Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2019

Don’t bash the competition. Every investor knows how vulnerable a new startup is to competitors, so investors always ask about your sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. They are also seeking to find out how you handle one of the many tough questions that a new founder will get in today’s market.

Competition 120

Competition Patents Resource Invest 120

InfoChachkie

JULY 14, 2011

Value Prop Twitter Style : “Ringrevenue’s call performance marketing platform enables ad networks, agencies, advertisers & publishers to generate more inbound sales calls.”. In today’s market, so much focus is placed on transacting business online. Who do you view as your biggest competition? You’re right.

Marketing 209

Marketing Advertising Paid Search Startup 209

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 29, 2014

It’s not hard to find people willing to write the narrative that “venture capital is not an asset class” or “venture capital has performed terribly.” Companies are now raising much more capital in the private markets now before they go public. This is the opportunity set for venture capitalists.

Venture Capital 362

Venture Capital Capital Startup Writing 362

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Design together, the course that introduced the idea for brightblu, they were concurrently taking three other classes: Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Marketing and Art of the CEO. The biggest motivator for starting brightblu was John Greathouse’s Entrepreneurship class.

Class 231

Class Startup Santa Barbara RSS 231

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

But LA-based performance marketing agency MuteSix didn’t wait that long to build its business around scaling DTC brands. “They demonstrate best-in-class expertise with Facebook and Google paid ad platforms. If you have growth marketing agencies or freelancers to recommend, please fill out our survey !).

Commerce 211

Commerce Content Marketing Startup 211

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 3, 2013

Let me start by saying that Clayton is one of the most influential people on my thoughts about markets that led to both the concept behind my first startup and my main theses in investing. His class reading lists could be a primer for any entrepreneur, not just MBAs. We spoke about what succeeds early in technology market evolutions.

Venture Capital 403

Venture Capital Education Offshore Outsource Development 403

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

Reading it felt like read a university book for an economics class and no wonder since he’s a professor at Harvard Business School. The framework of his book has profoundly altered how I think about the technology market and affects how I thought about building my businesses and how I think about investing in venture capital.

Startup 376

Startup Framework Marketing Customer 376

socalTECH

JUNE 20, 2012

We got over 400 applications for the ten slots we had open in this class, and we picked ten amazing companies. So far, eight of the ten companies in our current class have raised outside funding, and we're really happy with how it's gone so far. Our current class has performed incredibly well. So when is the next class?

Class 261

Class Mentor Startup Santa Monica 261

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 31, 2012

My list of excuses includes: product, pricing, competition and lack of sales support. I wrote separately about that here – regarding “hiring people who punch above their weight class.” In my post I specifically talked about the integration of marketing and sales.

Startup 319

Startup Sales Course Competition 319

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 30, 2011

With more competition in early-stage many VCs are investing smaller amounts at earlier stages. We all know the result of the over-funding of the asset class – poor returns in aggregate for the industry. Hedge funds and growth equity firms returning to their traditional segments of the market. The Coming Brick Wall.

Venture Capital 289

Venture Capital Capital Cloud Computing Marketing 289

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 22, 2014

But this is a high-class problem they solve for me. They were a little too fierce in their competitive practices against Lyft to sign up drivers. As somebody who has to rub shoulders with big tech companies often I can tell you that there is much blood spilled in the competitive trenches of Apple, Twitter, Facebook, Google and so on.

Press 418

Press Journal Startup Training 418

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 11, 2016

Classic marketing teaches us that this is the best way to define our audience, and to make appropriate pitches that will elicit favorable response from the target audience. She doesn’t fit into the demographic mold, and she will be missed when using any of the traditional marketing methods of communication.

Marketing 120

Marketing IP Email Class 120

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2011

They have seen one side of a market where many of us have seen the ebb and flow multiple times. Still, market amnesia by ordinarily rational actors always surprises me. I believe a bubble occurs when a market is willing to pay greater than intrinsic value for an asset class. If you are interested the Vimeo is here.

Pricing 309

Pricing Marketing Startup Venture Capital 309

Berkonomics

APRIL 14, 2012

Others worry that investors will latch onto individual line items within financial data and engage in inquisitions regarding telephone bills, marketing costs and other tactical line items in detailed financial statements. First, let’s cover the absolute minimum legal requirement a company has to provide to its investors.

Class 202

Class Report Competition .Net 202

Berkonomics

JULY 23, 2011

There are five major classes or niches a company should examine and make its own in calculating positioning in the marketplace. In many markets, there are poorly defended niches, even markets with dominant players. They are: Price. Innovation.

Pricing 197

Pricing Examples Class Course 197

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 16, 2010

We talked with Noah about how the company grew out of a business plan competition at the University of Southern California, his recent funding from the Maverick Angels, as well as how the firm hopes to stand out among a crowded list of comparison shopping sites. Noah Auerhahn: We just had too much free time at USC.

USC 207

USC CPC Sites Startup 207

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 13, 2012

However, at most startups, competitive advantages are derived from a combination of invention and innovation, as described more fully in Inventor Or Innovator – Which Are You? Startups often out-maneuver their larger rivals by changing the key parameters upon which competition has historically been based. The Berkoff Blastoff.

Startup 198

Startup Competition Activity Class 198

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

Sam’s vision was to build a world-class “reverse logistics” company that could be as ambitious as Amazon has been in delivering goods to our houses. What sized team can I afford in order to sell, market & provide service to these customers? We used our refined playbooks for LA and figured this time we knew how to launch a market.

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 286

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2012

This approach, popularly known as “glocalization,” means you have to design and deliver global solutions that have total relevance to every local market in which you operate. Remember when the Chevy Nova required a rename, once Chevrolet realized that Nova meant "no go" in the Spanish market (not a great name for a car).

Marketing 104

Marketing Startup Patents Offshore 104

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 19, 2020

Instead, they need to validate a customer problem and real market need first. Smart entrepreneurs build market-driven solutions, per the following principles: Size the opportunity and customer interest first. Your passion isn’t enough to create a market. Disruptive technologies require customer education to create a new market.

Technology 127

Technology Marketing Social Media Customer 127

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 1, 2016

At the Upfront Summit in early February, we had a chance to have many off-the-record conversations with Limited Partners (LPs) who fund Venture Capital (VC) funds about their views of the market. And that’s real cash that LPs can’t put to work in other asset classes. That’s money that fuels our startup ecosystems.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Capital Marketing Seed Funding 150

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 30, 2014

I think this is a combination of being realists as venture capitalists that outsized returns in our funds must come from taking on bigger, more impactful projects that can move markets. Would they build a world class team. Could we produce this at cost? Did anybody hold patents that would prevent us from using this technology?

Technical Review 418

Technical Review Software Review CTO Hire IP 418

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 16, 2010

But VC is an “illiquid asset&# so funds didn’t disappear quickly - In 2000/01 the stock market quickly adjusted punishing investors in the NASDAQ and in individual public technology stocks. What accelerated this was the collapse of the public stock markets. VC will shrink. Oh yes it will.

Venture Capital 311

Venture Capital Startup Seed Funding Rustic Canyon 311

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 20, 2014

This allowed the curriculum to efficiently find its product / market fit. The TMP began in the late 1990''s as a single class inside the Engineering College. Although the classes are open to students of all disciplines, the Program''s primary focus in on educating "techpreneurs.". All-Star Alumni. Am I biased?

Santa Barbara 258

Santa Barbara Technical Review Startup Venture Capital 258

SoCal Tech Calendar

MARCH 24, 2011

What is the secret sauce that enables best-in-class companies to create and sustain their competitive advantage? How can small and middle-market companies utilize strategic thinking to penetrate and dominate new markets? Wednesday, March 30, 2011 -- ACG 101 Executive Book Evening.

ACG 113

ACG Class Competition Marketing 113

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 3, 2014

Obviously to understand a “class” of people you have to make broad generalizations. Features don’t win or lose sales – especially in nascent markets. If it wasn’t you, I guarantee you they were influenced by your competitor – either through their sales efforts or through marketing.

Sales 382

Sales Help Startup Pricing 382

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 5, 2011

I’ve started writing up some of those sales & marketing lessons and I plan to continue to build that section out over time. Obviously to understand a “class&# of people you have to make broad generalizations. Features don’t win or lose sales – especially in nascent markets. Here are mine.

Sales 316

Sales Startup Pricing Customer 316

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2019

This approach, popularly known as “ glocalization ,” means you have to design and deliver global solutions that have total relevance to every local market in which you operate. Remember when the Chevy Nova required a rename, once Chevrolet realized that Nova meant "no go" in the Spanish market (not a great name for a car).

Marketing 94

Marketing Patents Offshore Startup 94

InfoChachkie

JULY 7, 2014

Within reason, the larger your intern class, the greater the volume of creative ideas and more talented recruits you will subsequently hire full-time. Competition – Make it clear that only the best interns will be granted offers for full-time positions. An explicitly competitive environment will cause the high-achievers to excel.

Startup 257

Startup Santa Barbara Competition Class 257

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2013

In this period (less than 2 years) he has brought on incredibly talented senior execs is sales, marketing, product management, client services, finance, vp engineering and more. You may have an opinion on your market-entry strategy for Europe. Growth like this, this early in a company’s lifecycle rarely happens.

Tips 365

Tips Email Venture Capital CTO Coach 365

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 2, 2015

Don’t bash the competition. Every investor knows how vulnerable a new startup is to competitors, so investors always ask about your sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. They are also seeking to find out how you handle one of the many tough questions that a new founder will get in today’s market.

Startup 118

Startup Competition Patents Resource 118

socalTECH

OCTOBER 23, 2012

How long have you been looking at this market? They're pretty competitive about deals. For example, MuckerLab, had 100 percent of their companies funded out of their most recent class. LA is small enough of a market that you can get a warm introduction to almost anyone. TX Zhuo: I like the LA community a lot.

Funding 253

Funding Startup Invest Commerce 253

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 8, 2010

The philosophy of OPEC has been that if they can limit the amount of oil supplied to the world they can maintain high prices in a world where demand and competition should naturally have downward pressure on oil prices. Because they are anti-competitive most countries ban cartels. Tags: Tech Market Analysis.

Hulu 292

Hulu Technical Review Content Advertising 292

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 25, 2021

First, there is market risk. Is there a market for your class of product at all? Market risk is constant and should be of greatest concern to any executive or entrepreneur. Mitigating market risk is not easy. Fourth is competitive risk. Will the marketplace accept your product? Second is product risk.

Competition 156

Competition Marketing Class Product 156

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2014

Don’t bash the competition. Every investor knows how vulnerable a new startup is to competitors, so investors always ask about your sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. They are also seeking to find out how you handle one of the many tough questions that a new founder will get in today’s market.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Competition Patents Resource 110

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

For a new business, you can provide unique ingredients, but the preparation steps in your business plan must follow a tried and true recipe for startup success: Identify a market with a real need. You need a good cook, good marketing, and first-class service. time-to-market is critical) Viable financial model.

Startup 156

Startup Coach Metrics Marketing 156

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 12, 2018

But why did Ring succeed when the entire market kept saying that Nest was going to be the winner? Why did Ring become an enormous success when it produced a hardware product and the market keeps saying, “hardware is too difficult to scale?” We had this discussion many times and with Jamie it wasn’t a marketing slogan?—?it

Startup 247

Startup Pricing Product Marketing 247