Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2022

Of course you want your customer to come back, but the best ones also become your evangelists in bringing their friends to you, and broadcasting their positive experiences to the world through social media. This is a key moment where your customer acquisition costs go way down, and your profits go way up.

Customer 146

Customer Custom Startup Course 146

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2014

Of course you want your customer to come back, but the best ones also become your evangelists in bringing their friends to you, and broadcasting their positive experiences to the world through social media. This is a key moment where your customer acquisition costs go way down, and your profits go way up. Marty Zwilling.

Customer 98

Customer Custom Entrepreneur Startup 98

InfoChachkie

JUNE 4, 2012

As an entrepreneur, I helped create companies which achieved two IPOs and two trade sales totaling $385 million. Thus, you have negotiating leverage as long as a legitimate, competitive threat exists. What matters is how effectively you change course after each mishap. “Learn from the mistakes of others. Grant Exclusivity.

Entrepreneur 272

Entrepreneur Outsource Ideas Technical Review 272

Berkonomics

APRIL 4, 2019

And most of us investors are frustrated by the lack of regular communication – unless of course – the company needs more money. On the other side, entrepreneurs and CEO’s usually have a natural fear of giving too much information to us investors after the initial investment is received. But don’t worry.

Class 120

Class Course Report Competition 120

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 26, 2021

As a long-time advisor to entrepreneurs and occasional angel investor, I often see and hear innovative product pitches that sound exciting, but are missing one or more of the key business elements that investors deem critical for funding consideration. Convince me that you understand your competition.

Funding 132

Funding Template Resource Competition 132

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2020

As an advisor to many entrepreneurs, I still hear frequently the irrational exuberance that crowdfunding is the quick alternative for startups that are passed over by overly demanding angels or venture capital investors. Of course, if the campaign does not meet or exceed the funding objective, you get nothing. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 151

Startup Equity Funding Demand 151

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

As an entrepreneur I never really knew what to make of VC return data. In short, the VC industry is very sharp-elbowed amongst some very competitive people who are used to winning and most deals don’t have enough space to share investment rounds so people were naturally pretty quick to judge A16Z. Can that really work?”

Venture Capital 264

Venture Capital Invest Funding Competition 264

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 4, 2014

In fact, for the past 27-years, he has specialized in bringing exotic travel destinations to those of us who are healthy and active but whose competitive sporting days are long behind us. If you could share one startup lesson with a young entrepreneur, what would it be? Ever fantasized about climbing Mt. but we don''t.

Entrepreneur 187

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Resource 187

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2022

I still have to tell some entrepreneurs that even with the best idea, they have to move to Silicon Valley to find the investors they need, or they need to move to the U.S. Of course, there are always exceptions, but how much added risk do you need for your startup? Wessel measures a 39% acquisition advantage to being in-state.

Technical Review 123

Technical Review Oracle Software Review Ideas 123

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2021

Most entrepreneurs avoid setting up a board of directors for their new business unless or until they sign up an investor who demands a seat on the board. Of course, if the board is set up or used incorrectly, the impact can indeed be more negative than positive. In my view, nothing could be further from the truth.

Startup 145

Startup Entrepreneur Mentor Writing 145

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 16, 2018

Without taking a dime of outside capital, the company has achieved impressive success in a competitive, SaaS market segment, landing companies such as Nike, Intuit, NASA, AutoDesk and PBS. Metrics related to customer acquisition, lifetime value and churn. What advice you can offer entrepreneurs validating their new products?

Venture Capital 115

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Santa Barbara SaaS 115

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2020

In my experience working with entrepreneurs, once they feel they have a winning formula for their business, they are often hesitant to change or update it. Of course, it’s smart not to stray too far from your core competency for credibility and risk reduction. Use outside investment and acquisition to expand your scope.

Customer 143

Customer Custom Examples IBM 143

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2010

One of the toughest and yet most important questions you will be asked by savvy potential investors is “What is your sustainable competitive advantage?” Yet many entrepreneurs, maybe in their passion for their new product, gloss over this one, or even announce that they have no competition. Proven team with inside relationships.

Competition 49

Competition Tips Patents Startup 49

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 9, 2022

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. This can be customer acquisition cost, revenue growth, profit, or whatever other parameters are key to your success.

Social Media 135

Social Media Framework Media Metrics 135

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 2, 2016

Most entrepreneurs avoid setting up a board of directors for their new business unless or until they sign up an investor who demands a seat on the board. Of course, if the board is set up or used incorrectly, the impact can indeed be more negative than positive. In my view, nothing could be further from the truth.

Entrepreneur 58

Entrepreneur Startup Mentor Writing 58

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 28, 2017

In the heat of scaling the business, it’s tempting to skip the cost and time of finding qualified job candidates, and enlist those close at hand, without paying them a competitive wage for the hard work and commitment you need. Of course, you shouldn’t give away ownership, but squeezing yourself to failure, benefits no one.

Entrepreneur 72

Entrepreneur Competition Customer Custom 72

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2020

Of course you want your customer to come back, but the best ones also become your evangelists in bringing their friends to you, and broadcasting their positive experiences to the world through social media. This is a key moment where your customer acquisition costs go way down, and your profits go way up.

Customer 124

Customer Custom Startup Course 124

InfoChachkie

JULY 26, 2010

Entrepreneurs can emulate de la Guerra’s strategy and make their adVenture appear far larger than reality and thus increasing its influence and market reach while discouraging competitive threats by creating an industry alliance. Tags: Entrepreneur Networking Partnerships The Fringe. free weekly Infochachkie articles!

Entrepreneur 168

Entrepreneur Santa Barbara Startup Conference 168

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

Entrepreneurs seem to have blinders on when looking at competitors. The information exchange from day-to-day interactions of engineers and marketers will drive you enhance your own processes to be more competitive. Let market response dictate a later split, merger, or acquisition. Expand core competency and solidify strengths.

Startup 59

Startup Outsource Competition Acquisition 59

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 6, 2011

Pull Quote: “If you are smart, competitive, hard working and passionate about what you do you will have the best experience of your life. With that said, what books, blogs or other resources do you recommend for emerging entrepreneurs? Of course, there was so little competition back then so it easier to find uncharted territory.

Entrepreneur 232

Entrepreneur Competition Software Review Course 232

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2018

My friend Michael Broukhim, founder & co-CEO of FabFitFun and I recently had a catch-up meeting for 3-miles on the Santa Monica “Bird Trail” No company has ever elicited so many questions by friends, colleagues, entrepreneurs, fellow VCs and journalists as has Bird, the company that pioneered the electronic scooter as a service market.

Santa Monica 256

Santa Monica Funding Startup Course 256

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2014

Entrepreneurs seem to have blinders on when looking at competitors. The information exchange from day-to-day interactions of engineers and marketers will drive you enhance your own processes to be more competitive. Let market response dictate a later split, merger, or acquisition. Expand core competency and solidify strengths.

Startup 97

Startup Entrepreneur Outsource Competition 97

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2013

And a few teams of super talented, educated and bright entrepreneurs make a few mill. But the press (and I suspect many of the senior execs of these companies) don’t really explore the corrosive downside of these acquisition. If I don’t commit to millions of dollars of acquisitions I will … die? Woo the press.

Press 357

Press Startup Yahoo Venture Capital 357

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 9, 2019

I still have to tell some entrepreneurs that even with the best idea, they have to move to Silicon Valley to find the investors they need, or they need to move to the U.S. Of course, there are always exceptions, but how much added risk do you need for your startup? Wessel measures a 39% acquisition advantage to being in-state.

Startup 97

Startup Technical Review Oracle Software Review 97

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 6, 2016

But in my experience as a startup advisor, too many entrepreneurs get stuck there, and always find excuses for not really exploring mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, and alliance alternatives. Of course, they all prefer cash, but some may work for future revenue or startup equity. Investigate strategic alliance alternatives.

Startup 56

Startup Outsource Development Organization Outsource 56

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2016

Entrepreneurs seem to have blinders on when looking at competitors. The information exchange from day-to-day interactions of engineers and marketers will drive you enhance your own processes to be more competitive. Let market response dictate a later split, merger, or acquisition. Expand core competency and solidify strengths.

Startup 55

Startup Outsource Competition Entrepreneur 55

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 3, 2019

The first 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. This can be customer acquisition cost, revenue growth, profit, or whatever other parameters are key to your success.

Social Media 96

Social Media Media Marketing Metrics 96

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2015

When pitching to investors, entrepreneurs always seem to start with a customer pitch, then add a slide or two about the business. Investors are business experts, while the entrepreneur is more likely the product expert. Competitor positioning and sustainable competitive advantage.

Product 103

Product Slides Customer Custom 103

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 24, 2011

With that said, what books, blogs or other resources do you recommend for emerging entrepreneurs? Hmmm, I actually don’t read other entrepreneurial books or blogs – except infoChachkie of course [Editor’s Note: Kevin is clearly full of it here!]. I also read them “my speech,” which goes something like this: . ‘If

Blogging 219

Blogging Entrepreneur Software Review Course 219

socalTECH

OCTOBER 25, 2012

We launched into bridal first, and gave us a good start in a niche, and let me prove the business model and myself as an entrepreneur. I read everything online I could about customer acquisition, marketing, design, and coding, and every part of the business I could. It was a crash course. I didn't have any funding.

Startup 236

Startup Education Acquisition Funding 236

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

In the same year they won Business Insider’s Startup competition. RedBeacon went on to sell to HomeDepot in what was considered a very successful acquisition on all sides. But Ethan had left by the time of the acquisition. In industry this is known as “yield management” and of course it needs to exist.

CTO Coach 359

CTO Coach Google CTO Hire Yammer 359

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 13, 2015

Entrepreneurs and startups often ask if they should select only social media for marketing, or stick with digital media, or just count on traditional media. None should be considered competitive mutually exclusive to any other. None should be considered competitive mutually exclusive to any other.

Social Media 108

Social Media Media Marketing Resource 108

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 30, 2015

Of course you want your customer to come back, but the best ones also become your evangelists in bringing their friends to you, and broadcasting their positive experiences to the world through social media. This is a key moment where your customer acquisition costs go way down, and your profits go way up.

Customer 101

Customer Custom Startup Course 101

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2015

I still have to tell some entrepreneurs that even with the best idea, they have to move to Silicon Valley to find the investors they need, or they need to move to the U.S. Of course, there are always exceptions, but how much added risk do you need for your startup? Wessel measures a 39% acquisition advantage to being in-state.

Startup 109

Startup Technical Review Oracle Software Review 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2015

Most entrepreneurs avoid setting up a board of directors for their new business unless or until they sign up an investor who demands a seat on the board. Of course, if the board is set up or used incorrectly, the impact can indeed be more negative than positive. In my view, nothing could be further from the truth.

Startup 103

Startup Entrepreneur Mentor Writing 103

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 14, 2012

. “it’s smart to use an impending investment valuation to drive a higher acquisition valuation” I would like to amend her statement slightly to read, “it’s smart to use an impending investment valuation to drive an higher acquisition.” Christin goes on. A nice play if you can make it.”

Venture Capital 316

Venture Capital Pricing Social Network Acquisition 316

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

Of course you want your customer to come back, but the best ones also become your evangelists in bringing their friends to you, and broadcasting their positive experiences to the world through social media. This is a key moment where your customer acquisition costs go way down, and your profits go way up.

Customer 52

Customer Custom Startup Course 52