Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2019

Every mature company I know is looking for more innovation from within. They are painfully aware that tenure on the list of S&P companies is shrinking – from thirty-three years back in 1964, down to twenty-four in 2016, and predicted to be just twelve by 2027. Real change comes from people who are obsessed with action, not ideas.

Company 93

Company Companies Software Review IBM 93

InfoChachkie

JUNE 20, 2011

Ryan Howard, the fictional Intern on the TV comedy, The Office. Michael Scott, the fictional head of Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton office, hires an Intern for all the wrong reasons. Due to their lack of practical experience, this delegation/efficiency tradeoff is especially acute with respect to hiring Interns.

Startup 244

Startup Software Review Technical Review Class 244

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 29, 2012

A startup begins with a great idea, but all too often, that’s where it ends. Ideas have to be implemented well to get the desired results. That’s why investors invest in entrepreneurs, rather than ideas. Your value chain consists of customers, partners, vendors, internal systems, and your own team.

Ideas 94

Ideas Startup Summary Competition 94

Berkonomics

JULY 27, 2017

I internalized this phrase, recalling the many times I had partnered with customers to design new feature-functionality into my hotel computer system back when such systems were brand new to the industry. This week’s insight came from personal experience and from a good friend who advanced the notion of the “teacher-customer” years ago.

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Custom Customer Design Conference 243

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 11, 2012

Late last year we announced that local Southern California startup Caplinked was launching a worldwide pitch competition for entrepreneurs to present their business ideas to a panel of all-star judges from Idealab, Rincon, and Chris Yeh.

Competition 63

Competition Idealab Southern California Ideas 63

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021

Every entrepreneur should heed the following lessons on collaboration derived from the authors work on the culture, process and technology of collaboration in hundreds of companies: Consensus is the enemy of collaboration. Company culture is not set by words, but by the actions of the founder. Collaboration has to start at the top.

Study 123

Study Competition Tool Entrepreneur 123

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 22, 2021

Many entrepreneurs are paranoid about the partnership approach, and think that M&A is only an alternative for large companies who are flush with cash. Building through internal development, or organic growth, makes the most sense when you have a core set of skilled internal resources.

Organization 132

Organization CTO Hire Startup Outsource Development 132

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2022

He is always open to the ideas of his team, and even if he doesn't agree that an idea will work, he'll say so, but he often supports and funds it anyway. Foster collaboration rather than competition. This fosters a positive team culture, and communicates company values that are important for everyone.

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Product Training Custom Customer 109

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. Opportunity segmentation and competitive environment. Provide details on the business model.

Product 112

Product Summary Activity Entrepreneur 112

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 11, 2019

This topic was well addressed in the classic book, “ The Invisible Advantage: How to Create a Culture of Innovation ,” by Soren Kaplan, who lays out the key steps to assess, disrupt, and reshape the existing culture of a company to get more innovation. Carve out unstructured time for team members to focus on ideas.

Startup 97

Startup Metrics Competition Organization 97

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. Many questioned whether it could survive under the fail whale, inevitable competition from Facebook, founder fighting, fights with 3rd-party developers let alone become a revolutionary business that could make money. Far from it.

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Funding Technical Review Ideas Startup 362

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2023

According to the International Business Innovation Association ( InBIA ), there are over 2,000 of these locations worldwide, and new online versions springing up all over the place, like Founders Space in Silicon Valley. I believe their competitive advantage is their top on-site leadership, exclusivity, and connections to investors.

Organization 92

Organization Incubator Startup Resource 92

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

Other project and research reports in their library are a rich source of new ideas, if you are still looking for a place to start. These often lead to angel investors and venture capital investments later, or connections to local company venture funds for selected focus and technology areas.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Class Startup Resource 110

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

I’m over-paying for every check I write into the VC ecosystem and valuations are being pushed up to absurd levels and many of these valuations and companies won’t hold in the long term. However, to be a great VC you have to hold two conflicting ideas in your head at the same time. dot-com bonanza. The legends of Silicon Valley?—?two

Venture Capital 471

Venture Capital Writing Invest Pricing 471

Tech Zulu Event

OCTOBER 19, 2011

CapLinked , the online platform for private investment funded by members of the “ PayPal Mafia “—announced that it is launching a worldwide pitch competition for entrepreneurs to present their business ideas to a panel of all-star judges from Idealab, Rincon, Rapidfire, and Actarus. says CapLinked CEO Eric M.

Competition 70

Competition Idealab Slides Startup 70

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2021

Startup founders are known for their passion for their startup idea, and for their passion to kill every competitor. For example, I once worked for a small software company selling a sophisticated enterprise workflow solution. Of course, this path involves some risk, but you never get anywhere unless you take a chance.

Startup 173

Startup Outsource Development Examples Custom 173

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

According to the International Business Innovation Association ( InBIA ), there are over 2,200 of these locations worldwide, and new online versions springing up all over the place, like Founders Space in Silicon Valley. I believe their competitive advantage is their top on-site leadership, exclusivity, and connections to investors.

Resource 159

Resource Startup Incubator Seed Funding 159

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2023

A few companies are leading the way, including Apple with their iPad and iPhone, offering irresistible stores with friendly experts, elegant packaging, and customer service that never ends. Early testing of conceptual models and design ideas often suggests a complete overhaul and rethinking of the design.

Design 105

Design Custom Customer Product 105

TechCrunch LA

AUGUST 9, 2022

to date, the company said that it saw an 188% growth in annual recurring revenue compared to a year ago, with more than 25,000 individuals in 2,000 salons and spas in the country now using its platform. ” It will be interesting to see how and if that continues to play out as Boulevard eyes up international expansion.

Help 195

Help Startup UCLA Tool 195

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 26, 2023

I see this happening in smaller ways often, where there is minimal focus on competition. Here are some key initiatives that I recommend to every business owner and leader to stave off new competitors before they seriously impact or cause a competitive crisis in your business: Continually compare yourself to known competitors.

Metrics 71

Metrics Training Netflix Resource 71

Jason Nazar

JULY 1, 2016

Entrepreneurs often lament big companies, but most of us hope we’ll create just that. Add in public company demands, lawsuit targets, & millions of customers to continually satisfy, and you have to have great respect for those doing it well. Decisions that take entrepreneurs an hour, often take months at large companies.

Entrepreneur 55

Entrepreneur Company Companies Outsource Development 55

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2010

Conventional wisdom in most companies is that “the competition is the enemy&# – it’s the rallying cry to dig deeper, get more features out the door, issue press releases citing differences and attack the competition’s weaknesses in sales presentations. You know, frenemies. When Enemies are Good.

Cloud Computing 320

Cloud Computing Competition Press Startup 320

socalTECH

MARCH 14, 2014

How do you bring an outside perspective and a startup''s nimble perspective to your products, if you''re a big, established company? Are developers willing to invest their time and energy in building solutions around your products, company, or organization? Tell me a little bit about your hackathons, what they are all about?

Edmunds 172

Edmunds Southern California Ideas Startup 172

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2022

“Design thinking” is a methodology used to solve complex challenges, such as the ones faced by every business in today’s rapidly changing and highly competitive environment. In businesses, this requires a new internal culture and leadership. Openly express ideas and what you think, see, and feel.

Design 106

Design Coach Ideas Organization 106

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 1, 2013

Obviously these folks were serious about winning this competition, and had no time to worry about who the guy taking pictures with his iPhone. When I asked one of the competing developers, Phillip Givens, what facilitated his interest in this specific competition, he quickly responded with “The sponsors.

UCLA 96

UCLA Ideas Yahoo Competition 96

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 31, 2020

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. Opportunity segmentation and competitive environment. Provide details on the business model.

Entrepreneur 124

Entrepreneur Startup Summary Product 124

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 18, 2014

Los Angeles-based Enrou (www.enrou.co) thinks it has a way--by connecting people with products that also help support international development and causes, via its own online marketplace. We''re a lifestyle brand similar to Anthropologie, with a strong focus on international development and global justice. What is Enrou?

Commerce 140

Commerce Help UCLA Organization 140

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 21, 2019

We see the stories of young founders leaving college with a big idea, going to work in their garage, and building something that changes the world. He outlines the attributes of the “entrepreneurs” or intrapreneurs in your organization, and how to lead them to make your company an innovator: Love to explore novel approaches and solutions.

IBM 53

IBM IBM Java Google 53

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2020

Other project and research reports in their library are a rich source of new ideas, if you are still looking for a place to start. These often lead to angel investors and venture capital investments later, or connections to local company venture funds for selected focus and technology areas.

Class 124

Class Startup Resource Mentor 124

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2020

A few companies are leading the way, including Apple with their iPad and iPhone, offering irresistible stores with friendly experts, elegant packaging, and customer service that never ends. Early testing of conceptual models and design ideas often suggests a complete overhaul and rethinking of the design.

Custom 150

Custom Customer Design Product 150

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 8, 2016

I met Andrew Stalbow and Petri Järvilehto from Seriously several years ago after they had just left Angry Birds where they were responsible for international business development / licensing and the game studio, respectively. But the problem with most games companies is that they build products more than character franchises.

Startup 150

Startup IP Class Media 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2021

Johnson , was quick to accept accountability via a company apology on Twitter for a racial profiling incident at a Starbucks in Philadelphia, even though he could have claimed that a fired employee was at fault. In today’s world, every organization needs to be in a constant state of change to stay competitive.

Training 173

Training Examples Startup Social Media 173

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2017

I just finished a new book, “ The Invisible Advantage: How to Create a Culture of Innovation ,” by Soren Kaplan, who lays out the key steps to assess, disrupt, and reshape the existing culture of a company to get more innovation. Carve out unstructured time for team members to focus on ideas. Ideas are the beginning.

Startup 81

Startup Metrics Organization Ideas 81

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 8, 2014

Portfolio company support & analysis. Associates often shadow partners at board meetings so that they can help follow up with the company on important initiatives between board meetings. Ability to source information easily to help build a thesis around companies / industries / competition. Industry reviews.

Help 365

Help Invest Venture Capital Technical Review 365

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2023

Everyone in the company must adopt the principles of customer-first focus, agility in responding to change, and constant innovation to improve your processes as well as the solution. Remember that customer experience is much more than just customer service, because it encompasses all the customer touch points with your company.

Custom 91

Custom Customer Marketing Startup 91

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 12, 2015

In my experience, finding real innovation in existing company environments is even tougher. It starts with a vision, but benefits quickly from a structured process of idea generation, evaluation, prototyping, customer feedback, and success metrics. Idea management. Failure is the best teacher I know. New product process.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Startup Coach Metrics 101

InfoChachkie

FEBRUARY 20, 2012

Like Steve Jobs, Michael Dell and Larry Ellison, he is one of the few startup Founders who remained at the helm of their respective companies throughout their entire maturation process. Great Startup Ideas Come From Everywhere. "At They also internalize their professional failures while externalizing their team’s successes.

Tips 275

Tips Startup IP Santa Barbara 275