Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2015

For the elite startups and entrepreneurs who manage to attract the investor they dream of, and survive the term sheet negotiation, there is still one more hurdle before the money is in the bank. Make sure everyone accurately posts their role with your startup on social media profiles, resumes, and references.

Technical Review 108

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur 108

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

Entrepreneurs seem to have blinders on when looking at competitors. Where your competitor isn't really competing with your direct market, you can refer business to each other without anyone losing customers. Let market response dictate a later split, merger, or acquisition. Benchmark your practices against a true peer.

Startup 59

Startup Outsource Competition Acquisition 59

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2014

Entrepreneurs seem to have blinders on when looking at competitors. Where your competitor isn''t really competing with your direct market, you can refer business to each other without anyone losing customers. Let market response dictate a later split, merger, or acquisition. Benchmark your practices against a true peer.

Startup 97

Startup Entrepreneur Outsource Competition 97

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2016

Entrepreneurs seem to have blinders on when looking at competitors. Where your competitor isn't really competing with your direct market, you can refer business to each other without anyone losing customers. Let market response dictate a later split, merger, or acquisition. Benchmark your practices against a true peer.

Startup 55

Startup Outsource Competition Entrepreneur 55

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

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 3, 2009

Yesterday I had lunch with a really interesting and capable serial entrepreneur who is raising his A round. When people refer to a strategic investor they are usually talking about an investor that comes from the industry you serve as opposed to an independent venture capital investor. The topic of &# strategic&# investors came up.

Venture Capital 279

Venture Capital Startup Entrepreneur Framework 279

InfoChachkie

MAY 16, 2011

As an entrepreneur and startup investor, I have helped create companies which achieved two IPOs which collectively raised over $100 million, as well as two acquisitions which totaled $385 million. Even benevolent BDCs lose interest in your solution once this competitive risk is eliminated. 6) Rely On A Public Relations Agency.

Startup 242

Startup Outsource Development Outsource Sales 242

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2017

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. This is independent of whether your existing marketing media include traditional or social media, or both.

Media 59

Media Marketing Social Media Resource 59

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 20, 2010

He was also often referred to as a “hotdog” for his self-promotional antics and lackadaisical on-field play. As such, you are likely better off allowing your competition to hire the Reggie Jacksons of the startup world and focus your efforts on recruiting high performing, low maintenance teammates, like Cal Ripkin. _.

Statistics 212

Statistics Press Product Startup 212

InfoChachkie

NOVEMBER 23, 2015

We typically do not ask entrepreneurs to visit our offices in Santa Barbara, but Jeff wanted to meet with Kevin, an investor in our Fund who helped us vet opportunities and occasionally invested alongside of us. Rather, we value entrepreneurs' time and thus our diligence generally includes introducing them to potential customers and partners.

Venture Capital 100

Venture Capital Technical Review Software Review Southern California 100

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 13, 2011

In reading the comments on Bijan’s blog and having discussed this so many times, I know some entrepreneurs only want to talk with VCs that think that Powerpoint causes leprosy. And when you finish the demo you can bring in the other important components such as competition, team, customer acquisition strategy, etc.

Venture Capital 299

Venture Capital Slides Technical Advisors Startup 299

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2012

It’s a great survival strategy for small companies or entrepreneurs, and a good expansion strategy for even the largest companies. If your "competitor" isn't really competing with your direct market, you can refer business to each other without anyone losing customers. Cross endorsement. Marty Zwilling.

Company 96

Company Companies Startup Examples 96

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2011

It’s a great survival strategy for small companies or entrepreneurs, and a good expansion strategy for even the largest companies. If your "competitor" isn't really competing with your direct market, you can refer business to each other without anyone losing customers. Cross endorsement. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 90

Startup Examples Customer Custom 90

InfoChachkie

JUNE 25, 2009

It is surprising how often entrepreneurs forget this simple fact. The reference may be well-intentioned, but the lawyer’s allegiance may be divided between the investor and you. As noted in Frugal is as Frugal Does , entrepreneurs on The Fringe only spend their cash on items that add value to their adVentures. Go Nuclear.

Technical Advisors 124

Technical Advisors Technical Review IP Patents 124

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 10, 2011

The asymmetric follower model where we also follow news, celebrities and senior executives at companies is one of the reasons people often refer to this as an “interest graph&# because it is an expression of what I care about. Read this story that is typical of many entrepreneurs with whom I talk. Let’s look again at Adly.

Platform 307

Platform News Startup Invest 307