Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2022

You can even give it a more elegant name, like “market-focused reinvention,” but it won’t be graceful if you don’t take the lead. It happens on the front end for startups to get traction, and then again later for every company as the economy, competition, and culture changes around them. Team, market, and cultural maintenance.

Course 127

Course IBM IBM Social Media 127

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

Of course, investors still require a profitable business model, and the potential for high returns. Startups can use social responsibility as a competitive advantage. That’s a real competitive edge that you can use in your marketing and positioning. Socially responsible products typically sell at a premium price.

Startup 149

Startup Organization Customer Custom 149

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2021

Every one of you business leaders I know struggles with the competing demands of finding and keeping employees motivated and satisfied, versus building and enforcing a set of repeatable processes that work. People-centric leaders realize that the right motivated and accountable people are their real competitive advantage.

Satisfaction 154

Satisfaction Demand Resource Competition 154

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2018

My friend Michael Broukhim, founder & co-CEO of FabFitFun and I recently had a catch-up meeting for 3-miles on the Santa Monica “Bird Trail” No company has ever elicited so many questions by friends, colleagues, entrepreneurs, fellow VCs and journalists as has Bird, the company that pioneered the electronic scooter as a service market.

Santa Monica 256

Santa Monica Funding Startup Course 256

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2022

In fact, most employee training courses recommend the distance if the work relationship crosses management levels, and most management policies strictly forbid fraternizing with the team. Can be a competitive advantage. Of course, all these things can happen in any workship. Competition over salary, promotions, and position.

Startup 119

Startup Course Competition Social Media 119

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

As an advisor to many entrepreneurs, I still hear frequently the irrational exuberance that crowdfunding is the quick alternative for startups that are passed over by overly demanding angels or venture capital investors. Crowdfunding to gauge demand is not recommended, since failed campaigns don’t usually recover later.

Startup 100

Startup Equity Entrepreneur Demand 100

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 28, 2022

Evidence is growing that consumers are willing to pay at least a small premium for sustainability, and have started to demand a discount for “un-sustainability.” Companies can use this strategy to improve their profitability and competitive advantage. Doing good opens the door to a broader customer base.

Organization 143

Organization Startup Pricing Customer 143

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2010

In short, acknowledge they exist, be transparent about strengths & weaknesses and use your differences to talk about how you want to position yourself in the market. A healthy respect for your competition will serve you well. Of course they’re software. When Enemies are Good. Software, software, software. Them vs. Us.

Cloud Computing 320

Cloud Computing Competition Press Startup 320

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2022

After many years in business, working in large companies as well as startups, I’m no longer surprised at why mature and successful companies struggle with introducing innovative new ventures as the market and environment changes. The time to start is now, with all the volatility and change in the market, and customers looking for answers.

Incubator 143

Incubator Seed Funding Metrics Customer 143

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 13, 2016

So when do we know which course to take? In one industry I know well, the dominant player with 22% market share was acquired by one of the largest companies in the technology world. Forgotten about selected vertical markets within the niche? Quietly abandon a niche? Refuse to engage? Or charge in full speed?

Resource 120

Resource Competition Examples Customer 120

Berkonomics

MARCH 14, 2019

Of course, we are speaking of increased valuation of your company when we speak of “wealth.” One way to mitigate this is by using early money to create a prototype, to perform market research, to complete the first generation of the product, or to deliver the service to a satisfied customer. Second: Market risk. .

Outsource Development 120

Outsource Development Ideas Resource Patents 120

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

Many of us learned about substitute products in undergrad economics courses. When a product is truly unique and demanded a retailer willingly promotes and sells it en masse in part because it does get margin on the good but also because it brings customers in the door who spend on other products. So Why Does This Matter?

Product 296

Product Course Customer Custom 296

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2022

Of course, growth is implied in that equation, and is also required for maintaining a sustainable competitive advantage. When their deep pockets went empty, Facebook stepped in, but demanded revenue from ads. Of course, growth is implied in every focus, and profit enables growth.

Platform 118

Platform Snapchat Startup Course 118

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2020

As an advisor to many entrepreneurs, I still hear frequently the irrational exuberance that crowdfunding is the quick alternative for startups that are passed over by overly demanding angels or venture capital investors. Crowdfunding to gauge demand is not recommended, since failed campaigns don’t usually recover later.

Startup 151

Startup Equity Funding Demand 151

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 23, 2021

Some investors seem to focus wholly on the strengths of the management team, or a sustainable competitive advantage, and in reality these are the core attributes for every funding equation. Relevancy for an early-stage company is the discovery and understanding of the real addressable market for a product or service.

Education 151

Education Customer Custom Sales 151

Berkonomics

JULY 26, 2018

These are so succinct, so well defined, so precise that everyone in sales and everyone involved in marketing must be able to answer these three questions without pause, and convincingly. It would pay you to work over this set of questions in a special session with sales, marketing and senior management in the room at once.

Sales 226

Sales Customer Custom Pricing 226

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2021

Most entrepreneurs avoid setting up a board of directors for their new business unless or until they sign up an investor who demands a seat on the board. Of course, if the board is set up or used incorrectly, the impact can indeed be more negative than positive. In my view, nothing could be further from the truth. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 145

Startup Entrepreneur Mentor Writing 145

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 22, 2018

Apparently with a physical storefront where it can convince customers of the wonders of on-demand mobility. He explains that scooter companies have thought about expansion too purely from the standpoint of acheiving market saturation. The sheer number of Lime scooters in Santa Monica where the store will arise is already staggering.

Santa Monica 221

Santa Monica Startup Technical Review Education 221

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2022

Of course, some balance is required. Today’s pace of change in the market and in technology is unprecedented. Customers demand more engagement and flexibility. Mentoring and coaching tend to improve commitment, motivation, decision making, and creative talents, which are required for a competitive business and career.

Coach 128

Coach Organization Mentor Startup 128

socalTECH

JANUARY 28, 2019

Those airport drone incursions shut down Gatwick over the course of three days, which caused major delays at Heathrow and Newark. Even though in the cell phone market there are lots of different phones that manufacturers make, if you look at the communications technology, its pretty much very, very similar.

Startup 187

Startup Technical Review Technology Competition 187

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 23, 2019

Evidence is growing that consumers are willing to pay at least a small premium for sustainability, and have started to demand a discount for “un-sustainability.” Companies can use this strategy to improve their profitability and competitive advantage. Doing good opens the door to a broader customer base.

Organization 128

Organization Startup Pricing Customer 128

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 20, 2014

Unlike most university programs that are over architected and underfunded, the TMP evolved organically, based on the demands of its students and input from the local community. This allowed the curriculum to efficiently find its product / market fit. The TMP began in the late 1990''s as a single class inside the Engineering College.

Santa Barbara 258

Santa Barbara Technical Review Startup Venture Capital 258

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2019

In fact, most employee training courses recommend the distance if the work relationship crosses management levels, and most management policies strictly forbid fraternizing with the team. Can be a competitive advantage. Of course, all these things can happen in any workship. Competition over salary, promotions, and position.

Startup 94

Startup Course Competition Social Media 94

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 31, 2019

Of course, every business owner I know will loudly proclaim that could never happen on their watch, but secretly they are not so sure, and would like to know how to prevent it. Accelerating worldwide competition and financial upheavals are undermining established market positions.

Customer 83

Customer Custom Demand Examples 83

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 30, 2018

VC firms see thousands of deals and have a refined sense of how the market is valuing deals because they get price signals across all of these deals. Of course, unlike cars there is no direct comparison across each startup so these are just some general guidelines to try and even the information field. The “how much have you raised?”

Venture Capital 324

Venture Capital Pricing Startup Invest 324

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2020

He outlines well the following benefits of outsourcing and freelancing, and I agree: Serving your business well is a competitive priority. With worldwide instant access to skills and alternatives via the Internet, I see a much more competitive and skilled remote workforce than ever before. Startups all need that flexibility.

Outsource 123

Outsource Startup Technical Review Training 123

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 24, 2022

You need leaders who focus on delivering value to the market and dealing with competitors, addressing customer and competitive needs now and in the long-term. It’s no secret today that customers are more demanding than ever. Of course, that assumes that you nurture a culture that rewards integrity.

Customer 110

Customer Custom Coach Organization 110

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

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. We look at stage, geography and of course sector. So if you add people like me the target market is tens of millions.

Funding 362

Funding Technical Review Ideas Startup 362

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

Lately I’ve been having to say things I thought I’d never have to remind people, like, “getting to positive gross margin in several territories is a very low bar to claim success” or “profitable excluding marketing costs” is not actually a real thing. Market Size. MakeSpace provides physical storage.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

socalTECH

JANUARY 14, 2011

Its primary goal is to focus on identifying what is truly driving demand, analytically, so that our customers can optimize their activities. We have a very sophisticated, analytics and software platform that over half the Fortune 50 are now using, to help guide how they invest in marketing and sales activities and investments.

Social Media 235

Social Media Demand Activity Marketing 235

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2018

The most important advice I could give you before you set out in fund raising mode is to understand that fund-raising a sales & marketing process and needs to be managed. Of course there’s no exact number of VCs you should meet?—?these The first in the series is “ Lemons Ripen Early ,” which also has a link to other posts.

Venture Capital 332

Venture Capital Funding Startup Sales 332

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2011

2 preamble issues having read the comments on TC today: 1: I know that the prices of startup companies is much great in Silicon Valley than in smaller towns / less tech focused areas in the US and the US prices higher than many foreign markets. I can’t control the market. Private markets for stocks are the opposite.

Startup 336

Startup Pricing Technical Review Marketing 336

socalTECH

APRIL 26, 2017

Eugene Cho: I saw this market opportunity when I realized that the larger microscope companies, like Nikon, Olympus, and so on were really only focusing their efforts on high end systems, which cost $200,000 plus. I saw the market opportunity, and after being in the industry for fourteen years, thought: what can we do next?

Tech Coast Angels 124

Tech Coast Angels Startup Sales Slides 124

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 17, 2011

For many businesses you should keep your costs low & your capital raises low until you discover whether you are really on to a big idea where there is market demand. When you see evidence that there is this so called “product / market fit&# then you may be ready for larger amounts of capital. Respectfully, of course.

Help 303

Help Startup Competition Framework 303

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 1, 2013

CreatorUp is the online web series school teaching the next generation of web series creators how to make and market their own new video projects on the web. Learning experience includes: on-demand online video tutorial courses, live video-conference workshops, as well as individual online consultations, live workshops, and group programs.

Web 93

Web USC Course Guide 93

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2015

You can even give it a more elegant name, like “market-focused reinvention,” but it won’t be graceful if you don’t take the lead. It happens on the front end for startups to get traction, and then again later for every company as the economy, competition, and culture changes around them. Team, market, and cultural maintenance.

Startup 102

Startup Course IBM IBM 102

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

Of course it happens all the time?—?especially This is the norm and unless you have a hugely competitive round it’s not worth fighting. In 2019 market conditions often are such that founders retain control of the board through the A-round, usually in a 2–1 (common to investor) ratio but sometimes it’s 3–2 (common to investor).

Startup 236

Startup Venture Capital Tips Capital 236