Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2020

Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy). Let’s take a look here some similar stages from a support perspective: Idea stage. The first step toward a business with any idea is to write it down, and build a business plan around it.

Resource 171

Resource Startup Organization Incubator 171

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2022

As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m often asked what it takes to get satisfaction from this lifestyle. These are ones behind many of the modern game-changing companies, like Pinterest and Tesla. Then write them down. Only 13 percent of workers are fully engaged in their job.

Satisfaction 153

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Writing Startup 153

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 26, 2017

As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business. The implications to you and your company are also large, so be prepared. Are you there yet? Marty Zwilling.

Company 97

Company Companies Entrepreneur Customer 97

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2022

As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business. The implications to you and your company are also large, so be prepared. Are you there yet? Marty Zwilling.

Marketing 113

Marketing Entrepreneur Customer Custom 113

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

Huddlewoo a live video platform set to launch early 2013 to give people the ability to access extraordinary people for one-on-one conversations and mentoring. His main company Providence Holdings has invested in real estate and several small businesses. This challenge grew into the idea that became Huddlewoo. What Inspired You?

Mentor 94

Mentor Platform Social Network Chief Technology Officer 94

socalTECH

JUNE 6, 2011

Those programs--epitomized by YCombinator in the Bay Area, and TechStars in Boulder, Colorado--attract newly minted entrepreneurs with a mixture of cash and mentoring, and a program which rapidly takes ideas and turns them into viable, executing businesses. Those mentors are not just Bruce and I, although we are full time on this.

Startup 221

Startup Mentor Southern California Incubator 221

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2015

But, for the rest of us, don’t believe the Silicon Valley myth that all you have to do is sketch your million-dollar idea on the back of a napkin, and investors will line up to give you money. If you don’t have the time to write things down, or your writing skills leave something to be desired, don’t be afraid to get some help.

Startup 109

Startup Writing Mentor Sample 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2021

As a mentor to startups and new entrepreneurs, I continue to hear the refrain that business plans are no longer required for a new startup, since investors never read them anyway. Pitch your company, not your product. Disciplining yourself to write down the plan is actually the best way to make sure you actually understand it yourself.

Entrepreneur 156

Entrepreneur Tips Funding Startup 156

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2022

These authors bring a wealth of experience in this domain from their workshops, writing, and lecturing on business leadership worldwide. Leadership is inextricably linked with the process of innovation, of bringing new ideas, methods, and solutions into use. Kouzes and Barry Z. Seize the initiative with innovative ways to improve.

Startup 133

Startup Activity Mentor Writing 133

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 3, 2020

As a mentor to many aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m often asked what it takes to switch and get real satisfaction from this lifestyle. These are ones behind many of the modern game-changing companies, like Pinterest and Foursquare. Then write them down. Only 13 percent of workers are fully engaged in their job.

Entrepreneur 123

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Writing Startup 123

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 27, 2011

The truth is – there isn’t a “right&# answer so for your company. In the early days you don’t really want 3 extra teams hearing your ideas and gearing up to compete before you feel you’ve got a solid head start. But once a VC has heard your idea he can’t “un-think&# it.

Marketing 380

Marketing Startup Press Technical Advisors 380

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 6, 2021

As a mentor to many entrepreneurs, I don’t believe that it is only a birthright, and there are several key strategies, including the following, that you can learn and practice which will lead to success: Give your own judgement a high priority in decisions. Getting lots of input on important issues is always a good idea.

Entrepreneur 132

Entrepreneur Course Satisfaction Guide 132

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 1, 2020

In our business lives we’re having to deal with decisions that could have lasting impacts on our companies without any compass to guide us in the direction we’re heading . often with other people sharing our homes who have their own ideas of how to use our collective space and time. What do we eat? Where do we shop? What is safe?

Demand 215

Demand Guide Customer Custom 215

socalTECH

OCTOBER 11, 2010

Fariborz Masseh: The idea of funding a business plan competition is not a new idea. Even though they usually end up innovating and creating at the idea level, they usually need to have a business partner or someone else, to either become CEO of a company, or help them translate their innovation into practical use.

Competition 154

Competition Southern California Mentor USC 154

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 28, 2018

Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy). Let’s take a look here some similar stages from a support perspective: Idea stage. The first step toward a business with any idea is to write it down, and build a business plan around it.

Funding 94

Funding Startup Organization Incubator 94

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2014

Today we’re in a world where 10 accelerators are bombarding you with emails to meet their 10-15 companies. Of course these are great places to network with other investors, meet great entrepreneurs and keep your connections strong with senior execs at larger companies like Yahoo!, They worry too much about missing out on a deal.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Invest Press Startup 374

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2013

While I agree that successful company builders usually have a natural inclination to be entrepreneurs, a good education helps polish that apple. If offered at your college, don’t forget the practical business skills like “Critical Thinking”, “Business Writing” and even “Dress for Success.” Pick an idea, any idea.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Course Education 105

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 23, 2015

In his words, [in some instances] “because lots of capital is available, the company takes on the capital and that ends up resulting in no constraints on decision making and so the company decides to do five things in stead of just one.” You are defined by how you serve the companies that are struggling. Again, Fred.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Startup Writing Blogging 150

InfoChachkie

MARCH 6, 2018

The rules that I drew up required that every member, in his turn, should produce one or more queries on any point of Morals, Politics, or Natural Philosophy, to be discuss’d by the company; and once in three months produce and read an essay of his own writing, on any subject he pleased. Why Should Entrepreneurs Care?

Santa Barbara 113

Santa Barbara Ideas Entertainment Education 113

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 30, 2012

Months of submissions and the amazing help from our judges , the Spotlight is shinning down on awesome companies that were born right out of Southern California. The evening will consist of a series of live stage demonstrations guaranteed to impress and inspire new ideas among all in attendance. The time has finally arrived!

CalTech 91

CalTech Company Companies Idealab 91

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2016

Every entrepreneur needs help and support along the way, from developing the initial idea, to selling off the successful business (exit strategy). Let’s take a look here some similar stages from a support perspective: Idea stage. The first step toward a business with any idea is to write it down, and build a business plan around it.

Organization 93

Organization Startup Incubator Ideas 93

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 10, 2014

One of the interesting things about being a VC is that you often see companies in transition. If you’re an early investor like I am that often means writing the first $2-3 million check into a business that previously had either survived on fumes or on a $500,000 angel round. Act your stage. Other B-round scaling issues?

Startup 381

Startup Resource Venture Capital Activity 381

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2011

While I agree that successful company builders usually have a natural inclination to be entrepreneurs, a good education helps polish that apple. If offered at your college, don’t forget the practical business skills like “Critical Thinking”, “Business Writing” and even “Dress for Success.” Pick an idea, any idea.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Course Education 105

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2019

Image via Wikipedia As a mentor for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, I talk to a fair number who may have a great vision and a strong engineering background, but have a negative interest in the role of public speaking in business. The implications to you and your company are also large, so be prepared. Are you there yet?

Entrepreneur 87

Entrepreneur Customer Custom Guide 87

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 10, 2012

UCLA 48hr Startup brings together people with technical, design or business background to share ideas, form teams, build products and launch startups. On Friday night during the 48hr startup event, participants arrive motivated to start new technology companies. 9:00pm – Attendees vote for the top ideas.

UCLA 87

UCLA Startup Ideas Mentor 87

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

The platform enhances the process of turning ideas into entrepreneurial ventures and growing startups through social collaboration. Essentially, building a company that can potentially change laws in different countries and push people to change the way they think about things. How did you come up with the idea?

Startup 101

Startup Ideas Platform Entrepreneur 101

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2015

As a mentor to startups and new entrepreneurs, I continue to hear the refrain that business plans are no longer required for a new startup, since investors never read them anyway. Pitch your company, not your product. Disciplining yourself to write down the plan is actually the best way to make sure you actually understand it yourself.

Startup 104

Startup Writing Entrepreneur Slides 104

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Don’t believe that Silicon Valley myth that all you have to do is sketch your idea on the back of a napkin, and investors will line up to give you money. Based on my experience as an angel investor and a mentor to dozens of entrepreneurs, having no business plan is the quickest way to define yourself as just a dreamer, or at best a hobbyist.

Startup 65

Startup Writing Patents Competition 65

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 26, 2013

As long as somebody recognizes their million dollar idea and writes them a check, the source really doesn''t matter. This type of investor never really focuses on the returns your company can deliver, but instead tries to make money by intimidation, threats and lawsuits. The mentoring offer always sounds good up front.

Angel 105

Angel Writing Startup Invest 105

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

One of the great joys of doing the web series This Week in VC every week is that I get to spend time with great people debating the issues of our day including how our industry is evolving as well as insights into how companies got started, got their initial traction and dealt with adversities. Positive feedback feeds the idea.

Startup 286

Startup Venture Capital Web Ideas 286

InfoChachkie

DECEMBER 8, 2011

Brad is also the Co-Founder of TechStars , an acclaimed startup boot camp which has spawned a number of promising companies. Of the 80 companies that have completed the program since its 2007 inception, 49 have received funding, 8 have been acquired and 8 have ceased operations. Writing a book is very different from writing a blog.

Venture Capital 224

Venture Capital Writing Entrepreneur Blogging 224

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2012

As long as somebody recognizes their million dollar idea and writes them a check, the source really doesn't matter. This type of investor never really focuses on the returns your company can deliver, but instead tries to make money by intimidation, threats and lawsuits. The mentoring offer always sounds good up front.

Angel 112

Angel Entrepreneur Writing Invest 112

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2014

As a mentor to startups and new entrepreneurs, I continue to hear the refrain that business plans are no longer required for a new startup, since investors never read them anyway. Pitch your company, not your product. Disciplining yourself to write down the plan is actually the best way to make sure you actually understand it yourself.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Startup Writing Slides 108

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2013

Based on my experience as a mentor and an entrepreneur, if you fail on your first startup, you are about average. They count on learning from their mistakes, and use the experience to move to the next idea. Idea has limited business opportunity. Not every good idea is a good business. How can you improve your odds?

Startup 100

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Resource 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2010

While I agree that successful company builders usually have a natural inclination to be entrepreneurs, a good education helps polish that apple. If offered at your college, don’t forget the practical business skills like “Critical Thinking”, “Business Writing” and even “Dress for Success.” Pick an idea, any idea.

Technical Advisors 90

Technical Advisors Startup Course Entrepreneur 90

InfoChachkie

JUNE 9, 2015

Obtaining funding is a key milestone, but equally important is helping fledgling companies build institutional mass once they leave the relatively safe confines of an accelerator. Convert Graduate-Founders Into Mentors. Bringing an accelerators’ graduates back as mentors provides value to the next class, certainly.

Startup 100

Startup Class LAMP Santa Barbara 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 25, 2019

These authors bring a wealth of experience in this domain from their workshops, writing, and lecturing on business leadership worldwide. Leadership is inextricably linked with the process of innovation, of bringing new ideas, methods, and solutions into use. Kouzes and Barry Z. Seize the initiative with innovative ways to improve.

Activity 92

Activity Entrepreneur Mentor Writing 92