sustainable relationships with others. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 04/11/2017. Only add team members that are emotionally mature.

Coach 54

Coach Satisfaction Organization Guide 54

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 24, 2017

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, the most common question I get is, “I want to be an entrepreneur -- how do I start?” Many people with great ideas never make it as entrepreneurs, and true entrepreneurs can make a business out of anything. How strong is your passion for people and business?

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Mentor Entrepreneur Ideas Writing 90

socalTECH

OCTOBER 26, 2016

We spoke earlier with Cody Simms , Executive Director of Techstars America and who leads the program in LA, to hear more about why the startup accelerator operator is opening up its third accelerator here, why Los Angeles has turned out to be one of the leading sources for startups across its network, as well as Cody's advice to entrepreneurs.

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Startup Los Angeles Mentor Class 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2017

In my view, the gig economy is a key driver to the current boom in entrepreneurship – every professional and consultant is actually a solo entrepreneur. She speaks from years of experience mentoring and facilitating independent contractors and helping large companies, since well before the term “gig economy” was even coined.

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Pricing Entrepreneur Mentor News 68

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2017

I have found that the most successful entrepreneurs and business executives have an impressive work ethic, and they surround themselves with a team of comparable commitment. Business is more about people than product. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 01/05/2017. Dependably and reliably delivers on commitments.

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Funding Satisfaction Customer Custom 55

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 3, 2017

As a long-time mentor and advisor to new business owners, I can attest to both the need for mentoring, and the satisfaction that comes from watching an aspiring but tentative entrepreneur grow into someone capable of changing the world. It’s a win-win situation for everyone in this new age of the entrepreneur.

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Mentor Entrepreneur Satisfaction Summary 73

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2017

After the hire comes mentoring and continuous training as the key to engagement. Mentors can be particularly powerful in helping colleagues break out of the trance. It has more than offset the conventional approaches to engagement and productivity. Marty Zwilling First published on Huffington Post on 08/22/2017.

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Mentor Startup Training Resource 57