Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 7, 2011

Based on my own experience and feedback from friends, every investor is approached by at least ten entrepreneurs with a “hot idea” for a new business, for every one who has a real “plan” for a new business. In fact, you can find websites full of ideas, like these “ Free Innovative Ideas ,” by serial entrepreneur Kim E.

Ideas 104

Ideas Entrepreneur Summary Startup 104

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Many entrepreneurs still dream of “going public,” making billions of dollars, and playing with the big boys. Sure, there are examples of founders who have survived and prospered, such as Bill Gates and Larry Page, but these guys are the exception, not the rule. Consider the recent example of Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg.

Entrepreneur 95

Entrepreneur Startup Report Summary 95

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. For aspiring entrepreneurs, or if your last startup failed, it’s all about standing out above the crowd of others like you, and demonstrating your readiness.

Startup 104

Startup Writing Entrepreneur Slides 104

InfoChachkie

JULY 21, 2011

Paige is a gifted communicator and my summary does not do him justice. He offers a number of worthwhile tips and tricks that I was not able to capture in the textual summary, so the 14-minute audio file is well worth your time. What follows is a summary which paraphrases Paige’s responses. Click here to listen to the Audio File.

Summary 246

Summary Tips Sales Entrepreneur 246

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2018

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. For aspiring entrepreneurs, or if your last startup failed, it’s all about standing out above the crowd of others like you, and demonstrating your readiness.

Startup 65

Startup Entrepreneur Slides Content 65

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2015

Blogging is one of the best ways to do this and build a brand, even before you have a product or service. In this age of relationships, you, the entrepreneur, are a very important element of your new brand, and it’s never too early to start marketing the value of your expertise, insights and ideas. Let that ideal co-founder find you.

Blogging 110

Blogging Startup Search Engine Optimization Social Media 110

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2011

Many entrepreneurs still dream of “going public,” making billions of dollars, and playing with the big boys. companies made the IPO transition in 2009, out of thousands of startups. Sure, there are examples of founders who have survived and prospered, such as Bill Gates and Larry Page, but these guys are the exception, not the rule.

Startup 94

Startup Entrepreneur Report Summary 94

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 23, 2011

I took the opportunity this past week to publish summary notes of some of the VCs and entrepreneurs I had interviewed on This Week in VC. One of my goals in doing the show was not only to educate entrepreneurs but also to put a human face on many of the VCs in our industry as VCs can be hard to get to know. Thank you. (if

Capital 265

Capital Venture Capital Veoh Startup 265

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 12, 2014

If you’re a technology startup you need to excel at product, of course. The starting point of product IS marketing, which is what a lot of young entrepreneurs that never studied business don’t realize. Link has a summary of his argument plus a great video). Look at Viddy & SocialCast.

Marketing 379

Marketing Startup SEM SEO 379

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

As is often said if you don’t get at least a few fellow VCs (and entrepreneurs) scratching their heads you may not be funding ideas with enough upside. This was certainly the case when I invested in a small YouTube video production company called Maker Studios that recently sold to Disney for just shy of $1 billion.

Funding 362

Funding Technical Review Ideas Startup 362

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 24, 2012

But many entrepreneurs don’t realize that Angels are also extremely discerning in the projects that they will invest in, rejecting approximately 97% of the proposals submitted to them, according to the California Investment Network. In today’s world, if you don’t have a web site up and running, you will not be perceived as a real company.

Angel 104

Angel Screening Summary Startup 104

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2013

Based on my own experience and feedback from friends, every investor is approached by at least ten entrepreneurs with a “hot idea” for a new business, for every one who has a real “plan” for a new business. In fact, you can find websites full of ideas, like these “ Free Innovative Ideas ,” by serial entrepreneur Kim E.

Ideas 106

Ideas Startup Summary CalTech 106

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 25, 2011

There’s a line of thinking in Silicon Valley that you should build product businesses rather than services businesses. It’s nearly impossible to get a services company financed by VCs. And stop effing around trying to create a product company.&#. You’re a small fish. This team is talented.

Services 332

Services Venture Capital IP Startup 332

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Yet according to the latest data from Gust (formerly AngelSoft), only about 3 out of 100 companies who initiate the formal request process actually get funded. The Gust Deal Funnel from the last 12 months indicates is that 70% of the interested companies never make it past the initial screening process. Build a prototype product.

Invest 99

Invest Angel Technical Review Summary 99

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Many entrepreneurs still dream of “going public,” making billions of dollars, and playing with the big boys. Sure, there are examples of Founders who have survived and prospered, such as Bill Gates and Larry Page, but these guys are the exception, not the rule. Consider the recent example of Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg.

Startup 89

Startup Entrepreneur Report Summary 89

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2012

Based on my own experience and feedback from friends, every investor is approached by at least ten entrepreneurs with a “hot idea” for a new business, for every one who has a real “plan” for a new business. In fact, you can find websites full of ideas, like these “ Free Innovative Ideas ,” by serial entrepreneur Kim E.

Ideas 97

Ideas Summary Startup CalTech 97

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2015

For the elite startups and entrepreneurs who manage to attract the investor they dream of, and survive the term sheet negotiation, there is still one more hurdle before the money is in the bank. Use this opportunity to validate their satisfaction and support for your company and your solution. Status of the solution.

Technical Review 108

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur 108

InfoChachkie

JUNE 23, 2011

Messenger : Jason Lehmbeck , Co-Founder and CEO of DataPop , former VP of Emerging Ad Products at Overture Services and Yahoo! What follows is a summary which paraphrases Jason’s responses. We started the company to make ads that people love to click on and we’re doing it at scale with millions of ads per day.”.

Yahoo 210

Yahoo Startup Advertising Summary 210

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 26, 2012

The elevator pitch should be the first few paragraphs of your business plan, your executive summary, your investor presentation, and the first page of your web site. Investors expect energy, conviction, and commitment from entrepreneurs. The investor is "buying" the business, not the product. It won’t work.

Startup 113

Startup Patents Template Competition 113

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Yet according to the latest data from AngelSoft , only about 3 out of 100 companies who initiate the formal request process actually get funded. The AngelSoft Deal Funnel from the last 12 months indicates is that 70% of the interested companies never make it past the initial screening process. Build a prototype product.

Angel 89

Angel Funding Technical Review Startup 89

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 16, 2010

Understand Personality Types – One of the benefits of working for a big company (Accenture) was that we had lots of speakers come in and train us in topics like leadership, creativity, presentations, strategy, etc. You’ve got 20 slides and we’re only on page 3. Most entrepreneurs are. Most of them sucked.

Slides 358

Slides Venture Capital Startup Summary 358

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

The elevator pitch should be the first few paragraphs of your business plan, your executive summary, your investor presentation, and the first page of your web site. Obvious passion - Investors expect energy, conviction, and commitment from entrepreneurs. Briefly discuss who you are selling the product or service to.

Startup 93

Startup Competition Summary Patents 93

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 18, 2011

What follows is a summary which paraphrases Mark’s responses. 3) How has your role as the senior Tech Leader at the Rubicon Project and eHarmony influenced SteelHouse’s product roadmap and go-to-market strategy? I didn’t have that appreciation when I was with companies in Silicon Valley. For his exact quotes, watch the video.

eHarmony 204

eHarmony Media Oracle Commerce 204

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 12, 2013

In the latest book by business guru Joe Wozny, “ The Digital Dollar: Sustainable Strategies for Online Success ,” I found a good summary of some great strategies, with some practical advice on how to implement them: Understand what’s in a name on the Internet. entrepreneur failure odds online startup strategies'

Social Media 93

Social Media Content Startup Web 93

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2012

Try something like, “the product costs $X, and we sell it for $Y.” Here is a summary of a half-dozen of the most common models: Facebook model. This model only works once you have exceeded about one million page-views per month, and spent maybe $50 million to get there. eCommerce model. Bricks-and-clicks model.

Startup 95

Startup Customer Custom Summary 95

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 3, 2010

I know because many entrepreneurs I spend time with I can tell are in their own brains when we’re meeting rather than trying to understand what my position is. You’re in sales mode. Let’s assume you run a Customer Support software company. After that you need to begin discussing your company.

Sales 314

Sales Startup Venture Capital Customer 314

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

FEBRUARY 28, 2011

Try something like, “the product costs $X, and we sell it for $Y.” Here is a summary of a half-dozen of the most common models: Facebook model. This model only works once you have exceeded about one million page-views per month, and spent maybe $50 million to get there. eCommerce model. Bricks-and-clicks model.

Ideas 92

Ideas Startup Customer Custom 92

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 20, 2009

The promised to follow up with: calls, using your product, talking to customers or “noodle on things.&# Will they? The partner you saw is probably sitting on 5-6 boards which means he or she will be busy helping existing portfolio companies. They have probably seen 4-5 new companies this week minimum.

Venture Capital 277

Venture Capital Startup Email News 277

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 8, 2010

I recently wrote a piece for Mashable on how to create a company blog. Since it’s already written (and since I promised not to republish on my blog other than a summary) if you’re interested please have a read over there. Summary notes and then I’ll extend: Should you blog? I was an entrepreneur.

Blogging 286

Blogging Startup Writing Summary 286

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

JUNE 26, 2020

As an advisor to new hardware entrepreneurs, I often hear the myth that a business plan is no longer required to find an investor, if your idea is good enough. What you don’t realize is these famous investors only deal with entrepreneurs who sold their last company for a $100M dollars or more. You need both to survive.

Product 169

Product Summary Startup Examples 169

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

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 23, 2010

Try something like, “the product costs X dollars, and we sell it for Y dollars.” Here is a summary of a half-dozen of the most common models: Facebook model. This model only works once you have exceeded about one million page-views per month, and spent maybe $50 million to get there. eCommerce model. Bricks-and-clicks model.

Startup 48

Startup Customer Custom Summary 48

SoCal Delicious

JANUARY 9, 2014

I’m hoping this will help to save entrepreneurs time in their hunt for success, whilst adding some more meaning to their businesses. Having a clear focus means it’s easier to communicate what your product is and who it’s for. Here are two examples. People who focus exclusively on efforts that matter, succeed. It’s that simple.”

Startup 78

Startup Design Customer Custom 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

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 11, 2011

Summary notes, as always, provide below. The idea actually came to him from the Yellow Pages business. He was a life-long entrepreneur and the first business he created out of college (actually, he founded it while he was at Caltech) was a company that manufactured high quality audio speakers. Overture (Goto.com).

Competition 350

Competition Idealab Product CitySearch 350