Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 13, 2012

I always advise software startups to file patents to protect their “secret sauce” from competitors, and to increase their valuation. This patent holding company has charged infringement and demanded royalties from every app developer for the iPhone and Android, for a feature most agree has been in apps for many years.

Patents 93

Patents Software Technical Advisors Startup 93

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 18, 2022

A strong answer should be something like “Our product introduces a new lower-cost technology, which we have patented and trademarked, that makes us very attractive today, and will provide a wealth of additional products as we move forward.” The problem is that startups have limited resources to keep them ahead of big companies.

Competition 133

Competition Patents Resource Invest 133

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 7, 2011

I always advise software startups to file patents to protect their “secret sauce” from competitors, and to increase their valuation. The bad news is that patent trolls can squeeze the lifeblood out of innocent and unsuspecting entrepreneurs, as exemplified by the current mess around Lodsys patent No.

Patents 91

Patents Software Technical Advisors Innocal 91

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

Most aspiring entrepreneurs look to their alma mater, or any university, as a source of classes that can help them, but neglect to think outside the box or take advantage of all the other resources to be found there. Get help with grant funding and incubator resources. Find technical and legal guidance and advisors.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Class Startup Resource 110

Berkonomics

MARCH 5, 2020

In the creation of a young company, there are five principal risks to be addressed by the entrepreneur. Another is to gain the support of a core vendor who is willing to offer special extended terms to the company as its investment in creating the product in a finished state. Why five risks? Fourth: Financial risk. .

Outsource Development 156

Outsource Development Ideas Resource Patents 156

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2023

So, the first question I usually get is what percent of the company or equity is that person worth? Building a new business is quite different from an executive role in a mature company, so people from these backgrounds are often a liability. Key to required patents or trade secrets.

Equity 99

Equity Patents CTO Hire Startup 99

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2020

Most aspiring entrepreneurs look to their alma mater, or any university, as a source of classes that can help them, but neglect to think outside the box or take advantage of all the other resources to be found there. Get help with grant funding and incubator resources. Find technical and legal guidance and advisors.

Class 124

Class Startup Resource Mentor 124

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2021

Startups simply don’t have the resources to keep ahead of large competitors who see initial traction and go after it. Here are some of the key ones: Patent protection in place as a barrier to entry. For example, “Company A is representative of many who provide commodity solutions in this space.”

Competition 166

Competition Funding Startup Patents 166

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 24, 2011

As Guy Kawasaki pointed out in our recent conversation , “…it is cheaper than ever to start a company. If there was ever a time to start a company, this is it.”. Determining the perfect moment to enter the startup market, whether by creating a company or joining an ongoing venture, is akin to timing the financial markets.

Company 257

Company Companies Startup Study 257

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2023

In my experience, finding real innovation in existing company environments is even tougher. Creating intellectual property, including patents, is the kay to long-term value and a sustainable competitive advantage. People are your best innovation resource. Business risks are not just development risks. Value creation.

Coach 137

Coach Metrics Competition Ideas 137

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2020

So the first question I usually get is what percent of the company or equity is that person worth? Building a new business is quite different from an executive role in a mature company, so people from these backgrounds are often a liability. Key to required patents or trade secrets. Level of responsibility and time allocated.

Startup 174

Startup Equity Patents CTO Hire 174

Berkonomics

AUGUST 23, 2012

By carefully recognizing and focusing upon the very core of the business, these CEOs are allocating their scarce cash resources to hire the best talent they can find to support that core business, and then reaching out to partners, independent contractors, and other small businesses to provide all other functions.

Patents 159

Patents Training Resource Advertising 159

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2019

A strong answer should be something like “Our product introduces a new lower-cost technology, which we have patented and trademarked, that makes us very attractive today, and will provide a wealth of additional products as we move forward.” The problem is that startups have limited resources to keep them ahead of big companies.

Competition 120

Competition Patents Resource Invest 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2023

Outsourcing is defined as contracting the work to another company, usually located in a developing country, like India, China, or Eastern Europe. Despite some recent advances, there are still some cultures which have less regard for patents and other intellectual property. Keep intellectual property keys in-house.

Software Review 114

Software Review Technical Review Outsource Development Outsource 114

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

In fact, I think the evidence is clear that many entrepreneurs started their journey while still in college, and capitalized on all the resources there, before moving on: Extend your technology focus with business basics. Every school recognizes the power of “hands-on” work to help you develop your own ideas into a business.

Entrepreneur 157

Entrepreneur Mentor Class Resource 157

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2020

Both have obviously been able to expand their focus and impact, based on learning from early challenges, availability of additional resources, and early success applied more broadly. This culture is best maintained by every business leader at every stage of company maturity. Documented business objectives and a timeline.

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Startup Patents Resource 126

Berkonomics

MARCH 14, 2019

Of course, we are speaking of increased valuation of your company when we speak of “wealth.” Another is to gain the support of a core vendor who is willing to offer special extended terms to the company as its investment in creating the product in a finished state. So, let’s examine them and mitigate them. Make you wealthy someday.

Outsource Development 120

Outsource Development Ideas Resource Patents 120

Berkonomics

AUGUST 10, 2017

Fixed overhead for salaries, rent, equipment leases and more make up the majority of the “burn rate” (monthly expenses) for most companies. Although young companies rarely measure profitability this repeatedly, more mature companies usually can bring from five to ten percent of revenues to the bottom line in the form of net profit.

Venture Capital 243

Venture Capital Product Resource Marketing 243

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 7, 2023

This priority applies to big companies, as well as startups. Customer data, as well as internal data, is a key resource for every business that must be secured and protected. You need to address these concerns early, by highlighting patents, encryption capability, or other features which mitigate these risks and costs.

Social Network 108

Social Network Training Startup Technology 108

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2023

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. If you deliver a great service, but no one knows it, your business will suffer.

Startup 111

Startup Training Services Writing 111

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2022

Working for a well-funded existing company, or pursuing your dream as a hobby, may be more satisfying and productive. Assess your own resources as well as funding sources. In business, there will always be someone out there with more money, a better location, or more resources, ready to take your idea and squeeze you out.

Social Media 105

Social Media Writing Ideas Resource 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 25, 2020

In my experience, finding real innovation in existing company environments is even tougher. Creating intellectual property, including patents, is the kay to long-term value and a sustainable competitive advantage. People are your best innovation resource. Business risks are not just development risks. Value creation.

Coach 144

Coach Metrics Social Network Competition 144

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2021

It can come from experience, or from training in a prior company, and it can even be self-taught from the Internet by smart entrepreneurs, just like they learned the skill of establishing a company, negotiating a contract, or filing a patent. No company that is static can grow or survive. Delegate effectively and often.

Startup 171

Startup Organization Training Entrepreneur 171

Berkonomics

MARCH 15, 2012

Another is to gain the support of a core vendor who is willing to offer special extended terms to the company as its investment in creating the product in a finished state. This is sometimes labeled “execution risk” addressing whether management can create and run the company producing the product acceptable to the marketplace.

Outsource Development 200

Outsource Development Ideas Resource Patents 200

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2023

A product plan has tremendous value inward facing, telling your product people what to build, while the business plan has maximum value outward facing, explaining to the rest of the world how your new company will survive and prosper. Each of these activities should have associated costs and resource requirements. Marty Zwilling

Product 112

Product Summary Activity Entrepreneur 112

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2020

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. If you deliver a great service, but no one knows it, your business will suffer.

Startup 174

Startup Training Services Writing 174

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 15, 2020

This priority applies to big companies, as well as startups. Customer data, as well as internal data, is a key resource for every business that must be secured and protected. You need to address these concerns early, by highlighting patents, encryption capability, or other features which mitigate these risks and costs.

Technology 165

Technology Social Network Training Startup 165

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 2, 2015

A strong answer should be something like “Our product introduces a new lower-cost technology, which we have patented and trademarked, that makes us very attractive today, and will provide a wealth of additional products as we move forward.” The problem is that startups have limited resources to keep them ahead of big companies.

Startup 118

Startup Competition Patents Resource 118

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2022

For example, Elon Musk, who owns many battery patents , normally kept for a competitive edge, decided to open them all to any competitors in an effort to expand the market for his electric vehicles. Plus you can challenge yourself to keep abreast of technology advancements in related industries, looking for a fit in your own.

Competition 139

Competition Examples Customer Custom 139

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2021

A while back I received a discouraging note from an entrepreneur with a patent and a medical software application who couldn’t find a dime of investment, and was grousing that seed funding just wasn’t available anymore. The same thing goes for incorporating your company, having key hires lined up, and facilities arranged as required.

Software Review 123

Software Review Seed Funding Funding Startup 123

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Almost anyone can start a company today on a shoestring budget, following these cost-cutting recommendations: Establish a solid legal structure for your business. The same is true for filing patents, registering trademarks, and filing copyrights. But don’t wait too long if you want to stay ahead of the curve.

Entrepreneur 162

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Outsource Development 162

Tech.Co

NOVEMBER 27, 2017

In general, the way it works is that individual inventors are named as inventors on the patents, and then the IP would be licensed back by spin-off companies to further develop the technology, according to Monti. According to her research, there have been 22 patents issued to Maine Medical Center Research Institute in 20 years.

IP 70

IP Patents Ideas Research 70

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 28, 2013

Helping solicit new business ideas and patents from individuals, federal research labs, universities and other R&D organizations countrywide. One becomes a member by creating a profile, add team members, promote their company page and message or receive updates about the companies they follow. Social network for investors.

El Segundo 76

El Segundo Social Network Startup Patents 76

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. These have the vision and the resources to fund long-term digital success. The real challenge is to win massive consumer preference repeatedly.

Competition 142

Competition Software Review Social Media Customer 142

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2016

Most aspiring entrepreneurs look to their alma mater, or any university, as a source of classes that can help them, but neglect to think outside the box or take advantage of all the other resources to be found there. Get help with grant funding and incubator resources. Find technical and legal guidance and advisors.

Entrepreneur 55

Entrepreneur Capital Class Startup 55

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2018

So the first question I usually get is what percent of the company or equity is that person worth? Building a new business is quite different from an executive role in a mature company, so people from these backgrounds are often a liability. Key to required patents or trade secrets. Level of responsibility and time allocated.

Equity 95

Equity Patents CTO Hire Startup 95

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2014

A strong answer should be something like “Our product introduces a new lower-cost technology, which we have patented and trademarked, that makes us very attractive today, and will provide a wealth of additional products as we move forward.” The problem is that startups have limited resources to keep them ahead of big companies.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Competition Patents Resource 110