Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

A theme I often hear from the entrepreneurs and startups I advise is that once they see that first surge of traction from customers, they can relax and enjoy life for a change. Even companies with long-established and well-respected brands, such as Apple and Amazon, can’t afford to rest on their laurels.

Ideas 77

Ideas Customer Custom Competition 77

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2013

Entrepreneurs often get the advice from their lawyers and friends to always get a Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA or CDA) signed before disclosing anything about their new venture. You won’t last long as an entrepreneur in this category, since a startup is all about taking risks. It’s the people that count anyway, not the idea.

Ideas 92

Ideas Demand Patents Entrepreneur 92

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

Such ideas require little-to-no capital, usually last for a relatively short duration and are of nominal size. Entrepreneurs create opportunities by creating ripples, and mini-ventures are great ripple creators. Note that I am not purporting that these are particularly amazing or unique ideas. From Small to Tall.

Ideas 153

Ideas Startup Pricing Entrepreneur 153

TechCrunch LA

NOVEMBER 23, 2020

The idea was that Boulevard could build a pretty large business catering to the needs of a niche industry that hadn’t traditionally been exposed to a purpose-built toolkit for its vertical. According to data provided by the company, Boulevard is definitely giving businesses a boost. billion transaction by Vista Equity Partners.

Software 323

Software Beverly Hills Los Angeles Equity 323

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 9, 2014

If I had a dollar for every time someone has said to me, “One of these days, I’m going to start my own company,” I’d be rich. If you recognize yourself in any of these categories, you may be more of a “wanna be” than a real entrepreneur: You are a dreamer, not a do-er. business dreamer entrepreneur idea procrastinator startup'

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Organization 102

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 29, 2010

This is part of my series on what makes an entrepreneur successful. I originally posted it on VentureHacks , one of my favorite websites for entrepreneurs. I started the series talking about what I consider the most important attribute of an entrepreneur : Tenacity. Entrepreneurs play to win and they take losing seriously.

Competition 296

Competition Entrepreneur Startup GRP Partners 296

socalTECH

DECEMBER 26, 2019

Every year, at the end of the year, we share some reflections on the past year from our readers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, sponsors, and others in the local technology community. What was the biggest news for you/your company this year? These are all gigantic categories with hundreds of new startups founded each year.

Southern California 100

Southern California News Platform Class 100

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 11, 2015

Some people are not cut out to be entrepreneurs. How do you know if you should be running your own company, or concentrating on that queue of work that someone else has built for you? I’ve hit this before, but I still hear from too many unhappy entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs have a "never, never, never quit" attitude.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Organization Ideas 105

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2016

As an angel investor in early-stage startups, I’ve long noticed my peers apparent bias toward the strength and character of the founding entrepreneurs, often overriding a strong solution to a painful problem with a big opportunity. Find and enjoy the company of one or more mentors.

Mentor 55

Mentor Ideas Entrepreneur Study 55

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 10, 2023

He brings over 25 years of experience with Silicon Valley leadership companies in highlighting winners and losers. As standalone innovators, these may have trouble recognizing where the mother ship skills and expertise can be applied to develop innovation ideas properly. As a result, these people often end up disheartened.

Coach 96

Coach Ideas Mentor Organization 96

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2012

Every so often a promising entrepreneur seems to freeze in the oncoming headlights and gets run over by his competition. Why is it that his idea which seemed so fundable only months ago fails to attract investors today? The company's market is the same. The idea here is following a process can actually force you to think.

Entrepreneur 97

Entrepreneur Ideas Research Demand 97

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 5, 2013

If I had a dollar for every time someone has said to me, “One of these days, I’m going to start my own company,” I’d be rich. If you recognize yourself in any of these categories, you may be more of a “wanna be” than a real entrepreneur: You are a dreamer, not a do-er. Not focused, or easily distracted.

Entrepreneur 114

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Organization 114

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2013

Some people are not cut out to be entrepreneurs. How do you know if you should be running your own company, or concentrating on that queue of work that someone else has built for you? I’ve hit this before, but I still hear from too many unhappy entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs have a "never, never, never quit" attitude.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Organization Ideas 110

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 17, 2021

If you define your self-worth as an entrepreneur by how busy you are, it’s time to find another lifestyle. For survival, entrepreneurs need to be all about accomplishing results that matter for themselves, their team, and their customers. We all know people who are extraordinarily busy, but never seem to accomplish anything.

Framework 153

Framework Product Entrepreneur Social Media 153

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2015

If you define your self-worth as an entrepreneur by how busy you are, it’s time to find another lifestyle. For survival, entrepreneurs need to be all about accomplishing results that matter for themselves, their team, and their customers. We all know people who are extraordinarily busy, but never seem to accomplish anything.

Product 111

Product Entrepreneur Framework Social Media 111

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 16, 2009

This is part of my new series on what makes an entrepreneur successful. I originally posted it on VentureHacks , one of my favorite websites for entrepreneurs. Well obviously that’s meaningless if your startup idea sucks. Thinking out loud – I’m sure that’s important for entrepreneurs as well.

Entrepreneur 306

Entrepreneur Startup Outsource Development Customer 306

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 24, 2020

As a frequent advisor to new entrepreneurs and startups, I often hear your frustration with being treated differently from other startups by investors, on expectations for valuation , traction, and market size. This is normally the domain of technologists and idea people, often using the term “disruptive innovation.”

Marketing 174

Marketing Startup Artificial Inteligence Technical Review 174

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 1, 2017

Some people are not cut out to be entrepreneurs. How do you know if you should be running your own company, or concentrating on that queue of work that someone else has built for you? I’ve hit this before, but I still hear from too many unhappy entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs have a "never, never, never quit" attitude.

Entrepreneur 54

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Organization Ideas 54

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2016

I’m sure all of you know one or more of the 200 or more young companies that are currently valued at one billion or more by investors and stockholders. What every entrepreneur is asking me these days, is “How do I get to be a unicorn?” Most unicorns pop up first in new solution categories. These are popularly called “unicorns.”

Company 100

Company Companies Startup Statistics 100

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 7, 2022

One of the big questions that every entrepreneur struggles with is how much funding they should request from investors in the first round. If you have a good idea, but haven’t started yet, only friends, family and fools will likely be interested. If you ask for more money than your company is now worth, no investor will bite.

Funding 121

Funding Startup Equity Invest 121

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

When Fred Wilson funded Twitter I guarantee you it wasn’t obvious that it was a billion dollar idea. When the early teams: angels, lowercase capital & first round capital funded Uber they had no idea it would be one of the most revolutionary ideas of our time. Far from it. It was an early and smart bet.

Funding 362

Funding Technical Review Ideas Startup 362

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2011

If I had a dollar for every time someone has said to me, “One of these days, I’m going to start my own company,” I’d be rich. If you recognize yourself in any of these categories, you may be more of a “wanna be” than a real entrepreneur: You are a dreamer, not a do-er. Not focused, or easily distracted.

Entrepreneur 97

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Organization 97

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2019

Some people are not cut out to be entrepreneurs. How do you know if you should be running your own company, or concentrating on that queue of work that someone else has built for you? I’ve hit this before, but I still hear from too many unhappy entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs have a "never, never, never quit" attitude.

Startup 97

Startup Entrepreneur Satisfaction Organization 97

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2011

Some people are not cut out to be entrepreneurs. How do you know if you should be running your own company, or concentrating on that queue of work that someone else has built for you? I’ve hit this before, but I still hear from too many unhappy entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs have a "never, never, never quit" attitude.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Organization Ideas 108

socalTECH

APRIL 18, 2017

Ahead of the Recurring Revenue Conference ([link] which we are helping to sponsor next week, we are chatting 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, we are chatting with a few companies in the recurring revenue area space.

Entrepreneur 124

Entrepreneur Services Sales Customer 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2010

Every so often a promising entrepreneur seems to freeze in the oncoming headlights and gets run over by his competition. Why is it that his idea which seemed so fundable only months ago fails to dazzle investors today? The company's market is the same. The idea here is following a process can actually force you to think.

Entrepreneur 87

Entrepreneur Ideas Research Demand 87

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2013

Many entrepreneurs I know don’t realize that the language they learned in the corporate world, or even their recent MBA class, won’t get them ahead in the startup world today. As a reality check, try this quick test of your entrepreneur savvy. As a reality check, try this quick test of your entrepreneur savvy. Super-angels.

Entrepreneur 109

Entrepreneur Startup Web Equity 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 3, 2016

If you define your self-worth as an entrepreneur by how busy you are, it’s time to find another lifestyle. For survival, entrepreneurs need to be all about accomplishing results that matter for themselves, their team, and their customers. We all know people who are extraordinarily busy, but never seem to accomplish anything.

Product 60

Product Entrepreneur Framework Social Media 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 17, 2012

Investors tell me that they invest in people, more than the idea. Customers buy from people, not from a company, at least at the startup stages. Then do the same to brand your company. Dominate the category (even if you have to create a new one). Starting a business is usually the result of a personal dream or need.

Entrepreneur 98

Entrepreneur Startup Customer Custom 98

socalTECH

JULY 24, 2018

The categories that are at the center of that fight are transportation electrification, the nexus of energy and digital tools for a sustainable city, including blockchain and fintech solutions, Internet-of-Things, etc. How did the competition come about? This is one opportunity to do that. Bird is just one recent example.

Competition 100

Competition Incubator Startup Ideas 100

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 6, 2018

The best entrepreneurs in our industry focus on it year-round as opposed to just once every 18 months. Let’s say you have built a SaaS company where a large part of the early revenue comes from a few big customers or a large part of the revenue is services based vs. software based. Let me give you an example.

Funding 236

Funding Venture Capital Startup Entrepreneur 236

InfoChachkie

DECEMBER 8, 2011

I concluded that it is an effective tool for leveling the playing field between sophisticated investors and emerging entrepreneurs. I have subsequently recommended the book to number of students as well as emerging entrepreneurs, all of whom expressed positive feedback. . We decided to do it in a way that was accessible.”.

Venture Capital 224

Venture Capital Writing Entrepreneur Blogging 224

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2013

If you are in this category, first know that you are not alone, but then you need to take a look at the advice given by Patricia Sigmon in her book “ Six Steps to Creating Profit: A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Service-Based Businesses.” Reward employees who make an extra effort to represent the company inside and outside of work.

Entrepreneur 93

Entrepreneur Startup Outsource Development Sales 93

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 4, 2020

One of the big questions that every entrepreneur struggles with is how much funding they should request from investors in the first round. If you have a good idea, but haven’t started yet, only friends, family and fools will likely be interested. If you ask for more money than your company is now worth, no investor will bite.

Startup 135

Startup Equity Invest Funding 135

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 5, 2015

As a Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurship at UC Santa Barbara , students ask me dozens of times each quarter, “What do you think of my idea?” My response is typically, “What I think of your idea is irrelevant. The reality is that what I think about anyone’s nascent idea is totally meaningless. Wise And Feld To The Rescue.

Startup 100

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Santa Barbara 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2019

Having a breakthrough idea or technology alone does not assure business success. “ If we build it, they will come ” may have worked as a movie theme for Kevin Costner, but as an investor, I tell entrepreneurs a great solution is not enough. Professional investors are adept at looking for innovation capital, beyond the passionate pitch.

Product 93

Product Ideas Resource Capital 93

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2023

When entrepreneurs introduce new products to the market, their passion and conviction often leads them to assume that every potential customer will see the immediate need and value, and will quickly adopt the solution. They are devastated when their business growth never starts or stalls, and they have no idea how to get it moving again.

Case Study 89

Case Study Customer Custom Study 89