Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2019

Too many business owners still think of “ customer support ” as an after-sale process to rectify customer problems with completed transactions. With the advent of instant communication and social media, customer service starts at the first hint of interest by you, and never ends for repeat customers.

Custom 84

Custom Customer Company Companies 84

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2022

We are living in a new generation of business, where customers drive the experience, and highly engaged employees are required to keep up with customer expectations. True leaders are tenacious, determined, and self-starting. Of course, these are great, but they don’t happen without enlightened leadership coming first.

Custom 152

Custom Customer Coach Satisfaction 152

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 10, 2021

In addition to obvious economic challenges, the emerging generation of customers is determined to radically change the rules for customer engagement. He makes a convincing argument that it’s time for every company to get prepared for the next customer generation, or your company is heading toward life support.

Custom 173

Custom Customer Social Media Outsource Development 173

socalTECH

JANUARY 5, 2022

Los Angeles-based banking app developer Dave will start trading on the Nasdaq Global Market as DAVE, starting Thursday, January 6th, after stockholders of VPC Impact Acquisition Holdings III approved the deal to merge with Dave in a SPAC deal. Dave says it currently has more than 11 million customers using its banking app.

Acquisition 113

Acquisition Equity Los Angeles Marketing 113

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2023

If you really want to start a business your way without a boss or professional investor hovering over you, then just fund it yourself or through friends and family, and grow it organically. According to Investopedia , over 90 percent of successful businesses currently start this way. Operate small, but show a big-company image.

Equity 139

Equity Social Media Startup Summary 139

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2020

Today’s customers demand more than a good product; they expect a great customer experience. A few companies are leading the way, including Apple with their iPad and iPhone, offering irresistible stores with friendly experts, elegant packaging, and customer service that never ends.

Custom 150

Custom Customer Design Product 150

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

Here’s one for executives of any company with next generation products in mind. In many companies, there are quiet geniuses, wanting to work on projects outside of the daily focus of the department or company. And the most difficult: starting a new project from scratch. First, let’s recognize the problem.

Company 156

Company Companies Resource Cloud Computing 156

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 23, 2021

Yet, as a business consultant, I often find minimal focus on improving employee engagement and assessing their customer-facing performance. For example, I commonly see metrics to keep track of revenue per employee, overtime, and absenteeism, but I don’t often see measures of overall customer satisfaction with individual employees.

Custom 147

Custom Customer Technical Review Metrics 147

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

Customers of the Whole Foods Market in Sherman Oaks will soon get a new option for purchases: they will be able to "just walk out" the door and have their grocery purchases automatically charged based on computer vision and other sensors. According to Amazon, two stores--one in Washington D.C.,

Sherman Oaks 113

Sherman Oaks Custom Customer Technology 113

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2022

Most businesses spend big money testing their brand logo, catchy marketing phrases, and demographics, but spend little time training and validating that their employees can and do deliver exceptional experiences to their customers. Keep your team happy to create engaged customers. Walking the talk is the place to start.

Custom 123

Custom Customer Services Training 123

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

In fact, only 100 of the 10,000 multimillion-dollar consumer companies around the world can claim to be an “apostle brand” – one that inspires enduring trust, loyalty, and endorsement. The challenge of every startup is finding that balance between solving a real problem today, and giving customers the courage to make a leap forward.

Company 152

Company Companies Startup Custom 152

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 24, 2011

As Guy Kawasaki pointed out in our recent conversation , “…it is cheaper than ever to start a company. If there was ever a time to start a company, this is it.”. Determining the perfect moment to enter the startup market, whether by creating a company or joining an ongoing venture, is akin to timing the financial markets.

Company 257

Company Companies Startup Study 257

socalTECH

MARCH 14, 2018

As part of our sponsor relationship with the conference, we're running a series of interviews with speakers from the conference about their experience in the area of recurring revenues, customer service, and similar topics. What's the biggest lesson you've learned about retaining and keeping your customers using the subscription model?

Custom 166

Custom Customer Conference Social Media 166

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 25, 2022

I’m sure you have all noticed how today’s customers have changed the way they shop, but I still find, as an advisor and consultant, that many of you aren’t sure how to deal with the new mode, or are still waiting for things to get back to the old normal. Convenience is in the eye of the customer, not your company.

Demand 126

Demand Custom Customer Startup 126

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2021

As I talk to many of you in my role as business advisor, I still often hear the concern for maximum return to the business and stakeholders, more than a passion for sustainably enriching the lives of your customers and team. This applies to your own team, as well as customers. Make every customer experience memorable.

Custom 114

Custom Customer Satisfaction Metrics 114

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 7, 2020

Thousands of companies have indicated interest in the last several days,” a spokesperson wrote in an email. ” The stimulus loans that startups hope to access were created to save jobs at companies affected by the government’s closure of non-essential businesses. — Mark Suster (@msuster) April 7, 2020.

Startup 167

Startup Email Los Angeles Entrepreneur 167

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 29, 2021

New generations of customers respond better to the “ participative ” approach, where they get to provide input via social media and the Internet. Some call it a move from always “ hunting ” for new customers in the wild, to “gardening” or nurturing loyalty and value from the ones you already have.

Custom 168

Custom Customer Marketing Social Media 168

TechCrunch LA

MAY 3, 2022

The company Winters was working for sponsored her MBA to Harvard Business School, and it was there that she came up with the idea for Upgrade. “I Myself and a few of the other Black female students started taking day trips or weekend trips to New York City to get our hair done. The company, which raised $1.7

Tool 179

Tool Custom Customer Marketing 179

Berkonomics

JANUARY 9, 2020

One of your employees is approached by an employee of a customer or of a supplier, stating that “It sure would be great to work in your company.” The rule should be one that includes only one “out”: if a person resigns from the position with the stake-holding company, then you will be happy to talk about a position.

Custom 156

Custom Customer Innocal Email 156

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2022

Many entrepreneurs think that adapting to the new technologies, like smart phones and Internet commerce, are the key to attracting new customers. High-technology product startups, without customers, don’t make a business. Solis outlines the heuristics of social psychology that are key to building positive customer experiences today.

Custom 122

Custom Customer Social Media Technical Review 122

socalTECH

OCTOBER 3, 2016

Los Angeles-based BlackLine said this morning that it has named Karen Flathers as the company's new Chief Customer Officer. BlackLine said Flathers will oversee oversee the day-to-day functions of its Implementations, Support, Customer Success and Product Training departments. BlackLine just filed for an IPO. READ MORE>>.

Custom 153

Custom Customer Training Startup 153

Berkonomics

JULY 16, 2020

Growing companies usually require more working capital during their periods of rapid growth. If the equity value of a company is growing at the same rate as the company, say 40% per year, almost any form of debt financing may be preferable as a way of preventing further dilution from issuing additional equity.

Company 156

Company Companies .Net Equity 156

TechCrunch LA

JUNE 24, 2020

Relativity Space has a new customer for its 3D-printed rockets: Established satellite maker and operator Iridium, which has picked the company for launches in 2023. To accomplish those, and other launches like them, the company is also setting up a new launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Sites 181

Sites Long Beach Custom Customer 181

socalTECH

JUNE 1, 2021

A new, Los Angeles-based dog care startup, Dogdrop, says it has started offering up one free week of doggy daycare services to new customers, as the economy begins to open up and people start going back to work. The company's CEO and co-founder is Shaina Denny. The company's CEO and co-founder is Shaina Denny.

Custom 100

Custom Customer Technical Review Startup 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

The world keeps changing, and visible business strategies that worked well in the past, including being the premium brand or low price producer, simply don’t get the customer loyalty they once did. Today, customers are looking for real relationships, a memorable shopping experience, and satisfaction of a higher purpose.

Custom 133

Custom Customer Satisfaction Examples 133

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 7, 2014

I spend a lot of time with startups and thus hear many companies talk about their approach to sales and their interactions with customers. From these meetings you can really tell the leaders that care deeply about their customers and those the look down on them. Starting with a positive. You’d be very wrong.

Custom 341

Custom Customer Venture Capital Software Review 341

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

Two years after the Los Angeles-based fintech startup Dave launched with a suite of money management tools to save consumers from overdraft fees , the company is now worth $1 billion thanks to a nascent banking practice that had investors lining up. “We think the company is quite a bit more valuable than [$1 billion].

Company 262

Company Companies Startup Tips 262

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 5, 2020

As an advisor to entrepreneurs, I find that I often have to remind them that the world of customers has changed since they started their last business. Pushing yourself on customers by touting features and price doesn’t work anymore. Use analytics to see why customers are buying, as well as what.

Custom 133

Custom Customer Social Media Startup 133

Tech.Co

JUNE 24, 2022

A number of tech companies have made the headlines this week for hiring new members of staff, only to rescind such offers before they start. A False Start. Along with rescinded job offers, swathes of other tech companies have taken similar measures to cut costs, including pausing hiring and laying off staff.

Technical Review 133

Technical Review Company Companies Startup 133

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2020

Today’s customers are much more in control of their buying decision, as they have more choices and more information than ever before. Bloom’s classic book, “ The New Experts: Win Today's Newly Empowered Customers.” This is a key moment where your customer acquisition costs go way down, and your profits go way up.

Custom 124

Custom Customer Startup Course 124

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2020

Attracting the right customers is the key to success in business, whether you have a new startup or a mature enterprise. For example, Xerox tried to broaden the use of "xerox" as the standard term for "photocopying" to extend their existing customer segment into office automation and all kinds of computing.

Custom 123

Custom Customer Technical Review Examples 123

socalTECH

MAY 14, 2014

A Los Angeles plumbing and water heater repair and installation company, Ritz Plumbing & Heating , said this morning that it has started accepting Bitcoin for purchases of its service, effective immediately. The company''s owner said the "timing felt right" for accepting Bitcoin.

Southern California 248

Southern California Commerce Los Angeles Services 248

socalTECH

MARCH 7, 2017

Los Angeles-based food alternative developer Soylent has rolled out a new chatbot, called "Trish", and started accepting Bitcoin from its customers. Soylent develops food replacement products, which the company intends to let users skip eating traditional food. READ MORE>>.

Artificial Inteligence 160

Artificial Inteligence News Startup Web 160

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2022

I know companies who collect sensitive data from consumers all the time, and still seem to keep a trusted image (Amazon.com, Ebay). Make your company visible, reachable and responsive through social networks. Internet users need to start watching out for themselves, like looking both ways before you cross the street.

Custom 137

Custom Customer Technical Review Symantec 137

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 30, 2015

Los Angeles- and London-based MakieLab , one of the companies out of Disney's recent Disney Accelerator class, started shipping its Disney-themed, custom 3D printed dolls on Friday, with clothing and designs from Disney properties. READ MORE>>.

Design 100

Design Class Los Angeles Custom 100

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2021

Customers go there to check on the details of your offerings and verify that you are not a scam, investors look there to check out your management and sales approach, and suppliers expect to find contact information. Two months later they still didn’t have a web site, and didn’t have a customer.

Web 139

Web Startup Sites Design 139

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 26, 2022

Have you noticed that more companies beg you to participate in their business today? It started with an email survey on your last stay at their hotel, but now includes requests for online product reviews, to social media input on the design of future products. They do it because engaged customers become loyal advocates and buyers.

Custom 107

Custom Customer Technical Review Social Media 107