Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 24, 2023

Typically, these companies are relishing prior successes, as did Blockbuster and Kodak in their heyday, or are totally risk-averse, as is the case with many mature businesses and government entities. In these companies, you will see more sustained innovative activity, but little organization-wide recognition of innovation as a discipline.

Organization 111

Organization Activity Resource Examples 111

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 28, 2020

He brings a wealth of experience to the table, based on years of consulting work with middle market companies around the world. I support his summary of five key steps to get beyond the planning: First check your view of the reality of your situation. The process must focus not only on the “what,” but the “how.”

Coach 159

Coach Resource Summary Metrics 159

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2021

As a business advisor, I have to recommend even to established companies that they review and revamp their competitive strategy now, even if it appears to be working today. Simple metrics and your personal knowledge of the industry can’t keep up with all the relevant competitive forces. You need to be part of a larger ecosystem.

Competition 142

Competition Software Review Social Media Customer 142

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2019

For example, one of the first home grocery delivery companies, Webvan, was so enamored with early traction in Silicon Valley, it raised and spent nearly a billion dollars and went public, before filing for bankruptcy three years later. Document processes and metrics for economies of scale.

Metrics 86

Metrics Startup Training Customer 86

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 27, 2011

There are very few people in Silicon Valley who have such a precise grasp on what defines success of early-stage startup companies than Eric Ries. should companies do spreadsheets / plan / have a hypothesis for success? how do you handle internal company morale? 9:14 What was the root cause of the failure of your first company?

Social Media 301

Social Media Startup Metrics Media 301

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 14, 2018

I know all of this because every VC knows this because we’ve all either funded companies that have marketing technology or we’ve seen a pitch with a company that does this. Your deck should be so good that a VC asks you for permission to show it to his or her portfolio companies.

Funding 239

Funding Venture Capital IP Email 239

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 2, 2015

What I love about my job is getting to see teams of super-early-stage companies develop ideas that while raw have potential to make an impact on the market. Clearly the founders and senior executives of a company are the most valuable resources and their time should be maximized on the most valuable tasks. Budgeting & Planning.

Outsource Development 150

Outsource Development Metrics Startup Sales 150

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2019

Chris Musselwhite and Tammie Plouffe, in a classic HBR article on change readiness for large companies, define it as “the ability to continuously initiate and respond to change in ways that create advantage, minimize risk, and sustain performance.” In summary, change will happen.

Startup 94

Startup Training Statistics Summary 94

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 25, 2015

Let me give you the quick summary of what I said yesterday: Public markets affect venture funding. private companies grow so quickly that their metrics catch up with their valuations. If you’re an entrepreneur or VC who wants somebody else’s view on that you should read it. So now what? start raising early.

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Startup Marketing Summary 150

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2013

Here is my summary of her roadmap which I believe can get you back on the right track with a “customer-centric” approach rather than a “company-centric” approach: Find out what customers want and how they want to buy it. Include planned measurements and metrics. The best way to do this is with real customer interviews.

Startup 105

Startup Search Engine Optimization Summary Customer 105

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2012

Here is my summary of her detailed roadmap to get you back on the right track with a “customer-centric” approach rather than a “company-centric” approach: Find out what customers want and how they want to buy it. Include planned measurements and metrics. The best way to do this is with real customer interviews.

Tips 93

Tips Search Engine Optimization Summary Startup 93

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2013

You took the risk to start your company. Startups have to be optimists because no rational person would actually believe you could build Uber into the amazing company that it is today. I worked with a startup CEO who decided he wanted to sell his company. I do believe in total transparency with your core. It was not.

Startup 417

Startup Course Venture Capital Writing 417

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 7, 2017

Chris Musselwhite and Tammie Plouffe, in a classic HBR article on change readiness for large companies, define it as “the ability to continuously initiate and respond to change in ways that create advantage, minimize risk, and sustain performance.” In summary, change will happen.

Startup 56

Startup Training Statistics Summary 56

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2014

Chris Musselwhite and Tammie Plouffe, in an HBR article a couple of years ago on change readiness for large companies, define it as “the ability to continuously initiate and respond to change in ways that create advantage, minimize risk, and sustain performance.” In summary, change will happen.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Startup Training Statistics 110

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2011

Here is my summary of her detailed roadmap to get you back on the right track with a “customer-centric” approach rather than a “company-centric” approach: Find out what customers want and how they want to buy it. Include planned measurements and metrics. The best way to do this is with real customer interviews.

Customer 96

Customer Custom Search Engine Optimization Summary 96

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2018

When you raise money from investors you produce information that you are told they want and care about: A fund-raising deck that articulates your company strategy, plans, team, market, competitors and so forth. VCs (and LPs) have a vested interest in having more data, whether they want to invest in your company / firm or not.

Funding 336

Funding Venture Capital Startup Email 336

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

An alternate outcome that I also unfortunately observe in some cases are companies who had extreme early success with an initial product adoption but failed in key areas that limited the growth and therefore the ultimate financial outcomes. I see many companies that don’t make this transition well.

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 286

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2017

Here is my rendition of how her roadmap can keep you on the right track, like Xerox Data Solutions, with a “customer-centric” approach rather than a “company-centric” approach: Find out what customers want and how they want to buy it. Include planned measurements and metrics. The best way to do this is with real customer interviews.

Search Engine Optimization 58

Search Engine Optimization Startup SEO Customer 58

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 23, 2013

No summary of what we did, no easy way for me to recommend my trainer to my friends, and no way for me to easily book the next appointment. Sergey’s past experience includes development of enterprise solutions for companies including: Harley-Davidson, Nokia, Blue Cross / Blue Shield, Wellpoint, Aetna, and Navteq.

Social Network 92

Social Network Networking Training Summary 92

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 29, 2012

I found a good summary of the relevant keys to business operational excellence in a new book by Faisal Hoque, called “ The Power of Convergence.” His focus is on repeatable practices to maximize business opportunities in large companies, but I’m convinced that these apply equally well to startups: Clearly define your value chain.

Ideas 94

Ideas Startup Summary Competition 94

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Chris Musselwhite and Tammie Plouffe, in an HBR article a couple of years ago on change readiness for large companies, define it as “the ability to continuously initiate and respond to change in ways that create advantage, minimize risk, and sustain performance.” In summary, change will happen.

Startup 93

Startup Training Statistics Summary 93

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

Chris Musselwhite and Tammie Plouffe, in an HBR article last year on change readiness for large companies, define it as “the ability to continuously initiate and respond to change in ways that create advantage, minimize risk, and sustain performance.” In summary, change will happen.

Startup 94

Startup Marketing Training Statistics 94

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Every plan must start with the problem you are solving, not a description of your company and product. Usually the reason the big companies are no threat is because the market is too small.

Competition 113

Competition Metrics Startup Invest 113

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2011

I found a good summary of the relevant keys to business operational excellence in a new book by Faisal Hoque, called “ The Power of Convergence.” His focus is on repeatable practices to maximize business opportunities in large companies, but I’m convinced that these apply equally well to startups: Clearly define your value chain.

Startup 100

Startup Ideas Summary Competition 100

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

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2010

In business, one important measure is the value of the company. That’s because a company’s value is a composite of all of the quantitative and qualitative factors that comprise a company: revenues, expenses, risks, growth prospects, quality of the management team, competitive advantages, strength of the intellectual property, and so forth.

.Net 89

.Net Metrics Competition Template 89

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 10, 2011

But creating better visibility for investors of the profitability of each unit and accountability for bosses of each to perform well according to differnet metrics is a good & important idea. Netflix announced the changes to its company via a blog post. That’s not how you handle a major announcement in your company.

Netflix 287

Netflix Customer Custom Pricing 287

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Every plan must start with the problem you are solving, not a description of your company and product. Usually the reason the big companies are no threat is because the market is too small.

Competition 116

Competition Metrics Startup Sales 116

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 6, 2010

Chris Musselwhite and Tammie Plouffe, in a recent HBR article on change readiness for large companies, define it as “the ability to continuously initiate and respond to change in ways that create advantage, minimize risk, and sustain performance.” In summary, change will happen.

Startup 78

Startup Training Statistics Summary 78

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Every plan must start with the problem you are solving, not a description of your company and product. Usually the reason the big companies are no threat is because the market is too small.

Invest 74

Invest Tips Competition Metrics 74

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 5, 2014

Summary of Topics. The company hopes to prepare advertisers for varying screen sizes. He doesn’t see many digital media VC firms in the space and makes it a point to invest in and work with companies who engage more deeply with content. Get yourself up to speed by reading through JATI, Inc.’s Enabling Social Change.

Startup 95

Startup Google Education Venture Capital 95

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 3, 2013

Watch the 30-minute interview to hear why but summary notes below. He believes that one of the financial metrics taught at business schools and reinforced by Wall Street has accelerated offshoring of industries. VC can’t don’t invest in these kinds of companies because they can’t get out (no liquidity event).

Venture Capital 403

Venture Capital Education Offshore Outsource Development 403

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 6, 2011

I was an angel investor in his company, made a bunch of calls on his behalf and then I personally sent it out on AngelList. I think how hard it is for me to be hands-on with a handful of portfolio companies. I’ve had to do this with 2 companies at the same time. Through this process he raised $2 million. So I thought, WTF?

Startup 292

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Summary 292

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 24, 2017

Dart and Lewis should know, since both have over twenty-five years of experience consulting with dozens of retail and consumer product companies, old and new. Companies that are constantly looking forward, rather than backward, are going to be victorious. Encourage and reward out-of-the-company thinking.

Customer 52

Customer Custom Technical Review Summary 52

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2012

They did a series of interviews with CEOs to understand how technology companies create success, and why most fail. They found many similarities between the companies that are winning in the marketplace and those that are struggling. The best companies create solutions that are narrow and deep. Simple is smart.

Customer 89

Customer Custom Organization Summary 89

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

They did a series of interviews with CEOs to understand how technology companies create success, and why most fail. They found many similarities between the companies that are winning in the marketplace and those that are struggling. The best companies create solutions that are narrow and deep. Simple is smart.

Startup 93

Startup Organization Customer Custom 93

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 17, 2010

They did a series of interviews with CEOs to understand how technology companies create success, and why most fail. They found many similarities between the companies that are winning in the marketplace and those that are struggling. The best companies create solutions that are narrow and deep. Simple is smart.

Organization 89

Organization Customer Custom Summary 89