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! We build and invest in startups with impact. We call it TinkerBarn Ventures. In a big way!

Startup 105

Startup Case Study Ideas Invest 105

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.

Mentor 75

Mentor Venture Capital Draper USC 75

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! We build and invest in startups with impact. We call it TinkerBarn Ventures. In a big way!

Startup 52

Startup Case Study Ideas Invest 52

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 22, 2017

It has a huge impact on productivity, as well as morale and loyalty to the company. Trust causes the brain to release oxytocin, which stimulates productivity and raises motivation. He cites eight leadership actions, which I also recommend, from a non-scientific perspective, as a mentor to entrepreneurs.

Develop 58

Develop Development Claremont Mentor 58

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2017

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. Normally the goal is to make enough money to be sustainable and provide a return on the investment of constituents. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 01/17/2017.

Ideas 72

Ideas Startup Metrics Entrepreneur 72

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

Tech.Co

APRIL 24, 2018

Not to mention there’s a chance at a possible investment from the Established Investment Community. At the 2017 Startup of the Year Competition, almost 50 percent of our founders were minority or female, and applications were submitted from almost every US state and 46 different countries.

Startup 70

Startup Competition Google Capital 70

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. Bigger organizations should invest in the new “big data” tools. Working on the wrong problem or assumption.

Tool 53

Tool Entrepreneur Statistics Metrics 53

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.

Marketing 69

Marketing Startup Social Media Guide 69

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2017

Thus most investors I know claim to invest in the person, rather than the product. In the same way, you may think that people assessment is all about skills and experience, but as a mentor to business owners, I have learned to look more for the right attitude, persistence, and determination, as success factors.

Software Review 57

Software Review Technical Review Startup Press 57

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Based on my experience as an angel investor and a mentor to dozens of entrepreneurs, having no business plan is the quickest way to define yourself as just a dreamer, or at best a hobbyist. Providing your product or service free to customers may sound attractive in marketing materials, but you need revenue sources to survive.

Startup 65

Startup Writing Patents Competition 65

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2017

As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I often get asked for next sure-fire idea. That’s why investors talk about investing in the jockey, not the horse. Customers don't care about your product or service's features. Create a great customer experience, not just a product.

Ideas 54

Ideas Study Entrepreneur Customer 54

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2017

Business is more about people than product. As an angel investor in startups, I often find myself looking harder at the quality of the team and the leadership, than at the details of the product and business model. Investors read this as being trustworthy of their investment, and an appropriate role model for all business constituents.

Funding 55

Funding Satisfaction Customer Custom 55