Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 27, 2016

There is an old saying in the startup investor community, “Smart investors invest in the team, not the idea.” As an angel investor, I’ve learned to believe in this approach, since I have seen great ideas go astray, due to poor execution and I have seen apparently marginal ideas make millions, managed by a savvy entrepreneur.

Ideas 53

Ideas Technical Review Entrepreneur Advertising 53

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2023

Entrepreneurs have always believed that their product or service must show real value to customers, but today the smart ones are even able to make their marketing valuable. This new approach is often called “pull marketing,” where the idea is to establish a loyal following and draw customers to your content, and eventually your solutions.

Content 104

Content Custom Customer Marketing 104

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 21, 2013

They bring new ideas, new cultures, new business practices. How much could the new generation of entrepreneurs learn from that? By the way, he has never spent a dollar on advertising. And wanting to build for the next generation. They have nothing to lose. But they mostly want to be – AMERICAN. What will you be known for?

Entrepreneur 415

Entrepreneur Startup Pricing Product 415

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

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2012

She actually IS the prototypical entrepreneur. The idea came from having been recently married herself and seeing how expensive it can be to buy a new wedding dress. But Tracy did what entrepreneurs do. Sam is the managing director of Launchpad LA and we were about to pick our 2012 class of entrepreneurs.

Startup 363

Startup Entrepreneur SEO Venture Capital 363

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 17, 2013

For true entrepreneurs, risk is viewed as a positive, with its implied challenge to overcome the unknown and hitting the big return. One way to learn is to understand better how successful entrepreneurs approach risk, and look at actual strategies they use for success. Save your bucks and get notice without expensive advertising.

Entrepreneur 117

Entrepreneur Startup Advertising Social Media 117

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 11, 2023

Many experts are certain that successful entrepreneurs are the ones with the most inspiration (passion and dream), while others will assert that it’s about more perspiration (working harder). Overcoming obstacles and learning is one of the biggest inspiration for most entrepreneurs. Note the growth of your team and your own leadership.

Startup 118

Startup Satisfaction Custom Customer 118

Berkonomics

AUGUST 31, 2023

In 1994, (I know a long time ago), I invested over a million dollars (two million six hundred thousand in today’s dollars) into a company whose entrepreneurs had a vision that I bought into for many reasons, not the least of which was that I had industry experience and understood the need. Surprisingly, many entrepreneurs immediately respond.

Competition 156

Competition Research Summary Pricing 156

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 24, 2023

Investors invest in people, not ideas. As an entrepreneur, you need relationships to succeed. The Power of Self-Discipline ,” outlined seven ways to make other people feel important, which I believe are extremely relevant to entrepreneurs and business: Accept people the way they are. Customers buy from people, not companies.

Custom 90

Custom Customer Outsource Development Entrepreneur 90

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 22, 2020

Entrepreneurs have always believed that their product or service must show real value to customers, but today the smart ones are even able to make their marketing valuable. This new approach is often called “pull marketing,” where the idea is to establish a loyal following and draw customers to your content, and eventually your solutions.

Custom 127

Custom Customer Marketing Content 127

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2020

Many experts are certain that successful entrepreneurs are the ones with the most inspiration (passion and dream), while others will assert that it’s about more perspiration (working harder). Overcoming obstacles and learning is one of the biggest inspiration for most entrepreneurs. Note the growth of your team and your own leadership.

Satisfaction 174

Satisfaction Custom Customer Outsource 174

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2020

Investors invest in people, not ideas. As an entrepreneur, you need relationships to succeed. The Power of Self-Discipline ,” outlined seven ways to make other people feel important, which I believe are extremely relevant to entrepreneurs and business: Accept people the way they are. Customers buy from people, not companies.

Outsource Development 169

Outsource Development Ideas Custom Customer 169

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

Equally, I encouraged entrepreneurs to spend time getting to know their future VCs early because getting a feel for your chemistry is far more important than how the VC is ranked in some survey. Equally, I encouraged entrepreneurs to thoroughly reference check their VCs – you’ll learn much more from this than anything else.

Entrepreneur 330

Entrepreneur Marketing Venture Capital Hulu 330

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.

Tips 121

Tips Social Media Mentor Technical Review 121

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 4, 2014

If you could share one startup lesson with a young entrepreneur, what would it be? So I ask prospective new entrepreneurs, ''What is it specifically that you can bring to the industry?'' Then we started advertising and getting media attention. Also, advertising in print media just doesn''t have the ROI that it once did.

Entrepreneur 187

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Resource 187

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2014

By most definitions of the term, an entrepreneur is someone who starts a new business, incorporating innovative changes to existing products, services, business models, and creating new markets. One way of identifying the right characteristics and approaches is to take a hard look at entrepreneurs who have done it. Marty Zwilling.

Entrepreneur 114

Entrepreneur Resource Social Network SpaceX 114

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 3, 2015

By most definitions of the term, an entrepreneur is someone who starts a new business, incorporating innovative changes to existing products, services, business models, and creating new markets. One way of identifying the right characteristics and approaches is to take a hard look at entrepreneurs who have done it. Marty Zwilling.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Resource Social Network SpaceX 101

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 1, 2022

I tell entrepreneurs that Google was an “exception” to all the investment and startup rules, but I’ve always wondered what it takes to be an exception. Here are some lessons from the book that all entrepreneurs should wish they could emulate: Independently outstanding, but complementary founders. Unique business tactics.

Startup 131

Startup Google Advertising .Net 131

Frank Addante

AUGUST 6, 2014

A month ago I spoke at the Silicon Beach Fest in Santa Monica in front of LA’s community of emerging entrepreneurs, innovators and disrupters. THE ‘FIND OUT’ When you’re looking to disrupt any industry—advertising, yogurt, VoIP technology, or whatever—begin with learning everything you can. Who else is in the market?

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Startup Santa Monica Ideas 111

socalTECH

APRIL 30, 2013

Yet, it seems like there''s no easy way to specifically advertise on those games, or a way for those game developers to monetize that audience. However, Mobigirl Media (www.mobigirlmedia.com), a new mobile advertising network, is looking to change that by specifically creating an ad network focused on girls.

Mobile 208

Mobile Networking Media Advertising 208

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2013

I tell entrepreneurs that Google was an “exception” to all the investment and startup rules, but I’ve always wondered what it takes to be an exception. Here are some lessons from the book that all entrepreneurs should wish they could emulate: Independently outstanding, but complementary founders. Unique business tactics.

Entrepreneur 93

Entrepreneur Google Advertising .Net 93

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2021

Aspiring entrepreneurs ask me why their great idea hasn’t sold; they talk about it endlessly, and they expect others to do the development, finance, and marketing work for them. Word of mouth advertising and viral marketing cost big bucks these days so budget for it. Success is the right balance of both for fun and profit.

Startup 160

Startup Patents Competition Social Network 160

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 20, 2019

Image via Jisc As an advisor to startups and entrepreneurs, I often hear the myth that all new businesses must start with a great idea. I believe the best entrepreneurs start by finding a large opportunity, and only then use good ideas to capitalize on that opportunity. I have to disagree.

Startup 90

Startup Ideas Examples Entrepreneur 90

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 11, 2022

New entrepreneurs are always looking for a shortcut in getting their venture story and plan across to investors, and closing on the funding they need. It forces you to bridge the gap between idea and execution. It forces you to bridge the gap between idea and execution. No startup or entrepreneur is an island.

Funding 133

Funding Activity Custom Customer 133

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2012

Entrepreneurs are always looking for “the next big thing,” when maybe in fact it’s a lot of little things that are only recognized after the fact as components of a big evolution or revolution. So how do entrepreneurs train to lead the Anywhere Revolution, rather than be dragged along by its wave? Be a ubiquitous connector.

Entrepreneur 95

Entrepreneur Ideas Writing Training 95

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2013

If you are an entrepreneur these days, or trying to grow an existing business, everyone is telling you that you need to use social media. Jim Sterne, who has written many books on Internet advertising, marketing, and customer service, tackled this complex world of social media metrics in his book titled " Social Media Metrics."

Social Media 102

Social Media Media Entrepreneur Metrics 102

SoCal CTO

NOVEMBER 10, 2009

He has a really interesting background as a product manager and now an entrepreneur. On the one hand, an entrepreneur should not be overly paranoid and should know the ropes that VCs and other professional investors generally will not sign NDAs to see the concept or a prototype--and even if they did, it would not provide much protection.

Product 150

Product Entrepreneur Social Media Google 150

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 20, 2013

They are overloaded by the media with amazing advertising messages, and people now realize that you can’t believe anything you see in pictures, and even videos can be edited to deliver any message. I’ve focused these more towards startups and entrepreneurs: Show a personal face. Try branding yourself, not selling a product.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Startup Content Media 111

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 29, 2016

Bold entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk now routinely attack undefined markets, like privatized space travel with SpaceX, and high performance electric cars with Tesla Motors. Bold entrepreneurs put more effort into communicating the new market ecosystem value, and their natural product fit.

Entrepreneur 61

Entrepreneur Marketing Design SpaceX 61

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2013

Many entrepreneurs I know don’t realize that the language they learned in the corporate world, or even their recent MBA class, won’t get them ahead in the startup world today. As a reality check, try this quick test of your entrepreneur savvy. As a reality check, try this quick test of your entrepreneur savvy. Ramen-profitable.

Entrepreneur 109

Entrepreneur Startup Web Equity 109

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2012

Aspiring entrepreneurs ask me why their great idea hasn’t sold; they talk about it endlessly, and they expect others to do the development, finance, and marketing work for them. Word of mouth advertising and viral marketing cost big bucks these days so budget for it. Success is the right balance of both for fun and profit.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Patents Startup Ideas 102

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 25, 2017

By most definitions of the term, an entrepreneur is someone who starts a new business, incorporating innovative changes to existing products, services, business models, and creating new markets. One way of identifying the right characteristics and approaches is to take a hard look at entrepreneurs who have done it.

Entrepreneur 56

Entrepreneur Resource Social Network SpaceX 56

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2011

Investors invest in people, not ideas. As an entrepreneur, you need relationships to succeed. The Power of Self-Discipline ,” outlined seven ways to make other people feel important, which I believe are extremely relevant to entrepreneurs and business: Accept people the way they are. Customers buy from people, not companies.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Outsource Development Ideas Custom 107

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2011

Entrepreneurs are always looking for “the next big thing,” when maybe in fact it’s a lot of little things that are only recognized after the fact as components of a big evolution or revolution. So how do entrepreneurs train to lead the Anywhere Revolution, rather than be dragged along by its wave? Be a ubiquitous connector.

Entrepreneur 92

Entrepreneur Ideas Writing Training 92

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 7, 2012

As we turn our ideas for the future into the latest startups and companies of today, there’s always a need for resources to help guide one through the process of it all. As that idea grows into a business there may come a time where the need for outside funding in necessary to further grow and scale.

Resource 86

Resource Guide Entrepreneur Examples 86

socalTECH

DECEMBER 26, 2012

We asked the same four questions of a variety of top technology entrepreneurs, investors, and others, to hear what they're thinking about, and are sharing it here over the next week. As the founder of an accelerator, I'm constantly being approached by ambitious people with big ideas, and generally we invest in 1/100th of what comes to us.

Southern California 168

Southern California High Tech SaaS Social Media 168

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 12, 2021

If you are an entrepreneur these days, or trying to grow an existing business, everyone is telling you that you need to use social media. Jim Sterne, who has written many books on Internet advertising, marketing, and customer service, tackled this complex world of social media metrics in a classic book titled simply " Social Media Metrics."

Social Media 127

Social Media Media Metrics Satisfaction 127