Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

In the short term you need customers to find you at any price, and in the longer term you need revenue, profit, and return loyalty. In a larger public company, it’s all about making your quarterly numbers, versus investing in strategic growth alternatives that may not pay off until several quarters later.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Layoffs Social Media Metrics 124

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

Companies with great service routinely spend 3% to 5% of salaries training team members – experienced as well as new. Leaders have found that keeping everyone on top of changes in technology, competition, and customer demands is critical to success. If service employees are not happy, the process isn’t working yet.

Competition 99

Competition Services Startup Training 99

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2022

You can review all the specifics of this approach in the classic book by Nathan Furr and Paul Ahlstrom, appropriately titled “ Nail It then Scale It: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating and Managing Breakthrough Innovation ,” but I will net it out here. Do real tests with real pricing to see if customers will pay you, without being pushed.

Technical Review 143

Technical Review Customer Custom Entrepreneur 143

Tech.Co

OCTOBER 27, 2023

In this guide, you'll learn exactly what Claude is, how it works, and all about its parent company, Anthropic. An Intro to the Chatbot 8 Questions with Claude [Test] Claude Pricing & Tokens Explained Claude 2 and ChatGPT: Key Differences Should You Use Claude AI? You'll also see how Claude differs from ChatGPT in key areas.

ChatGPT 139

ChatGPT Artificial Inteligence Training Startup 139

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 17, 2020

Customers today extrapolate their relationships not only from personal contact, but from every aspect of their interface with your company, including web site and social media interactions, access to peer reviews, as well as the actual services experience. Infusing technology within the customer experience. Marty Zwilling.

Services 128

Services Social Media Technical Review Media 128

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2021

An experienced Board can give them credibility, as well as advice on the many pitfalls of starting a new company. Unfortunately, I see too many new entrepreneurs who let their passion for a new idea or invention blind them to the stark realities of customer need, opportunity size, or pricing and cost implications.

Startup 142

Startup Technical Review Equity Entrepreneur 142

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2021

Companies with great service routinely spend 3% to 5% of salaries training team members – experienced as well as new. Leaders have found that keeping everyone on top of changes in technology, competition, and customer demands is critical to success. If service employees are not happy, the process isn’t working yet.

Startup 154

Startup Training Customer Custom 154

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

Nearly every successful tech startup I’ve observed over the past 20 years has gone through a similar growth pattern: Innovate, systematize then scale operations. Understanding how your company will change as you move through these phases is critical if you hope to scale to a large business one day.

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 286

InfoChachkie

MARCH 18, 2013

In order to extract value beyond your Angel investors' cash, you must first assess three important parameters: (i) the relative strength of their personal brand, (ii) their ability to add operational value, and (iii) the amount of care and feeding they will demand from you. Painfully Diligent Investors.

Angel 217

Angel Technical Review RSS Entrepreneur 217

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2011

2 preamble issues having read the comments on TC today: 1: I know that the prices of startup companies is much great in Silicon Valley than in smaller towns / less tech focused areas in the US and the US prices higher than many foreign markets. You can be pissed off, but I don’t set prices.

Startup 336

Startup Pricing Technical Review Marketing 336

socalTECH

MAY 8, 2015

In a world awash with on-demand startups, Los Angeles-based Serviz (www.serviz.com) stands out--not because of the market segment it is tackling, but because it was founded by two, very experienced serial entrepreneurs-- Zorik Gordon and Michael Kline. Our vision is really to become the premier provider of on-demand home services.

Services 100

Services ReachLocal Demand Startup 100

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2019

My simple answer is that they keep their focus on customers, rather than technology. They present a convincing story that every entrepreneur has the same potential, but most get sidetracked and bogged down by their technology, competitors, and internal organization. Make your company a ground-breaking invention machine.

Marketing 123

Marketing Technical Review Customer Custom 123

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

For example, even though Mark Zuckerberg built Facebook as an innovative product, most experts believe it was successful due to his relationship with Peter Thiel and other top VCs that he convinced to invest early. Relationships are key to finding opportunities, building trust, and continuous learning.

Startup 113

Startup Customer Custom Technical Review 113

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 22, 2018

Apparently with a physical storefront where it can convince customers of the wonders of on-demand mobility. Given the company is calling this a lifestyle store, the focus will likely be on showing how Lime’s scooters and bikes can become part of people’s lives and enhance their happiness, rather than on maximizing rental volume.

Santa Monica 221

Santa Monica Startup Technical Review Education 221

InfoChachkie

MAY 19, 2011

As noted in parts I and II of this series, agreements with Big Dumb Companies (BDCs) can be alluring and potentially fatal. This series describes how entrepreneurs can craft company-changing agreements with BDCs, while avoiding Kiss of Death contract provisions. Agree to Bundling Without a Minimum Price.

Outsource Development 193

Outsource Development IP Technical Review Entrepreneur 193

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 12, 2014

Prorata rights are one of the most important rights of a private market technology investors and yet are seldom fully understood. Prorata investments rights given investors the right to invest in your future fund-raising rounds and maintain their ownership % in your company as your company grows and raises more capital.

Guide 336

Guide Venture Capital Startup Writing 336

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 4, 2016

Thanks to Cloud technology, healthcare professionals can securely store and access patient information and update charts using Electronic Health Records (EHR). Wearable Patient Technology. Read up on the latest advances in wearable patient technology to see where you can implement this tech trend in your field.

Technical Review 40

Technical Review Social Media Media Research 40

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

Exec Summary: Most companies (98+%) in the world (even tech startups) should be very profit focused. While Google and Facebook will buy “acquihires” (at least as of Dec 2011), many acquirers hate the idea of buying companies that aren’t profitable. ” But they want to do it with leverage.

Startup 418

Startup Venture Capital Sales Technical Review 418

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2018

My friend Michael Broukhim, founder & co-CEO of FabFitFun and I recently had a catch-up meeting for 3-miles on the Santa Monica “Bird Trail” No company has ever elicited so many questions by friends, colleagues, entrepreneurs, fellow VCs and journalists as has Bird, the company that pioneered the electronic scooter as a service market.

Santa Monica 256

Santa Monica Funding Startup Course 256

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 20, 2017

Jack Welch, former CEO of GE, once predicted, “When the rate of change outside the company is greater than the rate of change inside, the end is near.” Yet in my role as business advisor, I often see companies naively ignoring this reality. The trade-offs between price, efficiency, and innovation have disappeared.

Demand 54

Demand Technical Review Pricing Customer 54

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 13, 2010

We will be announcing the StartupDemo companies very soon. We give a huge Thank You to the following sponsors: Demand Media is a leading online media company that informs, entertains and connects millions of people every day. Price: FREE. TCA is a not-for-profit organization. to 11:00 p.m. What: A Startup Demo event.

Technical Review 58

Technical Review Software Review Santa Monica Tech Coast Angels 58

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2019

You can review all the specifics of this approach in the classic book by Nathan Furr and Paul Ahlstrom, appropriately titled “ Nail It then Scale It: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating and Managing Breakthrough Innovation ,” but I will net it out here. Do real tests with real pricing to see if customers will pay you, without being pushed.

Startup 98

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 98

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 1, 2009

It is also a result of pent-up demand. Consumer spending is 70% of the economy and will continue to be stretched – We can look all we want at tech innovation, VC funding cycles and hot M&A deals, but ultimately growth and therefore investment must be underpinned by revenue. Consumer spending will decrease.

Venture Capital 269

Venture Capital Startup Funding Technical Review 269

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2019

Smart entrepreneurs are just now starting to look at this option again, due to its unpredictability and the challenges of running a public company. Today around 90 percent of successful startups are still acquired by bigger companies, as the safer and preferred method of growth and funding. Increased liability risk exposure.

Startup 84

Startup Technical Review Report IBM 84

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 28, 2018

There are many things a VC is looking for in reviewing your business plan but beyond things the like the quality of revenue, margins, OPEX and CAPEX there’s a really simple rule I call, “Cash In, Cash Out, Milestones Achieved.” Every VC wants to fund a deal that seems to have too much demand. Let me check my plan.”

Venture Capital 247

Venture Capital Capital Funding Demand 247

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

Smart entrepreneurs are just now starting to look at this option again, due to its unpredictability and the challenges of running a public company. Yet they still see warning lights in many geographies around the world, due to political uncertainties. Public companies are always at risk for takeovers.

Startup 87

Startup Technical Review Report Entrepreneur 87

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 9, 2014

Bridging the Gap and Redefining “Work” Recently, we discovered an interesting NYC-based company who had a simple hypothesis: W hat if you could bring elite business consultant talent to the table without the traditional price and hurdles? Due Diligence. Marketing & Branding. Investor Decks.

Outsource Development 105

Outsource Development Software Review Technical Review Outsource 105

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2018

As a long-time advisor to entrepreneurs and business owners, I rarely find someone who doesn’t proclaim that the business world is changing rapidly, with new technology, new customer expectations, and new cultures. They have to be energized and able to adapt as the market and competitors demand. Once gone, customers won’t be back.

Technical Review 84

Technical Review Customer Custom Startup 84

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2013

Companies with great service routinely spend 3% to 5% of salaries training team members – experienced as well as new. Leaders have found that keeping everyone on top of changes in technology, competition, and customer demands is critical to success. If service employees are not happy, the process isn’t working yet.

Customer 92

Customer Custom Startup Services 92

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 12, 2014

If you’re a technology startup you need to excel at product, of course. We short-handed this marketing mix as “ the four P’s ” – product, price, promotion and place (distribution) – this was devised in 1960 and while a little bit dated is still a useful framework. It’s worth a quick read.

Marketing 379

Marketing Startup SEM SEO 379

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2010

Bill Gates once famously said that people tend to overestimate the impact of technology in the 1-year timeframe and underestimate its impact in the 10-year timeframe. I tend not to go into heat when I hear the latest buzz on the tech blogs about the latest gadgets. Here are 4 areas / companies that I’m excited about: 1.

Technical Review 278

Technical Review Software Review Startup SoCal 278

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

Many startup businesses – tech or otherwise – fail. Trying outrageous new things or even trying mundane things but in new ways but with extreme quality & innovation is what fuels the tech startup industry. Yet I can’t help thinking there are many predictable failures that come from a lack of basic planning.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

socalTECH

OCTOBER 29, 2015

We sat down with Brett Crosby (who founded Urchin Software, the company which became Google Analytics) and Brew Johnson , the co-founders of the company, to learn more about the company and what it's working on. Thanks for the time today, it's great to get a chance to talk with you about your company.

Southern California 100

Southern California Google Technical Review Manhattan Beach 100

socalTECH

JUNE 25, 2013

round changes things for us, and will let us invest in infrastructure, build our team, invest in media, and also invest in technology to better leverage our spend on media. What was it that you were doing which attracted investors to your company? He got his MBA here, and went back to help start this company. Closing this $1.1M

Services 215

Services Technical Review Startup Pricing 215

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 29, 2010

I explain in the video what happened in my first company (e.g. on the entrepreneur side of the table) when I raised at too high of a price. Down rounds are psychologically really difficult on companies and can make it harder to do later rounds. Pricing high also takes exit options off the table.

Venture Capital 282

Venture Capital Capital Startup Pricing 282

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 23, 2012

These individuals would have undoubtedly helped the company avoid some of its intellectual property and employee compensation lawsuits. " I recently performed a 360-Review on two Co-Founders who were the company's CEO and CTO. 2) Modern Day Water Cooler, Neighborhood Pub And Hair Salon. "When 6) Frat Brother CFOs. "The

Startup 268

Startup Tips CTO Coach Technical Review 268

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 11, 2016

Customers today extrapolate their relationships not only from personal contact, but from every aspect of their interface with your company, including web site and social media interactions, access to peer reviews, as well as the actual services experience. Infusing technology within the customer experience.

Services 54

Services Social Media Technical Review Media 54