Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2021

While I do agree that many attributes of a good entrepreneur, such as curiosity, confidence and determination, are largely determined by early-life experiences, a good education is critical in understanding the elements of creating a business and wooing customers. Don’t forget business writing and communication. Get real experience early.

Entrepreneur 149

Entrepreneur Tips Writing Coach 149

socalTECH

MAY 30, 2019

I think, to be a great entrepreneur, you have to look at what is missing in the category that you will be playing in the industry, and figure what you can deploy with a little bit of strategy and technology to bring a better service and price. They wanted to get help getting their resume out there. That's been very effective.

Content 193

Content Social Network Coach Help 193

Berkonomics

JUNE 15, 2012

One important element of positioning a company is pricing strategy. There are five niches you can chose when defining your positioning strategy: price, quality, service, innovation, and elegance. First, and easiest to understand, is creating differentiation by price. Quality can be, and is, an important differentiator.

Pricing 149

Pricing Competition Coach Sales 149

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 5, 2011

So I did want any rational person who wants to improve does – I hired a coach. Whenever I heard why we didn’t feel a sales process at an important customer was going well (or if we lost) I would get involved myself. They are as good at selling you as they are at selling your product to customers.

Sales 316

Sales Startup Pricing Customer 316

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

He had an idea for a startup that would help consumers better book service jobs and would take on Service Magic, which he believed had a business model that could be disrupted. I acted as the occasional mentor, advisor and coach to Ethan. When Ethan was considering leaving Google we talked about it. The company was called Red Beacon.

CTO Coach 359

CTO Coach Google CTO Hire Yammer 359

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

His challenge is to focus on one market, with a specific design, cost, and price. In addition, creating a business requires leading and interacting with other people, including partners, investors, and customers. You must also learn from your customers. Expand your own learning and knowledge by helping others.

Ideas 126

Ideas Writing Examples Outsource 126

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2013

What price? Before I tell you the reasons I’m concerned about investment banking intros, I should start by saying I think bankers are enormously helpful for entrepreneurs in raising money. The only way for a company to be overvalued is if there’s someone willing to pay that price. What kind of deals should I be doing?

Venture Capital 347

Venture Capital Startup Pricing Invest 347

Berkonomics

JUNE 8, 2017

You will realize much more from the ultimate sale of your business even if at a considerably lower price than if splitting the proceeds with investors. Strategic investors validate a business, by their presence creating the very value they pay for with increased price per share purchased. There is a lot to say about retaining control.

Venture Capital 266

Venture Capital Class Invest Equity 266

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 4, 2013

What price? Before I tell you my reasons for never doing a deal that a banker intro’d I have to preface by where I think bankers are enormously helpful on VC deals. The only way for a company to be overvalued is if there’s someone willing to pay that price. We are judging how well you are coached on stage.

Startup 361

Startup Venture Capital Pricing Technical Review 361

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2019

Hire more help than helpers. In addition to fresh products, you need people smarter than you for real help, with the right combination of skills, experience, and passion to foster and manage new growth. These only come with the proper training, investment in tools, and focus on customer relationships.

Startup 97

Startup Sales Metrics Guide 97

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 12, 2010

I see way too many startup founders who don’t have experience in selling and probably don’t feel that comfortable going to customers and asking for orders. Spending time selling to customers is the best way to find out what their problems are and how good your solution currently is at mapping to their needs.

Sales 346

Sales Startup Technical Review Customer 346

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 16, 2015

So operating at a higher level, helping to set the framework for decision making and then sitting down and watching the game be played, is certainly the way to go.” In practice it can be a fine line between sparring partner / coach and stepping over the line to brute-force persuasion. ” Of course I agree with this.

Startup 150

Startup Sales CTO Coach Course 150

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 28, 2018

While I do agree that many attributes of a good entrepreneur, such as curiosity, confidence and determination, are largely determined by early-life experiences, a good education is critical in understanding the elements of creating a business and wooing customers. Don’t forget business writing and communication. Get real experience early.

Startup 97

Startup Writing Coach Incubator 97

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2013

Understanding where your VC partner sits in their respective fund and where their fund is in the cycle of its investment lifecycle will help you understand your VCs behavior. In addition to helping manage the board Chris also helps represent the interests of the angel investors / common stock holders.

Tips 365

Tips Email Venture Capital CTO Coach 365

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 9, 2014

Created by filmmakers and video enthusiasts, Jigabot’s team wanted to create a device that would help people catch all the action, while not personally missing any of it. AIMe helps pan (360 degrees) and tilt (120 degrees) a camera, camcorder, smartphone, or even a GoPro to capture your surroundings. The price makes da Vinci 1.0

Pricing 72

Pricing Coach Startup Design 72

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2016

While I do agree that many attributes of a good entrepreneur, such as curiosity, confidence and determination, are largely determined by early-life experiences, a good education is critical in understanding the elements of creating a business and wooing customers. Don’t forget business writing and communication. Get real experience early.

Entrepreneur 98

Entrepreneur Tips Writing Coach 98

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 19, 2011

They’re essential in helping us get our jobs done because they specialize in something we do not. We had the final terms of our agreement fairly well boxed in within a range of about 5-7% on price and within 30 days on move-in date. I obviously preferred the lowest price and I wanted the latest move-in date. Middle Men.

Venture Capital 319

Venture Capital Pricing Startup Outsource 319

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

Hire more help than helpers. In addition to fresh products, you need people smarter than you for real help, with the right combination of skills, experience, and passion to foster and manage new growth. These only come with the proper training, investment in tools, and focus on customer relationships.

Startup 108

Startup Sales Metrics Entrepreneur 108

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 15, 2014

While I do agree that many attributes of a good entrepreneur, such as curiosity, confidence and determination, are largely determined by early-life experiences, a good education is critical in understanding the elements of creating a business and wooing customers. Don’t forget business writing and communication. Get real experience early.

Writing 111

Writing Coach Incubator Entrepreneur 111

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 8, 2013

Mission statements tend to be narrow, business oriented statements such as “Be the leader in customer satisfaction.” The best way to be clear about them is to regularly engage team members, customers, and suppliers. For startups, this means knowing where you need help and where you need helpers, and hiring carefully.

Startup 101

Startup Training Study Customer 101

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 4, 2012

Mission statements tend to be narrow, business oriented statements such as “Be the leader in customer satisfaction.” The best way to be clear about them is to regularly engage team members, customers, and suppliers. For startups, this means knowing where you need help and where you need helpers, and hiring carefully.

Training 109

Training Startup Study Customer 109

InfoChachkie

MARCH 30, 2015

For many years after Microsoft became highly successful, its executives (yes, including Mr. Gates) flew coach. If there happens to be a gas station along the way where you can fill up for a reasonable price, great. Praise Frugality - Instill a sense of pride in your employees to never pay full price. However, do not count on it.

Startup 100

Startup Pricing Coach Incubator 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

Hire more help than helpers. In addition to fresh products, you need people smarter than you for real help, with the right combination of skills, experience, and passion to foster and manage new growth. These only come with the proper training, investment in tools, and focus on customer relationships.

Startup 56

Startup Sales Metrics Guide 56

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 1, 2016

We try to hire deeply analytical associates to can help companies problem solve and who make us better investors. So we like to behave like we don’t know any better than you – we can just bring an outside perspective to help spar you and make you a better decision-maker through the process. That’s healthy.

Startup 150

Startup Coach Course Invest 150

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Hire more help than helpers. In addition to fresh products, you need people smarter than you for real help, with the right combination of skills, experience, and passion to foster and manage new growth. These only come with the proper training, investment in tools, and focus on customer relationships.

Sales 96

Sales Metrics Startup Entrepreneur 96

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

If there happens to be a gas station along the way where you can fill up for a reasonable price, great. One way to combat reckless spending is to instill a sense of pride in your employees to never pay full price. Rather, you should be ashamed to pay full price. Encourage all of your employees to ask, “Is that your best price?”

Startup 221

Startup Pricing Entrepreneur Email 221

socalTECH

OCTOBER 14, 2010

The group--which was started by Richard Koffler and John Morris , two well known investors in Los Angeles--has been trying to help connect CEOs with interesting university and other technology projects. John Morris: I think it's trying to make a decent connection with customers, and trying to assess the size and viability of the market.

Networking 215

Networking Research Startup USC 215

Tech Coast Venture Network

AUGUST 11, 2015

Great benefits and a workplace that is fun and dedicated to making customers happy all fit in with the Zappos approach to company culture — when you get the company culture right, great customer service and a great brand will happen on its own. Portions of the budget are dedicated to employee team building and culture promotion.

Examples 100

Examples Company Companies Google 100

Tech Coast Venture Network

AUGUST 11, 2015

Great benefits and a workplace that is fun and dedicated to making customers happy all fit in with the Zappos approach to company culture — when you get the company culture right, great customer service and a great brand will happen on its own. Portions of the budget are dedicated to employee team building and culture promotion.

Examples 100

Examples Company Companies Google 100

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 25, 2013

The best VCs don’t try to help entrepreneurs. But the people whom I consider best in this industry are quite helpful indeed. And Coach Campbell. So I prefer to watch what works first and pay a higher price to get in when it’s proven.” 2008 App ecosystem on iOS = $0. But I seriously only know one.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Invest Funding 374

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 24, 2011

It may sound counterintuitive, but the greater constraint investors place on their financial resources during a downturn, the better your chances of success, given (of course) that your adVenture is able to either secure funding or generate adequate revenue from customers, as described below in reason #7 – Customer Dollars Taste Great.

Company 257

Company Companies Startup Study 257

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 24, 2012

We wanted to help prevent burn-out and inspire others to take time for themselves. We handle all the logistics and details, provide you with an entire schedule of customized activities, and make sure that your experience off-the-grid is everything you are looking for. You have many prices? So how much does it cost?

Pricing 86

Pricing Coach Email Startup 86

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

It is never as rewarding when you’re the coach (but coaching has many other benefits. They had a prominent NorCal investor already so I thought a SoCal lead would make sense – that I could help them in a more hands-on way. Ask your customer why you lost. They hired a consultant to help them with the review.

Outsource Development 333

Outsource Development Software Review Technical Review News 333

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

It is never as rewarding when you’re the coach (but coaching has many other benefits. They had a prominent NorCal investor already so I thought a SoCal lead would make sense – that I could help them in a more hands-on way. Ask your customer why you lost. They hired a consultant to help them with the review.

Outsource Development 328

Outsource Development Software Review Technical Review News 328

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 12, 2019

Much has been written recently about the requirement to focus today on the total customer experience, as a competitive edge or even for survival. The challenge I hear from savvy business owners and entrepreneurs operating on a shoestring is that providing a superior customer experience costs money.

Customer 96

Customer Custom Coach Pricing 96

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

Most of them are completely mundane such as choosing which: bank, office space, 1-year lease vs. 2-year lease, logo, URL, pricing structure or which VC. Yes, I know it’s my job as the CEO to be the coach for people and that’s fine. but there are some people you just take an (extra) liking to and want to help.

Entrepreneur 414

Entrepreneur Technical Review Slides CTO Coach 414

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 6, 2014

Plus, if she does have areas where we could coach her on improvement it would help to know that coming in.” It would be helpful to know these coming in so that if we do hire her we understand where to focus before she joins. This is when I realized just how helpful it can be to have somebody else making some of the calls.

Startup 302

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Report 302