Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2020

Customers won’t pay to see your new employees learning on the job, and outsourcing the real work to a cheap labor source is a recipe for disaster. Be accessible on social media, write a blog or articles for industry publications, and participate in conference panels and speaking engagements.

Startup 174

Startup Training Services Writing 174

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 3, 2013

Startup Grind was a truly awesome conference and Derek the consumate host. And I have been impressed with Steven Kaplan and others at University of Chicago (my alma mater), who have been encouraging entrepreneurship through the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship , through angel investing , seed conferences and changes in teaching.

Venture Capital 403

Venture Capital Education Offshore Outsource Development 403

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 1, 2023

Of course, they can outsource part of the work or hire employees, but that approach means more time and money to manage the work, which they don’t have. In fact, many of the same venues, such as industry conferences, entrepreneur forums and local business organizations are useful for both. Seek input from seasoned investors and peers.

Startup 99

Startup High Tech Entrepreneur Writing 99

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2020

This approach works best with business associates that know you, or peers that you meet at industry conferences, or technical gurus that have no business connections to the candidate. A business startup is not an academic environment, or a big company research organization. Test them with problems outside their comfort zone.

Competition 174

Competition High Tech Startup Social Media 174

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 5, 2010

In a world where 90% of communications is non-verbal imagine what is lost on conference calls. The best companies are built on common beliefs and culture – a common sense of purpose. Just watch companies that grow rapidly in even a single physical address and start to span multiple floors and you’ll know what I mean.

Technical Advisors 335

Technical Advisors Outsource Development Offshore Startup 335

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 6, 2013

I am fond of quoting that about 70% of my investment decision of an early-stage company is the team. How you build out your team in the first few years can have a huge impact on the trajectory of your company. So I naturally spend much time with the companies in which I invest helping them: recruit. figure out roles.

Startup 388

Startup Slides Outsource Development Sales 388

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2021

Of course, they can outsource part of the work or hire employees, but that approach means more time and money to manage the work, which they don’t have. In fact, many of the same venues, such as industry conferences, entrepreneur forums and local business organizations are useful for both. Seek input from seasoned investors and peers.

Startup 126

Startup High Tech Entrepreneur Writing 126

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 12, 2010

I’m an investor at [Big Name, Large Fund VC] and recently came across [Your Company]. It looks as though you’ve built a very interesting business, and I’d love to spend some time getting a better understanding of your future plans for the company and if there is an opportunity to partner with [My Firm].

Venture Capital 294

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Email Equity 294

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 19, 2013

And of course the most successful technology companies: Google, Facebook, Salesforce.com [duh], Oracle, Microsoft all have loads of sales people. Referenceable means they are willing to be part of your sales collateral, willing to take calls from key leads, willing to speak at your conferences, etc. Good luck with that.

Startup 403

Startup Sales Software Review Technical Review 403

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

This approach works best with business associates that know you, or peers that you meet at industry conferences, or technical gurus that have no business connections to the candidate. A business startup is not an academic environment, or a big company research organization. Test them with problems outside their comfort zone.

Technology 87

Technology High Tech Startup Social Media 87

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 29, 2012

This year’s South By South West conference in Austin, Texas, is days away. Los Angeles’s very own Espree Devora (aka The Girl That Gets It Done ), has put together quite the exciting event for this year’s SXSW conference. One mastermind focuses on how to outsource development and programming. Really amazing!

Mixergy 70

Mixergy Outsource Development Outsource Conference 70

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2018

Customers won’t pay to see your new employees learning on the job, and outsourcing the real work to a cheap labor source is a recipe for disaster. Be accessible on social media, write a blog or articles for industry publications, and participate in conference panels and speaking engagements.

Services 72

Services Startup Training Writing 72

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 31, 2012

This approach only works if you know them, are willing and able to talk face-to-face, or meet them in at a conference or another business setting. Outsource your technical requirements. It is just really hard to found a technology company successfully with only one founder, technical or non-technical.

Technical Review 92

Technical Review Technology Startup Outsource Development 92

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2017

This Maker Movement has now spread across the world, spawning hundreds of events and companies, including Maker Faires, Makerspaces, Hackerspaces, and Maker Film Fests. Relationships are best built while working and learning together, rather than over drinks at a mixer or industry conference.

Ideas 61

Ideas Outsource Development Startup Education 61

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 25, 2011

It’s nearly impossible to get a services company financed by VCs. And stop effing around trying to create a product company.&#. If you really want to do a product business then hire a professional manager for your services company, quit that job and focus 100% on your product company. You’re a small fish.

Services 332

Services Venture Capital IP Startup 332

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2014

Customers won’t pay to see your new employees learning on the job, and outsourcing the real work to a cheap labor source is a recipe for disaster. Be accessible on social media, write a blog or articles for industry publications, and participate in conference panels and speaking engagements.

Services 105

Services Startup Training Writing 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2011

This approach only works if you know them, are willing and able to talk face-to-face, or meet them in at a conference or another business setting. Outsource your technical requirements. It is just really hard to found a technology company successfully with only one founder, technical or non-technical.

Technical Review 94

Technical Review Entrepreneur Outsource Development Outsource 94

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2014

This approach works best with business associates that know you, peers that you meet at industry conferences, or technical gurus that have no business connections to the candidate. A business startup is not an academic environment, or a big company research organization. Spend time informally with candidate peers and former employers.

High Tech 103

High Tech Entrepreneur Startup Social Media 103

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2016

Customers won’t pay to see your new employees learning on the job, and outsourcing the real work to a cheap labor source is a recipe for disaster. Be accessible on social media, write a blog or articles for industry publications, and participate in conference panels and speaking engagements.

Services 61

Services Startup Training Writing 61

socalTECH

APRIL 21, 2017

What's the secret to creating a profitable, successful, physical subscription based business--and to do that at the scale of large, consumer product goods (CPGs) companies? xWe spoke with a few companies in the recurring revenue area space, ahead of the Recurring Revenue Conference ([link] which we are helping to sponsor next week.

Startup 145

Startup Product Custom Customer 145

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 6, 2015

Of course, they can outsource part of the work or hire employees, but that approach means more time and money to manage the work, which they don’t have. In fact, many of the same venues, such as industry conferences, entrepreneur forums and local business organizations are useful for both. Seek input from seasoned investors and peers.

Startup 105

Startup High Tech Entrepreneur Writing 105

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2016

This approach works best with business associates that know you, or peers that you meet at industry conferences, or technical gurus that have no business connections to the candidate. A business startup is not an academic environment, or a big company research organization. Test them with problems outside their comfort zone.

High Tech 58

High Tech Startup Social Media Entrepreneur 58

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

This continues my series of posts: Top 30 Startup Posts for July 2010 Top 30 Startup Posts in June 2010 Top 29 Startup Posts May 2010 Startup CTO Top 30 Posts for April 16 Great Startup Posts from March Here they are: How to Minimize Politics in Your Company - Ben's Blog , August 24, 2010 “Who the f@#k you think you f$&kin’ with.

Startup 191

Startup Venture Capital Blogging CTO Hire 191

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

It is that time of year again, when the digital and tech world looked up from their busy workload just long enough to make sure that they are “represented” with a kickass submission for a panel or two at the most prestigious conference all year, SXSWi (South by Southwest Interactive Festival). Outsourcing Startup Operations.

Entertainment 73

Entertainment Startup eBook Outsource Development 73

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 18, 2011

Let me explain why this company had such an impact on my life. Being in business since I was 18 years old has led to a lot of conferences, meetings, mixers, classes, tradeshows and after parties. It was at the South by Southwest Interactive conference in the media room when I overheard the founders being interviewed.

Custom 85

Custom Customer Marketing SEO 85

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 1, 2010

Equity-Only CTO and Equity-Only Developers - SoCal CTO , November 1, 2010 I had a recent email dialog with the founder of a company looking for a CTO for their startup. Who better to answer than the company's engineering lead. Over the last few weeks, the Real Ventures team has met with easily 50 companies. But I don’t think so.

Technical Review 175

Technical Review Startup Product Technology 175

Frank Addante

AUGUST 2, 2006

Outsourcing ► April (1) GoogleClick - Who owns your cash register? ► November (1) 2 Ears and 1 Mouth: There's a Reason ► October (2) Be Best at Something Tear Down Your Firewalls ► September (3) Elements of Sustainable Companies We're Not Saving Lives. FounderBlog’s 1 Year Anniversary!

Entrepreneur 40

Entrepreneur Startup Venture Capital Web 2.0 40

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 12, 2010

Through Demand Media, Richard is redefining the next generation of new media companies. . where her clients included global leaders in the outsourcing and telecom sectors and a number of prominent non-profits. Alex Quilici was the co-founder of voice-portal company Quack.com (acquired by AOL), and is currently CEO of YouMail.

Twiistup 40

Twiistup Riot Games UCLA Media 40

Frank Addante

JUNE 10, 2007

Outsourcing ► April (1) GoogleClick - Who owns your cash register? ► November (1) 2 Ears and 1 Mouth: There's a Reason ► October (2) Be Best at Something Tear Down Your Firewalls ► September (3) Elements of Sustainable Companies We're Not Saving Lives. FounderBlog’s 1 Year Anniversary!

Startup 40

Startup Technical Review Software Review Advertising 40