Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2021

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.

Sample 137

Sample Writing Mentor Content 137

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Most colleges have now added classes in entrepreneurship to include the necessary business focus to technical majors that usually drive innovative ideas. Every school recognizes the power of “hands-on” work to help you develop your own ideas into a business. Write a business plan and pitch deck for learning.

Entrepreneur 157

Entrepreneur Mentor Class Resource 157

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2022

You shouldn’t be making this decision just because you are mad at your boss, or you would like to be rich, or someone else thinks you have a good idea. Usually that means writing something down, since it’s hard to maintain something, or track yourself against it, if it’s not written down. Right idea at the right time.

Startup 115

Startup Resource Training Ideas 115

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

I have often thought that creative endeavors where one has a quick turn-around between idea and realization of one’s work as one of the more fulfilling experiences in life. I started my first company in 1999 and was admittedly swept up in all of this: Magazine covers, fancy conferences, artificial valuations and easy money.

Venture Capital 466

Venture Capital Startup Marketing Pricing 466

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 9, 2017

You’ll have less competition. Where else are consumers going to find your product, if no one else is offering it or if other companies offer it, but haven’t found the right niche audience? But you have no idea what to do next. Here’s a quick nod to the folks at Colour Graphics for urging me to write this insight.

Marketing 266

Marketing Resource Advertising Social Media 266

Berkonomics

MARCH 14, 2019

Of course, we are speaking of increased valuation of your company when we speak of “wealth.” This risk can be mitigated by finding a customer willing to purchase as soon as a proven model is completed, and willing to state this in writing. And fifth: Competitive risk. . So, let’s examine them and mitigate them.

Outsource Development 120

Outsource Development Ideas Resource Patents 120

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 12, 2015

On a micro level, you can do your part to fix tech's gender problem by recruiting people with diverse backgrounds and place them in a company culture that rewards those who challenge the status quo. Most men in the 1940's and 50's did not know how to use a keyboard and thus could not write code. Photo Credit: Grace Hopper Website.

Company 100

Company Companies Santa Barbara Education 100

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 25, 2016

Do you have any contacts or friends within the target company? Dropping that name will often immediately draw a response if the decision maker is curious or particularly competitive. Let me reinforce this: never reveal competitive information to gain access or advantage.

Ideas 120

Ideas Sales Competition Venture Capital 120

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 29, 2009

My firm GRP Partners recently funded a young LA based company named Ad.Ly that is an “in-stream advertising&# company currently focused on monetizing Twitter. Traditional media companies published their stories on the web. Advertising has driven the majority of Internet innovation. was the “static&# web.

Ideas 286

Ideas Advertising Google Technical Review 286

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 28, 2022

The best candidates quickly figure out that companies that don’t respond, demonstrate chaos during interviews, or keep delaying a decision are not a good opportunity. I recommend a thirty to ninety-day trial period, defined in writing, where either party can terminate the relationship without recourse. It won’t happen by default.

Organization 104

Organization Satisfaction Entrepreneur Screening 104

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2016

I was speaking recently to the team at NuOrder , an LA-based company we’re an investor in about “realism in startups” — an impromptu talk I have given to any of our portfolio companies who ask. I answered in the same way I always do so I thought I’d just write it publicly. “I I work with a few computer vision companies.

Invest 254

Invest Writing Pricing Metrics 254

Berkonomics

MARCH 15, 2012

This risk can be mitigated by finding a customer willing to purchase as soon as a proven model is completed, and willing to state this in writing. 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.

Outsource Development 200

Outsource Development Ideas Resource Patents 200

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 12, 2014

It’s building a product that is substantially differentiated, and, as Bill Gross, one of the most prolific tech entrepreneurs of our era says, “ It needs to be 10x better than the competition ” (because if you shoot for that then in competitive markets you might achieve 3x. Rebelling is simply a form of snobbery.

Marketing 379

Marketing Startup SEM SEO 379

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 18, 2019

You shouldn’t be making this decision just because you are mad at your boss, or you would like to be rich, or someone else thinks you have a good idea. Usually that means writing something down, since it’s hard to maintain something, or track yourself against it, if it’s not written down. Right idea at the right time.

Startup 94

Startup Resource Training Ideas 94

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 4, 2020

The best candidates quickly figure out that companies that don’t respond, demonstrate chaos during interviews, or keep delaying a decision are not a good opportunity. I recommend a thirty to ninety-day trial period, defined in writing, where either party can terminate the relationship without recourse. It won’t happen by default.

Organization 135

Organization Satisfaction Entrepreneur Screening 135

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 18, 2014

Sometimes those motives are positive (they really want the chance to work with you, they think you have unique skills) and sometimes they are less positive (their first-tier of “go to” referrals passed on the deal, they don’t want to write another check themselves, etc.). I never thought of it that way.”

Venture Capital 337

Venture Capital Invest Ideas Entrepreneur 337

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2010

Burstly, a Santa Monica based company, provides an open and free ad management platform that helps mobile application developers better monetize their inventory. As I naturally get asked all the time why we invested in Company A or Company B, I thought I’d just put forth my thesis in writing.

Mobile 282

Mobile Invest Company Companies 282

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 26, 2011

Especially when starting a company with personal savings or money from relatives and friends, early signs of success are intoxicating. And it is more satisfying because it is yours, from idea to execution. There is nothing quite as thrilling in business as igniting a startup and watching it blossom.

Press 149

Press Hollywood Writing Startup 149

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

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 14, 2013

Creating awareness for your brand and products is one of the lifebloods of technology startups yet in a world where so many companies are being created it becomes difficult to rise above the noise. Ever notice how some companies tend to be in the press all the time and your big new product launch struggled for inches?

Marketing 389

Marketing Press Blogging Startup 389

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 6, 2021

Getting lots of input on important issues is always a good idea. Every person and every company needs a set of core values. It may be time for you to start your own blog, write a book, or volunteer as a speaker at public events in your domain. Then make the decision your own, before you use it to lead the team.

Entrepreneur 132

Entrepreneur Course Satisfaction Guide 132

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 30, 2014

It’s true the some VCs have started writing so many checks that they resemble stock pickers but the majority of us still have less than 10 board seats at any time and tend to go pretty deep so the result is that we care deeply about where we commit our time. Did they have the right skills? Would they build a world class team.

Technical Review 418

Technical Review Software Review CTO Hire IP 418

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. Opportunity segmentation and competitive environment. List key competitors and alternatives, highlighting your sustainable competitive advantages, such as patents and trademarks.

Startup 65

Startup Writing Patents Competition 65

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 6, 2018

Let’s say you have built a SaaS company where a large part of the early revenue comes from a few big customers or a large part of the revenue is services based vs. software based. The investor is a customer and they have money to spend but only for a limited number of companies. Let me give you an example.

Funding 236

Funding Venture Capital Startup Entrepreneur 236

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 2, 2014

As the capital needed to start a small business continues to fall, the number of software companies being started is exploding. There’s a lot of uncertainty in startup companies. Now, you’re handling payroll and doing writing as well. You may even discover that you enjoy writing more than crunching numbers.

Startup 102

Startup Social Media Writing Google 102

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 For more than 30-years, Bill Gates has been at the pinnacle of the software industry. Treasure it.

Tips 275

Tips Startup IP Santa Barbara 275

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 1, 2015

You shouldn’t be making this decision just because you are mad at your boss, you would like to be rich, or someone else thinks it’s a good idea. Usually that means writing something down, since it’s hard to maintain something, or track yourself against it, if it’s not written down. Right idea at the right time.

Startup 109

Startup Resource Training Ideas 109

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 16, 2010

We talked with Noah about how the company grew out of a business plan competition at the University of Southern California, his recent funding from the Maverick Angels, as well as how the firm hopes to stand out among a crowded list of comparison shopping sites. How did the company start? So, we decided to go out and do it.

USC 207

USC CPC Sites Startup 207

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 22, 2014

So I thought I’d write about out with what I would look for in a VC knowing what I know now and why. It’s insanely competitive to get into our industry so most have degrees from institutions like Stanford, Harvard, Wharton and University of Chicago (blatant plug ;-). VCs, how to select a VC, etc.) Most VCs are book smart.

Venture Capital 364

Venture Capital Coach Writing SaaS 364

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2013

Too many entrepreneurs still believe the urban myth that you can sketch your idea on a napkin, and investors will throw money at you. This is sad, since “how to write a business plan” is a frequent topic found in every business journal, and a common title in the business section of every book store. No problem.

Sample 92

Sample Writing Startup Summary 92

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 31, 2012

Many MBA programs still cater too much to the needs of large, corporate management jobs or prepare students to enter big consulting companies or investments banks. The idea that the course asks students to write public blog posts is a testament to its more modern teaching style. and in a related post about objection handling.

Startup 319

Startup Sales Course Competition 319

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 21, 2012

Too many entrepreneurs still believe the urban myth that you can sketch your idea on a napkin, and investors will throw money at you. This is sad, since “how to write a business plan” is a frequent topic found in every business journal, and a common title in the business section of every book store. No problem.

Sample 96

Sample Writing Summary Startup 96

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2017

You shouldn’t be making this decision just because you are mad at your boss, or you would like to be rich, or someone else thinks it’s a good idea. Usually that means writing something down, since it’s hard to maintain something, or track yourself against it, if it’s not written down. Right idea at the right time.

Startup 57

Startup Resource Training Ideas 57

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 9, 2012

You may have already found several articles, web pages, or books about writing the perfect executive summary. They all offer a list of requirements that might take 50 pages to address, but of course they ask you to write concisely. Skip the acronyms, history of the company, and the disruptive technology behind your solution.

Summary 97

Summary Writing Competition Sample 97

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

InfoChachkie

JULY 23, 2012

companies should… focus on building amazing products. I recently spoke with Brad about his approach to guerilla marketing and how he instills eclectic marketing tactics in Foundry Group’s portfolio companies. Chris is the CEO of Gnip , a Foundry Group portfolio company. If you have $hitty products, the marketing is impossible.

Marketing 233

Marketing Blogging Startup Venture Capital 233

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

If you know, VCs end up writing sizable checks into their own funds, which is important in better aligning interests. M&A discussions (where your company is buying or being bought). Therefore of course they need to be more selection when writing checks and can’t spread their bets across 75 deals. founder fighting.

Venture Capital 356

Venture Capital Invest Course Technical Review 356