Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2019

When someone says Intellectual Property (IP), most entrepreneurs think only of patents. In reality, patents are only one of at least eight items that should be in your IP portfolio. You need all these before you start looking for funding. Remember that ideas cannot be patented, only novel implementations. Trademarks.

IP 93

IP Invest Patents Social Media 93

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2009

The patent lawsuit filed Wednesday,/a> against popular micro-blogging site Twitter by a Texas company, TechRadium , has echoes of a lawsuit spawned by the acquisition of Sherman Oaks-based NTI Group last year. Blackboard acquired NTI in January, and was one of the big exits for Southern California startups last year.

Patents 100

Patents Sherman Oaks Southern California Blogging 100

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2020

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. Start with a service you know and love. Capture your “secret sauce.”

Startup 174

Startup Training Services Writing 174

SoCal CTO

JUNE 9, 2010

Continuing my series of posts that I’ve been collecting that live at the intersection of Startups and being a Startup CTO : Startup CTO Top 30 Posts for April 16 Great Startup Posts from March here are the top posts from May 2010. You could just outspend. It is to out friend. Enjoyed this post? Disruptive. We get it!

Startup 248

Startup Venture Capital Conference Social Media 248

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2023

Here are some key ones that I find often overlooked in the passion of the moment or the rush to get started: Aim your innovations at real customer problems. You can be that person, if you demonstrate and practice commitment, determination, a real plan, and show that you never give up. Assemble the resources needed for the business.

Tips 80

Tips Startup Satisfaction Ideas 80

SoCal CTO

JULY 13, 2010

Some great content around the intersection of startups and being a Startup CTO in June this year. This continues my series of posts: Top 29 Startup Posts May 2010 Startup CTO Top 30 Posts for April 16 Great Startup Posts from March There was some really great content in June. It shows a lack of interest.

Startup 175

Startup Venture Capital Slides Blogging 175

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2010

When someone says Intellectual Property (IP), most people think only of patents. In reality, patents are only one of at least seven items that should be in your IP portfolio. The company name becomes your intellectual property at the moment you incorporate your startup as an LLC or a Corporation. Trademarks. Copyrights.

Patents 50

Patents Startup IP Blogging 50

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2013

I’m fully convinced that both inspiration and perspiration are always required in a startup. Those at the other extreme don’t look up from the grindstone long enough to notice whether all their work is producing sweat equity or just sweat. Starting a business may be fun, but it’s not easy. Start even before the product is ready.

Startup 100

Startup Patents Competition Social Network 100

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

Even bigger is the desire to stick one’s middle finger up at all of the people who doubted you all along. We checked patents. She has never given up despite setbacks. Could you withstand the public scrutiny every day of being a young tech founder and show up every morning filled with enthusiasm? I was not fried.

Technical Review 417

Technical Review Startup Software Review Course 417

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2023

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. They understand startup realities. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young.

Search Engine Optimization 103

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 103

SoCal CTO

NOVEMBER 5, 2009

I recently got together with Aaron Shechet and an early stage startup to discuss the direction the company might want to take. I grew up in Los Angeles and went to undergrad at UC Santa Barbara, graduating in 2003 with Honors in Economics. While at UC Santa Barbara, I started a café which served over 1100 dorm residents.

Startup 150

Startup SEO Pepperdine Blogging 150

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2020

It’s still popular these days for startup founders to operate in stealth mode, meaning no details about the idea or progress are shared with anyone until the big reveal and rollout. Pivots and corrections are inevitable for startups in this age of rapid change, and the earlier you make them, the quicker you get to success.

Search Engine Optimization 174

Search Engine Optimization Ideas Startup Custom 174

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. They understand startup realities. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young.

Startup 89

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 89

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2021

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. Cohen and Michael Rybarski, titled “ Start-Up Smarts.” Use them and win. Marty Zwilling.

Software Review 123

Software Review Seed Funding Funding Startup 123

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. They understand startup realities. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 108

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

Here are some of the key new rules I have learned by starting my own company, investing as an angel in other startups and mentoring many more new entrepreneurs over the last few years: Do incorporate a company, but keep it simple. Too many entrepreneurs still think plans are for investors, and investors are required to build a startup.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Social Media Outsource Development 108

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2016

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. Start with a service you know and love. Capture your “secret sauce.”

Services 61

Services Startup Training Writing 61

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2013

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. Cohen and Michael Rybarski, titled “ Start-Up Smarts.” angels entrepreneur funding gaps process startup'

Software Review 106

Software Review Funding Startup Seed Funding 106

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 18, 2016

As an entrepreneur looking for professional investors, one of the quickest ways to lose credibility and get rejected is to start with a ridiculously high pre-money valuation. Patents filed, even provisional, as well as trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets count as barriers to entry and sustainable competitive advantages.

Startup 71

Startup Patents Invest Blogging 71

InfoChachkie

MARCH 1, 2012

As any long-time reader of this humble blog knows, I am an ardent Beatles fan. Some of the examples are patently obvious (e.g., (i) Some of the examples are patently obvious (e.g., (i) Once the group broke up, George released a three album set comprised of 23-songs. I can sum it up in a two words, “keep innovating.”

Tips 259

Tips Startup Entrepreneur Product 259

socalTECH

JUNE 19, 2014

We caught up with Jeff Overall , the founder of PolarPro, to better understand the company--plus the popularity of accessories specifically for GoPro cameras. Jeff Overall: It all started back in 2011, when I was going to the University of Santa Barbara. This was when GoPro was just getting started, and becoming real popular.

Startup 196

Startup Van Nuys Patents Santa Barbara 196

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 15, 2016

I’ve noticed a great tendency among startup founders to ignore the essentials of business accounting in the early stages of their startup. Sloppy documentation and reporting of these expenses is an open invitation to an IRS audit, which is the last thing you need or can afford during the busy startup period. Corporate records.

Startup 65

Startup Patents Tool Organization 65

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

Behind most great startup success stories is a long list of mistakes! Every startup mentor has his favorite list of basic strategies to avoid pitfalls, and I’m no exception. Every startup mentor has his favorite list of basic strategies to avoid pitfalls, and I’m no exception. Assume your initial strategy will be wrong.

Tips 102

Tips Help Startup Blogging 102

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2014

It’s popular these days for startup founders to operate in stealth mode, meaning no details about the idea or progress are shared with anyone until the big reveal and rollout. Pivots and corrections are inevitable for startups in this age of rapid change, and the earlier you make them, the quicker you get to success.

Startup 101

Startup Search Engine Optimization Ideas Custom 101

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 3, 2011

When someone says Intellectual Property (IP), most entrepreneurs think only of patents. In reality, patents are only one of at least eight items that should be in your IP portfolio. You need all these before you start looking for funding. Remember that ideas cannot be patented, only novel implementations. Trademarks.

Social Media 94

Social Media Media Patents IP 94

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2020

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. They understand startup realities. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young.

Search Engine Optimization 124

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 124

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2011

Every time I hear about a new startup that is in stealth mode, I wonder what problem they are hiding from whom. It also makes legal sense to never disclose the details of your patent application, before the product is ready to ship. But start networking with advisors, industry pundits, and domain experts early.

Startup 101

Startup Search Engine Optimization Course Media 101

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 20, 2011

As you all know TechZulu is a huge supporter of Startup Weekend, and when we had the chance to be part of the very first Orange County (my home town) Startup Weekend we jumped on board. Tonights Startup Weekend presentations are being judged by the following: Maneesh Goyal. He blogs at startup-marketing.com.

Orange County 106

Orange County Miramar Startup Tech Coast Angels 106

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2017

I read commentary or Twitter or blogs and realize that there are also strongly held convictions that there are these evil VCs who do terrible things to mostly altruistic founders. Boards are not appointed to be founder-friendly lapdogs for the 1–3 founders who start companies and usually own the largest equity positions in the company.

Startup 217

Startup Technical Review Equity Report 217

Xconomy

MAY 30, 2016

Lita Nelsen has seen it up close—and played a part in its evolution—from her studies there in the 1960s, to her business-school fellowship in the late 1970s, to her 30 years working in MIT’s Technology Licensing Office. And so that’s what Stanford did, so it was set up in that model. Then it got acquired by Millipore.

Startup 67

Startup Compton Research Technology 67

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2012

I hear a lot of entrepreneurs contemplating their great “idea” for several years with little discernable progress, and looking for money to start. A great business often starts with one person, but it doesn’t end there. Now investors will pay attention, since scale-up funding is less risky and has a time frame.

Startup 104

Startup CTO Hire Press Custom 104

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 13, 2016

It’s still popular these days for startup founders to operate in stealth mode, meaning no details about the idea or progress are shared with anyone until the big reveal and rollout. Pivots and corrections are inevitable for startups in this age of rapid change, and the earlier you make them, the quicker you get to success.

Startup 60

Startup Search Engine Optimization Ideas Custom 60

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2018

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. Start with a service you know and love. Capture your “secret sauce.”

Services 72

Services Startup Training Writing 72

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2010

Every time I hear about a new startup that is in stealth mode, I wonder what problem they are hiding from whom. It also makes legal sense to never disclose the details of your patent application, before the product is ready to ship. But start networking with advisors, industry pundits, and domain experts early.

Startup 91

Startup Search Engine Optimization Course Media 91

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 6, 2010

Two founders have spent $200K of personal and family funds over a one year period to start the company, get a prototype site up and running, and have already generated some “buzz” in the Internet community. NewCo might be able to pick up an initial $50K valuation on this item. Assign real value to intellectual property.

Startup 93

Startup Patents Outsource Development Web 93

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 17, 2011

I hear a lot of entrepreneurs contemplating their great “idea” for several years with little discernable progress, and looking for money to start. A great business often starts with one person, but it doesn’t end there. Now investors will pay attention, since scale-up funding is less risky and has a time frame.

Startup 101

Startup CTO Hire Press Custom 101

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

Behind most great startup success stories is a long list of mistakes! Every startup mentor has his favorite list of basic strategies to avoid pitfalls, and I’m no exception. Every startup mentor has his favorite list of basic strategies to avoid pitfalls, and I’m no exception. Assume your initial strategy will be wrong.

Mentor 100

Mentor Startup Social Network Patents 100