Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 12, 2012

An entrepreneur’s passion for an idea often prompts them to blame others or external events for setbacks, rather than themselves, so that they can maintain some semblance of self-esteem and control. Criticize others and the company. Even one task done with mediocrity can be the kiss of death for any business, or any career.

Examples 98

Examples Organization Entrepreneur Course 98

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 10, 2010

For entrepreneurs who want to learn about how to work with investment banks, how to position yourself to be acquired and what the IPO markets look like this is the episode to watch. Shame they didn’t like his suggested name for the company: DreamWorks SKG-MM. A bank can help you balance fund raising with running your company.

Venture Capital 242

Venture Capital Mission Ventures Capital Help 242

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2012

All private equity groups go about due diligence in their own way, but there are a few key areas of focus that entrepreneurs should always expect: Team strength and health. A good investor can do a lot to help a company, but can't make customers buy products. Use the feedback to strengthen your presentation and your company.

Technical Review 94

Technical Review Startup Writing Competition 94

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 11, 2009

I also recently wrote a post about a company that came in for a presentation and never even got the slides out or presented a demo. Tell them about your personal background but also tell the story about how the idea for the company came about and talk about the early days. photo courtesy of Atlanta Braves. DO NOT drone on endlessly.

Venture Capital 238

Venture Capital Slides Startup Sales 238

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2011

I believe stealth makes sense for large companies who can be sued for “pre-announcing” a new product to stall the market or kill a competitor. I believe stealth makes sense for large companies who can be sued for “pre-announcing” a new product to stall the market or kill a competitor. Get concept feedback early. Tune your website.

Startup 101

Startup Search Engine Optimization Course Media 101

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 22, 2010

All private equity groups go about due diligence in their own way, but there are a few key areas of focus that entrepreneurs should always expect: Team strength and health. A good investor can do a lot to help a company, but can't make customers buy products. Use the feedback to strengthen your presentation and your company.

Technical Review 90

Technical Review Writing Competition Tips 90

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2010

I believe stealth makes sense for large companies who can be sued for “pre-announcing” a new product to stall the market or kill a competitor. I believe stealth makes sense for large companies who can be sued for “pre-announcing” a new product to stall the market or kill a competitor. Find your real competitors. Tune your website.

Startup 91

Startup Search Engine Optimization Course Media 91

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 13, 2011

Bijan Sabet – investor & board member in some small companies you might have heard of like Twitter, Tumblr, Boxee & OMGPOP – took issue with the whole notion that you even need a Powerpoint deck anymore. First, if it’s an early stage company, I don’t need to see a powerpoint deck. I funded them 8 weeks later.

Venture Capital 299

Venture Capital Slides Technical Advisors Startup 299

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

In our industry we applaud the efforts for entrepreneurs to have tried and we know that today’s failure can bring the experience for tomorrow’s success. It turns out that to build a successful company you ultimately need this strange thing called “revenue” that people don’t just hand you: You need to earn it.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

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. Note: This is part III of a four part series.

Outsource Development 193

Outsource Development IP Technical Review Entrepreneur 193

InfoChachkie

MAY 16, 2011

As an entrepreneur and startup investor, I have helped create companies which achieved two IPOs which collectively raised over $100 million, as well as two acquisitions which totaled $385 million. Rationale: My company is small, I am super busy and I am not a lawyer. No one has heard of you, your company or your solutions.

Startup 242

Startup Outsource Development Outsource Sales 242

Xconomy

JULY 15, 2016

Our San Diego editor Bruce Bigelow penned a personal goodbye to entrepreneur Larry Bock, who died last week of pancreatic cancer at the age of 56. There were other goodbyes: Peter DiLaura said so long to Second Genome, the microbiome company he led for six years. And perhaps most important, there was the U.S.

News 40

News Technical Review San Diego Startup 40

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

In the world of Big Dumb Companies (&# BDC&# ), there is little likelihood you will establish a professional relationship with someone outside of your company that goes beyond a casual friendship. At large companies, such behavior is often discouraged and in many organizations, it is even considered unprofessional.

Startup 113

Startup Organization Allegis Commerce 113

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 5, 2010

The best companies are built on common beliefs and culture – a common sense of purpose. And slowly, over the years, those crazy stories about Danny passed out in the company bathroom after the Summer party get replaced by weddings, births and family picnics. Conventional wisdom is wrong. And it doesn’t stop there.

Technical Advisors 335

Technical Advisors Outsource Development Offshore Startup 335