Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 20, 2021

Later, in my second career as an entrepreneur with startups, I realized that limited resources and fresh insights actually created the mindset that relied on market change and innovation to survive. We didn’t notice as technology advances had opened a whole new market. Don’t wait for innovation ideas from top management.

Marketing 117

Marketing IBM IBM Resource 117

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2021

Over my years as an advisor to new businesses and startups, I have learned that the only certainty that I can offer entrepreneurs is the fact they will face many uncertainties. On the other hand, entrepreneurs have a reputation for being one of the happiest and healthiest career paths around.

Marketing 148

Marketing Coach Startup Product 148

SoCal Tech Calendar

JUNE 17, 2021

Wednesday, June 23, 2021 -- Viterbi Startup Garage: Oceanside Chat: Cleantech 2.0: What Every Entrepreneur Needs To Know. The opportunities in this industry are bigger than any other industry, but the challenges of getting new technologies to market have been many.

Startup 100

Startup Entrepreneur Capital Invest 100

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

How might our next phase of the journey seem brighter, even with more uncertain days for startups and capital markets? And then in the late 90’s money crept in, swept in to town by public markets, instant wealth and an absurd sky-rocketing of valuations based on no reasonable metrics. What happened? People were building.

Venture Capital 466

Venture Capital Startup Marketing Pricing 466

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 9, 2022

Most startups, and many big businesses, still don’t have a clue on how to use social media productively for marketing their business. The next thing that entrepreneurs need to realize is that the process and framework for making social media marketing work are different from traditional marketing, and trial and error certainly doesn’t work.

Social Media 135

Social Media Framework Media Metrics 135

socalTECH

DECEMBER 23, 2020

In a year filled with challenging news, we were fortunate (across Archer Venture Capital and Liquid Stock) to have some high quality exits in our portfolio, but moreover to see how our amazing entrepreneurs successfully managed the disruption caused by COVID-19. What are you most looking forward to in the technology/startup world in 2021?

Venture Capital 124

Venture Capital Capital Technical Review Brentwood 124

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 29, 2021

I’m often surprised when you as an aspiring entrepreneur, looking for investors, tell me your solution is so innovative that you don’t have to worry about differentiating it from competitors, and customers will flock to it without a real marketing campaign. Focus your marketing on real customer value.

Social Media 134

Social Media Case Study Custom Customer 134

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2021

In my role as advisor and mentor to many new entrepreneurs, I often find myself suggesting that they think bigger. We all are excited to hear real innovation, and struggle daily to increase every potential entrepreneur’s scope of thinking. For example, smart entrepreneurs look for recognizable patterns in disconnected domains.

Startup 162

Startup Metrics Ideas Entrepreneur 162

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 15, 2021

E-commerce is booming, but among the biggest challenges for entrepreneurs of online businesses are finding a place to store the items they are selling and dealing with the logistics of operating. The company plans to end 2021 with eight locations, in particular eyeing the Denver, Seattle and Los Angeles markets.

Commerce 237

Commerce Help Startup Los Angeles 237

socalTECH

DECEMBER 30, 2020

This is my 4th market upset and in the first three I was defensive. What are you most looking forward to in the technology/startup world in 2021? We are extremely focused on these regions in our hunt for Unicorns in 2021. We intend to double down on investing in 2021 with 2 investments a week planned.

Southern California 113

Southern California Technical Review Santa Monica Invest 113

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

Every entrepreneur and every business I meet in my consulting and mentoring role has great intentions of bringing real innovation to the market, yet I find that most ideas are merely small extensions to existing solutions. Inventors are always talking about what they can do with technology, before sizing the need and the market.

Startup 146

Startup Mentor Entrepreneur Ideas 146

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

As a long-time business advisor, and an investor in startups along the way, I’m always on the lookout for an entrepreneur who is responding first to a problem in the marketplace , rather than bringing a new technology to the market, assuming it will find a problem to solve. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 08/24/2021.

Activity 132

Activity Entrepreneur Social Media Satisfaction 132

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Yet in my experience on both sides of this equation, I find that many aspiring entrepreneurs focus only on the best idea , assuming that it will attract the right investors. Investors love entrepreneurs who come across as constantly on the lookout for new ideas, and able to grasp the larger implications for market change.

Ideas 140

Ideas Entrepreneur Equity Resource 140

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2021

Yet as a business advisor I am convinced that making the jump from a startup to a the next unicorn takes a different mindset, and actions most entrepreneurs are reluctant to face. In my experience, less than half of founding entrepreneurs even aspire to stay and scale their company. Switch your focus from product development to sales.

Startup 151

Startup Course Sales Entrepreneur 151

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2022

With the ITRC 2021 End-of-Year Data Breach Report revealing a 68 percent increase in stolen sensitive personal information, there is a growing population out there worried about all the people intent on hurting them. Market your solution and user benefits, not the mysterious technology behind it.

Custom 137

Custom Customer Technical Review Symantec 137

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2021

Almost every entrepreneur and new business owner I mentor is certain that his/her idea has a very high probability of success, and all find it hard to believe that ninety percent of startups ultimately fail. Pivot early, as required, to tune your features and marketing to meet the market and technical realities.

Technical Review 131

Technical Review Case Study Mentor Software Review 131

TechCrunch LA

AUGUST 12, 2022

providing freshly packaged salads, heat-and-eat prepared meals and vegan overnight oats, raised $7 million in funding as it goes after the $34 billion fresh prepared foods market. Positive Food Co., It has since expanded its locations with them and are now in Bristol Farms locations, including 86 throughout California.

Invest 175

Invest Los Angeles Startup Funding 175

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 2, 2021

In the eyes of investors like me, to be an entrepreneur, it’s not enough to create an innovative solution – you need to convince me that you can build a profitable business. Creating and growing a business requires creativity beyond the product, in the areas of finance, marketing, and operations.

Funding 152

Funding Startup Ideas Resource 152

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2021

Most aspiring entrepreneurs I know are just waiting for that unique idea to strike them that will kickstart their new venture, put them in control of their lifestyle, achieve financial independence, and maybe even change the world. You need complementary skills for marketing, financials, and operations.

Startup 159

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Equity 159

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

With the advent and growth of crowdfunding over the past few years, many entrepreneurs have predicted the demise of those demanding angel investment groups and venture capital organizations. These groups are now largely run by volunteers at no cost to entrepreneurs. Lack of checks and balances on startup valuations.

Equity 164

Equity Statistics Platform Entrepreneur 164

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2021

Based on my own years of experience in startups and big business, and more recently as an angel investor, I often cringe when I see one of you entrepreneurs missing a cue that I have seen work for many before you. A passionate entrepreneur I met a while back had found that a certain algae could be grown cheaply, and could end world hunger.

Entrepreneur 162

Entrepreneur Social Media Examples Metrics 162

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2021

As a long-time advisor to new entrepreneurs here in the USA, I’ve long been impressed with the number that come here from other countries, and the positive traits that most of these seem to bring with them. Look at the world as today’s global market. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 06/12/2021.

Startup 146

Startup Resource Summary Entrepreneur 146

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 27, 2021

Most of the entrepreneurs I meet as an investor and advisor have no shortage of right-brain thinking, showing vision and creativity, but often don’t realize that their potential is being limited by a balancing focus on results, metrics, and customer specifics. Every balanced leader does marketing early.

Technical Review 133

Technical Review Satisfaction Metrics Startup 133

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2021

In my experience as an angel investor for new startups, I’m always surprised by how many entrepreneurs are looking for funding without outside advisors. For example, I once was approached by an entrepreneur, passionate that his new algae strain would cure world hunger and make him rich. Bandwidth is a constraint we all feel.

Startup 142

Startup Technical Review Equity Entrepreneur 142

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2021

As an advisor to many startups today, I still see that most of you entrepreneurs see yourselves as the sole driver of your new solution, and the key driver of your new business. We all need to be humble and recognize that what we need to know about technology and the market changes daily. Be the model of customer focus for the team.

Startup 147

Startup Custom Customer Ideas 147

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

My recommendation is that you plan to pivot your business on a regular basis, at least once a year, even before you see specific negative symptoms indicative of change in the market you thought you knew so well. It’s hard to find time to really study the market for new trends, and listen to customers.

Custom 126

Custom Customer Activity Study 126

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 26, 2021

Thus I recommend to every business owner and entrepreneur that you focus constantly on building and maintaining personal trust through the following strategies: Use storytelling to highlight previous trustworthiness. Proactively market and defend your trust image. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 05/11/2021.

Company 165

Company Companies Metrics Entrepreneur 165

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2023

Millions have bowed out of the labor market. Many of these retired from the labor market. New and old entrepreneurs submitted over five million startup business applications in 2021 and again in 2022, making these the most popular years on record , according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Layoffs 113

Layoffs Technical Review Startup Class 113

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 6, 2021

In my experience, many entrepreneurs rely too much on the perspective of a trusted advisor, or try to emulate a competitor who is getting attention. The challenge is how to develop that self-leadership in every aspiring entrepreneur and business professional role. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 09/21/2021.

Entrepreneur 132

Entrepreneur Course Satisfaction Guide 132

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2021

Confidence and self-esteem are critical to your success as an entrepreneur, or any business role. Some of us are proud to be technologists, while others love marketing or team building. It allows you to change and learn as the market evolves, and your business needs change. Prioritize your passions in improving competence.

Mentor 174

Mentor Satisfaction Competition Marketing 174

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2021

I often wonder whether you as the entrepreneur have worked as hard on your pricing strategy as you have on your innovative solution. Elon Musk and Tesla are prime examples of this approach, when the market for all-electric vehicles was new. Offering a lower price to penetrate the market.

Pricing 145

Pricing Startup Competition Examples 145

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2021

As a long-time business advisor and mentor to entrepreneurs, I consistently find that the most thriving businesses are people-centric, and those team members create the best processes, rather than the other way around. You need their full support in today’s rapidly changing market.

Satisfaction 154

Satisfaction Demand Resource Competition 154

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

We are bridging the gap between casual, self service dating apps, and traditional matchmaking, and doing it for business professionals in the dating market. Right now, there are no real efficient products in the dating market. Constance Curtis: I have been a successful entrepreneur for the past thirteen years.

Startup 203

Startup Entrepreneur Southern California Netflix 203

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

As an advisor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I find that many assume that their passion and their innovative solution will define them as a leader, and customers, as well as team members, will follow them to the ends of the earth, assuring business success. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 08/19/2021.

Mentor 145

Mentor IBM IBM Social Media 145

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 7, 2021

I find that some of the smartest entrepreneurs are the most reluctant to accept new realities, and unwisely keep charging down a road now leading in a new direction. Act in the interests of expanding the total market. Sometimes, to scale the market you need drive expansion by co-opetition or fostering common platforms.

Patents 138

Patents Mentor Custom Customer 138

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 19, 2021

But the magic that makes one entrepreneur stand out over others is hard to quantify – yet we all recognize it when we see it. The days of “ push ” marketing and autocratic control are gone. The market may not yet recognize the value of your solution, so investors and peers are watching and analyzing your initiatives and pivots.

Custom 157

Custom Customer Metrics Ideas 157

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2021

As a long-time business consultant and investor, especially to entrepreneurs, I recognize your sparkle of vision , to build the ultimate world-changing product. I found these maladies summarized well in a new book, “ Radical Product Thinking ,” by entrepreneur Radhika Dutt. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 09/28/2021.

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Metrics Product Yahoo Examples 133