Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

There is nothing more pure than building a product, putting it out in the world and seeing paying customers using your product and in some cases loving it. As companies get this initial customer feedback on their product they start to have to ask harder questions about unit economics: How much does it cost us to acquire a new customer?

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Custom Customer 286

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 3, 2019

Measuring is all about return-on-investment (ROI). This can be customer acquisition cost, revenue growth, profit, or whatever other parameters are key to your success. The depth in which connections can be made with the “audience” or “customers” is far greater than it possibly can be with any other medium. Marty Zwilling.

Social Media 96

Social Media Media Marketing Metrics 96

socalTECH

MARCH 13, 2020

Dmitri Leonov: We built a distribution business for equipment for the spa industry, and have had 10,000 client over that time, but in the last few years, we've really focused on talking to spa customers about their needs in the market. Essentially, the customer wants natural and organic ingredients. Our average retention is 70 percent.

Template 124

Template Beverly Hills Startup SEM 124

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 31, 2018

Rather than enhancing the offering you have, develop and offer new products that capitalize on the customers that you already know well. Since these usually require a large investment, and more time, including customer education, they need to be started while your current business is still healthy.

Examples 99

Examples IP Acquisition Social Media 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2018

Unfortunately, customers look for value in solving their problem, and new technologies alone scare them, so these solutions don’t get bought by customers, or funded. Attracting business investors is as tough as attracting customers, but it’s a different challenge. Intellectual property and sustainable competitive advantage.

Product 58

Product Slides Entrepreneur Invest 58

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 20, 2018

The stalwarts should be making the big leaps to be competitive, rather than the other way around. Many large companies, and even startups, often forget their core competencies and direction in an effort to grow their business and customer base faster. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 07/06/2018.

Startup 59

Startup Competition IBM IBM 59

socalTECH

DECEMBER 30, 2019

While 2018 was all about better understanding the SoCal opportunity, 2019 was about honing our focus and defining our core programs. While not usually as nimble as a small start-up, corporations can pivot to take advantage of opportunities to engage if they see a return on investment. What was the biggest lesson you learned this year?

SoCal 140

SoCal Southern California Startup Venture Capital 140

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2018

On the other hand, everyone is doing it, so that means more competition, and the market and technology are changing faster than ever before. Validate your solution with a prototype and real customers. You need something real that investors and customers can touch and feel. Ideas are not enough to gauge business potential.

Funding 73

Funding Social Media Slides Platform 73

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2018

The facts, as well as what motivates your peers, customers, and business leaders are changing daily. I believe these insights can and must be extended to you and your career, in line with the following guiding principles: Make your interest in learning your competitive advantage. Make the investment.

Examples 85

Examples Social Media Competition Guide 85

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2018

Customers and analysts are always looking for innovation indicators. I will suggest to you as a business owner and entrepreneur that focus on certain key behaviors will drive innovation without waiting for the next competitive crisis: Be outspoken in communicating proactive required change.

Metrics 58

Metrics IBM IBM Competition 58

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Make it a point to get to know other teams and customers. As an angel investor, I learned this the hard way, and now I’m a believer that smart investors invest in people with the right relationships, not just ideas and skills. Work to make your ability to manage relationships your sustainable competitive advantage.

Tips 95

Tips Mentor Coach Activity 95

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2018

Unfortunately, most of the entrepreneurs who contact me for guidance only seem to work on strategic issues when they are in a crisis, such as losing a major distributor or being swamped with customer complaints. Often, beneficial changes will have a short-term cost to achieve market growth or competitive advantage.

Tips 51

Tips Metrics Sample Statistics 51

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 20, 2015

We love capital efficiency until we love land grabs until we abhor over funding until we get huge payouts and ring the bell for more funding until we attract every non-VC on the planet to invest in startups until it crashes and we start the cycle all over again none the wiser. It forces the founder to spend time in front of customers.

Funding 150

Funding Venture Capital Startup Marketing 150

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 2, 2018

Yet, when you are pitching to investors, this has to be balanced by generating enough profit to keep the venture thriving, growing, and providing a healthy return-on-investment (ROI) to investors. At the other extreme, I don’t condone greedy and unethical business practices to unjustly shake down customers and employees alike.

Custom 19

Custom Customer Acquisition Entrepreneur 19