Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2022

During my many years of mentoring professionals and entrepreneurs in business, I more often see people focusing on how to get their ideas heard , than how to promote themselves. I’m convinced that great results are better than great ideas, and a great perception of you as a person is better than both ideas and results.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 31, 2022

This early stage is often called the idea stage, best populated by people who see the need for change early, or always have a vision for unmet opportunities, or a better way to do things. Idea people often don’t get funded as entrepreneurs, because a new business is all about results, not just ideas.

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Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

I’m a believer in the old saying that investors look for great people, more than great ideas. The best entrepreneurs and business professionals always find time for strategic thinking and new ideas, no matter how many times they have to say “no” to immediate demands, or work extra hours. Keep the focus on efficiency and growth.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2022

Generously reward your team for learning from innovative ideas, including failures. In all cases, even with the right mindset, it’s important to remember that coming up with innovative ideas and implementing them requires more than a flash of inspiration, and much perspiration. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 7/13/2022.

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Xconomy

NOVEMBER 8, 2017

When Xconomy gathered a handful of life sciences visionaries in 2010 to predict what the local life sciences landscape would look like in 2030, biotech CEO John Mendlein talked about the intertwining ingredients of people, money, and ideas—how they work together to strengthen a life sciences ecosystem. “We

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Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2022

Trust your own insights, and if you have to ask for business ideas from others, I recommend that you stay where you are until you’re certain of your own idea and solution. In business, there will always be someone out there with more money, a better location, or more resources, ready to take your idea and squeeze you out.

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Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2022

Many smart people I know fall into the category of “idea” people. You may never be at a loss for new ideas, and ways to broaden the appeal of your business. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 7/27/2022. Here are some key ones I have learned in my years of experience: Business success requires focus and execution.

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Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 2, 2022

For example, although Jeff Bezos , founder of Amazon, is most certainly an idea guy himself, he attributes much success to listening and learning from his team. He didn’t initially agree with many of their ideas, but supported them and saw real success. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 1/19/2022.

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Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2022

Unfortunately, I have seen more great business ideas sabotaged by founders with self-doubt, fear of failure, and uncertainty, than by over-confidence. I find that entrepreneurs are either idea persons, or business builders, but rarely both. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 2/3/2022.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2020

According to a recent article on Thrinacia , there are now aver 600 crowdfunding platforms in existence, currently estimated to add more than $89 billion to the economy at a compound growth rate of 17% from 2019 to 2022.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 4, 2022

New blood and new ideas are keys to agility. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 2/18/2022. Bezos believes that if you double the number of experiments you do per year, you’re going to double your agility, and thus outpace your competitors. Reseed teams with new leaders and rotation.

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Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2022

He is always open to the ideas of his team, and even if he doesn't agree that an idea will work, he'll say so, but he often supports and funds it anyway. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 4/5/2022. Jeff Bezos , founder of Amazon, attributes much of his success to building a motivated and enabled team.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 20, 2022

It’s up to you to communicate the positive need for innovation, reward change ideas and actions, and set the culture. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 7/7/2022 Without even realizing it, existing company leaders often foster a culture of “no change,” by establishing fixed processes and penalizing any deviation by the team.

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Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 16, 2022

Don’t be afraid to ask your team for motivation ideas and strategies. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 12/2/2022. Maintaining a culture of appreciation requires your explicit public recognition of contributions, as well as commensurate and fair monetary and non-monetary rewards.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 26, 2022

For example, instead of quick slide presentations, teams at Amazon write six-page memos to lay out ideas in narratives to be read in silence at the start of a meeting. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 1/12/2022. Jeff Bezos believes strongly that setting high standards has been the key to Amazon's success.

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Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2022

To truly comprehend the value of multiple data sources, you must stay open to new ideas, and ready to learn new lessons from uncharted territory. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 9/12/2022. Deep-diving is a state of total immersion. Use it for tough data challenges. Synthesis: connect and integrate disparate concepts.

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Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2022

Start by coming up with two or three ideas you want to test out on a difficult colleague. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 10/25/2022. When seeking help on an issue, seek out people who are constructive, and stay positive. Experiment with alternatives to find what works. Often, small actions make real progress.

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Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2022

In my own experience networking as a startup investor and business executive, I always gave extra consideration to someone who didn’t immediately pitch me about their great idea or background. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 12/9/2022. You might even find some friendships that will last you the rest of your life.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 1, 2022

You need to solicit diverse and creative ideas from outliers, and people who are willing to take a risk, even if you don’t agree. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 5/17/2022. Foster healthy disagreements among key team members. For this to work requires trust on both sides. Find time for what you need to expedite learning.

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Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 25, 2022

It’s less about the stuff you sell than the big idea that surrounds it. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 2/10/2022. Community – make me feel part of something bigger. There are few things more effective at making customers today feel good about themselves and your brand than giving.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 20, 2022

In my experience as an angel investor for startups, I often heard entrepreneurs try to cover their lack of real data with passion for the idea and the potential. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 5/6/2022. Unfortunately, logic alone often will not close the negotiation, but in business it is always a key element.

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Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

I have often thought that creative endeavors where one has a quick turn-around between idea and realization of one’s work as one of the more fulfilling experiences in life. In those days we did it for the joy of problem-solving and seeing something we created in our brains be realized in the real world (or at least the real, digital world).

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Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 7, 2022

Share with a peer to find new and helpful ideas. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 1/24/2022. If you feel that something must be done, then you are probably right, and you need to act. At the same time, always base your feedback on facts rather than emotion. That’s a win-win for everyone.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2022

Stories are the most effective way to communicate an abstract or unfamiliar idea. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 2/24/2022. People can’t agree with what they don’t understand, and their trust and respect for you as a leader will directly relate to their ability to feel a sense of commonality with the image you project.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2022

An unwillingness to present ideas, fulfill commitments, or be accountable can be a sign of a disconnected team member. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 5/18/2022. You can help by providing more informal opportunities for team interaction, such as team lunches, success celebrations, and a pleasant break room.

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TechCrunch LA

JUNE 3, 2022

. — Sophia Amoruso (@sophiaamoruso) June 1, 2022. The idea of the “girlboss” today is shrouded in privilege. It’s not a compliment. It’s more of a mockery,” said Isa Watson , founder and CEO of social media app Squad. Watson, who holds an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has raised $4.5

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TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

The federal government announced that it would be pulling back $1 billion in funding that was slated for the California high-speed rail project through 2022, while also pursuing legal action to help recoup the $2.5 You allow us to get off the ad-laden media churn conveyor belt and spend quality time on amazing ideas, people, and companies.

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Both Sides of the Table

JULY 26, 2022

The industry has obviously changed enormously in 2022 but in many ways it feels like a “return to normal” that we have seen many times in our industry. Obviously the funding environment has changed considerably in 2022 but as early-stage investors our daily jobs stay largely unchanged.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2023

Unfortunately, in my experience, it takes much more than an innovative idea to launch a successful business today. Over time, I have collected a list of new business attributes that go beyond the initial idea or solution, which often are more critical to long-term success and satisfaction. Be customer focused, not technology focused.

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Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

Raising money is difficult, even with the best idea, so don’t assume any entitlement to loans, grants, or seed funding. Remember that investors tend to fund entrepreneurs, not ideas. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 8/24/2022. Write a business plan for your desired new business.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 17, 2022

Having an unlimited number of ideas is not a substitute. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 6/2/2022. In my view, too many businesses fail, simply because founders give up too early. You should be ready with your personal anecdotes on achieving success through persistence, from non-business efforts as well as business.

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Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2022

One of the attributes that I often recommend to the business professionals and entrepreneurs I mentor is to always be totally accountable for your actions and ideas. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 11/24/2022. Lack of accountability can permeate an entire organization.

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Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 13, 2022

I still see some value from an external coach, but only after you make every effort to get yourself into a better mindset, and have a concrete idea of where you need specifics and an external perspective. Marty Zwilling First published on Inc.com on 3/28/2022.

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