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. Look for validation from your mainstream customers. Mergers and acquisitions also require new skills.

Technical Review 131

Technical Review Case Study Mentor Software Review 131

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2020

Here are five key ones to celebrate: Enjoy the feedback from every satisfied customer. Talking to real customers is the best way to keep your inspiration alive, as well as the best way keep on track with changing trends and future innovation ideas. Increasing customer focus and loyalty.

Satisfaction 174

Satisfaction Customer Custom Outsource 174

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 9, 2021

As a mentor to many entrepreneurs, I also encourage an entrepreneur exit focus early, and I really like the specific steps outlined in the classic book, “ Exit Signs ,” by Pamela Dennis, who has helped companies through this critical transition for decades. Mature your business processes and customer base.

Startup 173

Startup Entrepreneur Metrics Acquisition 173

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 4, 2020

It’s with profound sadness we mourn the loss of a true visionary, author, mentor, thought-leader, investor, and friend, Tony Hsieh. Under Hsieh’s leadership, Zappos revolutionized the apparel industry, and e-commerce in general, by being one of the first to prioritize customer satisfaction and service. By Frank Gruber and Jen Consalvo.

Commerce 207

Commerce Statistics Customer Custom 207

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2021

The bad news is we have to think like a business, with all the implications of branding, finding customers, and competitors. She speaks from years of experience mentoring and facilitating independent contractors and helping large companies, since well before the term “gig economy” was even coined.

Pricing 149

Pricing Mentor Entrepreneur News 149

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2022

In fact, I have found from personal experience and mentoring that both of these are necessary, but not sufficient, for building a business. There is more and more evidence that a more human-centered or heart-centered leadership yields the best results with your team and with customers in the long run. Investments and acquisitions fail.

Training 142

Training Coach Startup Entrepreneur 142

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2023

On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, still in the idea stage, professional investors will only tell you to come back later when you have traction (customers and revenue). Angel investors probably will know your business, and want to be mentors along the way. Tune your investor pitch and funding expectations accordingly.

Funding 125

Funding Startup Ideas Equity 125

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 11, 2021

You can learn to be an entrepreneur by working in a startup, talking to peers, and mentoring. In reality, every startup brings new unknowns, new people, new competitors, and new customers. Markets, customers, and competitors evolve, and you must continually update the business to stay ahead.

Entrepreneur 171

Entrepreneur Ideas Examples Satisfaction 171

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

With the current volatile economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. Even the New York Stock Exchange did one with the acquisition of Archipelago Holdings via a "double dummy" merger way back in 2006 in a $10 billion deal to create the NYSE Group.

Funding 104

Funding Summary Entrepreneur Acquisition 104

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2019

Steve Blank via Flickr by jdlasica I see more and more entrepreneurs who seem to have everything going for them – vision, motivation, passion, even a good business plan, product, and money, and yet they can’t close customers. Great businesses begin with a customer problem that has a big and monetizable pain point.

Startup 98

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 98

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 24, 2022

I’m convinced that’s why most mature companies are slowing down or buying their innovation through acquisition, rather than building it. By asking a junior colleague to mentor you, you will more likely hear new approaches or technologies and get new insights on your customer base or business challenges.

Competition 102

Competition Company Companies Startup 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2020

On the other hand, if you are a new entrepreneur, still in the idea stage, professional investors will only tell you to come back later when you have traction (customers and revenue). Angel investors probably will know your business, and want to be mentors along the way. Tune your investor pitch and funding expectations accordingly.

Startup 148

Startup Ideas Equity Invest 148

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

In the short term you need customers to find you at any price, and in the longer term you need revenue, profit, and return loyalty. Get outside the company regularly to get feedback on future customer needs, emerging technologies, and the views of influencers and experts in the field. Attract, train, and reward only the best leaders.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Layoffs Social Media Metrics 124

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2019

With the current strong economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. Even the New York Stock Exchange did one with the acquisition of Archipelago Holdings via a "double dummy" merger way back in 2006 in a $10 billion deal to create the NYSE Group.

Summary 121

Summary Startup Entrepreneur Funding 121

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2019

Image via Pixabay As a mentor to many small business owners, I always caution them that you can never relax completely, just because your initial solution or product set appears to be getting traction, and the market buzz is positive. Other customers routinely pay late, or only after they receive one or more prompts from you.

Metrics 86

Metrics Startup Training Customer 86

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 21, 2019

In fact, I have found from personal experience and mentoring that both of these are necessary, but not sufficient, for building a business. There is more and more evidence that a more human-centered or heart-centered leadership yields the best results with your team and with customers in the long run. Investments and acquisitions fail.

Training 123

Training Coach Startup Entrepreneur 123

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 12, 2013

He shared tons of information about how how they were using marketing to quantitatively make marketing decisions at HauteLook and acquire customers for prices that were far cheaper than similar companies. Natural mentors – a desire to help. One of his biggest accomplishments there was championing the acquisition of StubHub.

Venture Capital 360

Venture Capital GRP Partners Startup Invest 360

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 29, 2020

I’m convinced that’s why most mature companies are slowing down or buying their innovation through acquisition, rather than building it. By asking a junior colleague to mentor you, you will more likely hear new approaches or technologies and get new insights on your customer base or business challenges.

Startup 122

Startup Entrepreneur Satisfaction Ideas 122

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

I acted as the occasional mentor, advisor and coach to Ethan. 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. The company was called Red Beacon. I was standing with him when he won the TechCrunch 50 award. Nice sweep!

CTO Coach 359

CTO Coach Google CTO Hire Yammer 359

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

An occasional discussion with a mentor won’t do it. Here is where you learn to listen and communicate with people and customers. The place – finding a community where you can thrive. Everyone needs a place with the right people, connections, and environment to nourish your dreams. The scale - expand to reach your full potential.

Entrepreneur 139

Entrepreneur Help Incubator Startup 139

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 14, 2015

In my perspective as an advisor and mentor to many entrepreneurs, there are a set of basic strategies that can be applied to every startup to dramatically improve the odds of success, no matter what the business domain. Maybe more important, you need domain knowledge, relationships and lots of potential customers.

Startup 101

Startup Metrics Resource Mentor 101

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2014

I see more and more entrepreneurs who seem to have everything going for them – vision, motivation, passion, even a good business plan, product, and money, and yet they can’t close customers. I found their five phases of the process to be compelling, based on my own years of experience mentoring startups: Nail the pain.

Entrepreneur 113

Entrepreneur Startup Technical Review Customer 113

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2017

I see more and more entrepreneurs who seem to have everything going for them – vision, motivation, passion, even a good business plan, product, and money, and yet they can’t close customers. I found their five phases of the process to be compelling, based on my own years of experience mentoring startups: Nail the pain.

Startup 64

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Customer 64

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2015

Here are five key ones to celebrate: Enjoy the feedback from every satisfied customer. Talking to real customers is the best way to keep your inspiration alive, as well as the best way keep on track with changing trends and future innovation ideas. Increasing customer focus and loyalty.

Satisfaction 101

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Customer Custom 101

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2012

I see more and more entrepreneurs who seem to have everything going for them – vision, motivation, passion, even a good business plan, product, and money, and yet they can’t close customers. I found their five phases of the process to be compelling, based on my own years of experience mentoring startups: Nail the pain.

Startup 118

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Customer 118

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

As a mentor to many entrepreneurs, I also encourage an entrepreneur exit focus early, and I really like the specific steps outlined in the new book, “ Exit Signs ,” by Pamela Dennis, who has helped companies through this critical transition for decades. Mature your business processes and customer base.

Startup 98

Startup Entrepreneur Metrics Acquisition 98

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 10, 2013

Monahan will be in charge of managing Science’s social customer acquisition companies like EverySignal and Madrigold. Matt has a creative and analytical background in performance marketing and has hands on expertise driving customer growth within the walls of Facebook. LA-based Science Inc.,

Social Media 82

Social Media Media Marketing Startup 82

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2015

Asking for early-stage money before you have customers and revenue will likely kill your credibility with real investors. Seed-stage, meanwhil e, is technically that critical period when you need funding to do solution- and business-model development, to prove that your new product or service works, before you try to sell it to customers.

Funding 104

Funding Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding 104

socalTECH

OCTOBER 30, 2009

Custom Insurance Programs for Technology Companies. Cadence, Intel, IBM, Freescale, Mentor Graphics, Synopsys, LSI, X-Fab, and many other leading-edge. Litigation - IP Licenses and Agreements: distribution, development, joint venture - Intellectual property aspects of mergers and acquisitions. Need office or Tech Space?

Southern California 140

Southern California IP Orange County Glendale 140

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2016

Here are five key ones to celebrate: Enjoy the feedback from every satisfied customer. Talking to real customers is the best way to keep your inspiration alive, as well as the best way keep on track with changing trends and future innovation ideas. Increasing customer focus and loyalty.

Satisfaction 61

Satisfaction Startup Customer Custom 61

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

I see more and more entrepreneurs who seem to have everything going for them – vision, motivation, passion, even a good business plan, product, and money, and yet they can’t close customers. I found their five phases of the process to be compelling, based on my own years of experience mentoring startups: Nail the pain.

Startup 114

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Customer 114

socalTECH

DECEMBER 26, 2012

We were also about to build a really solid mentor network in a short period of time, pulling in about 250 CEO's and CTOs, from all backgrounds and locations. 12 major acquisitions this year putting it over 100 since 05. You have to listen to your consumers and customers. It was a big year for us. 7 years, 100 companies.

Southern California 168

Southern California High Tech SaaS Social Media 168

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2018

With the current strong economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. There just aren’t enough angel investors and VCs to go around. You may no longer have the option of investing all earnings into growth, or servicing your special corporate cause.

Summary 79

Summary Startup Entrepreneur Funding 79

Jason Nazar

MAY 1, 2016

Customer Acquisition Cost / Cost Per Acquisition . The customer acquisition cost or cost per acquisition is the basic marketing cost to acquire a customer. See what other startup mentors have to say about marketing tactics. d) What percent of your carts/free trials convert into paid customers?

Marketing 40

Marketing CPC Metrics .Net 40

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Based on my experience as an angel investor and a mentor to dozens of entrepreneurs, having no business plan is the quickest way to define yourself as just a dreamer, or at best a hobbyist. Providing your product or service free to customers may sound attractive in marketing materials, but you need revenue sources to survive.

Startup 65

Startup Writing Patents Competition 65

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

Custom Insurance Programs for Technology Companies. Cadence, Intel, IBM, Freescale, Mentor Graphics, Synopsys, LSI, X-Fab, and many other leading-edge companies, universities, and organizations will be sharing their latest technologies, products, and services in this unique Southern California event. Startups Made Simple.

Advertising 113

Advertising Southern California IP VentureNet 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 15, 2015

With the uptick in the economy, as an active startup mentor, I’m seeing a new surge of entrepreneurs and startups, with the commensurate scramble for funding. Even the New York Stock Exchange did one with the acquisition of Archipelago Holdings via a "double dummy" merger in 2006 in a $10 billion deal to create the NYSE Group.

Funding 102

Funding Summary Startup Entrepreneur 102