Both Sides of the Table

MAY 1, 2014

” Bill Gross, who is one of the Godfathers of the Internet, once told me, “ If you don’t design a product that is 10x better than the competition then you’ll never build anything truly big or amazing.” We worked out our pricing, our tipping policies, insurance, logistics, package management – the works.

Technical Review 380

Technical Review Software Review CTO Hire Startup 380

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

In the short term you need customers to find you at any price, and in the longer term you need revenue, profit, and return loyalty. Although his focus is naturally on bigger companies, I contend that his recommended strategies apply equally well to entrepreneurs and startups: Demand a mindset of deep thinking for the long term.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Layoffs Social Media Metrics 124

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

For example, even though Mark Zuckerberg built Facebook as an innovative product, most experts believe it was successful due to his relationship with Peter Thiel and other top VCs that he convinced to invest early. Relationships are key to finding opportunities, building trust, and continuous learning.

Startup 113

Startup Customer Custom Technical Review 113

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. You can be pissed off, but I don’t set prices. That’s stupid.

Startup 336

Startup Pricing Technical Review Marketing 336

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

Nearly every successful tech startup I’ve observed over the past 20 years has gone through a similar growth pattern: Innovate, systematize then scale operations. and we were met with weak demand, slow growth and high costs. presented pricing challenges when compared to a whole new set of offline competitors we didn’t know well.

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 286

socalTECH

MAY 8, 2015

In a world awash with on-demand startups, Los Angeles-based Serviz (www.serviz.com) stands out--not because of the market segment it is tackling, but because it was founded by two, very experienced serial entrepreneurs-- Zorik Gordon and Michael Kline. Our vision is really to become the premier provider of on-demand home services.

Services 100

Services ReachLocal Demand Startup 100

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 22, 2018

Apparently with a physical storefront where it can convince customers of the wonders of on-demand mobility. Update: TechCrunch has confirmed Lime’s plans for the store, and that the deal to build it came through Lime’s investor Fifth Wall Ventures that arranges partnerships between tech companies and real estate developers.

Santa Monica 221

Santa Monica Startup Technical Review Education 221

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 8, 2010

To say that the tech elite were cynical of Hulu’s launch would be an understatement , but by the time it launched just a few months later it was getting great reviews. The goal of any cartel is to control production, distribution & marketing of a set of goods with the goal of maintaining high prices.

Hulu 292

Hulu Technical Review Content Advertising 292

InfoChachkie

MAY 19, 2011

Agree to Bundling Without a Minimum Price. Although necessary, “stepping stone” approach of initially utilizing smaller VARs to enter new geographic markets can become problematic as your business grows, because large VARs often demand uncontested, broad, multi-country coverage. Forgo Change of Control or Agree to a ROFO or ROFR.

Outsource Development 193

Outsource Development IP Technical Review Entrepreneur 193

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

Exec Summary: Most companies (98+%) in the world (even tech startups) should be very profit focused. When they look at buying your company they often think in terms of “how long will it take until I earn back the profits to pay for my acquisition price?” You may have leverage when you DO need to fund raise.

Startup 418

Startup Venture Capital Sales Technical Review 418

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 12, 2014

Prorata rights are one of the most important rights of a private market technology investors and yet are seldom fully understood. New investors sometimes want early investors to put in money to “prove” they have confidence in the new price. Because tech companies are getting bigger more quickly than at any time in history.

Guide 336

Guide Venture Capital Startup Writing 336

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 12, 2014

If you’re a technology startup you need to excel at product, of course. We short-handed this marketing mix as “ the four P’s ” – product, price, promotion and place (distribution) – this was devised in 1960 and while a little bit dated is still a useful framework. It’s worth a quick read.

Marketing 379

Marketing Startup SEM SEO 379

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2013

It must be understandable, written down, and verifiable, with regular measurements and metrics to make it real, benchmarked against the competition. Leaders have found that keeping everyone on top of changes in technology, competition, and customer demands is critical to success. Involve, empower, and inspire.

Customer 92

Customer Custom Startup Services 92

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2018

As a long-time advisor to entrepreneurs and business owners, I rarely find someone who doesn’t proclaim that the business world is changing rapidly, with new technology, new customer expectations, and new cultures. It takes a well-rounded and motivated team to run a competitive business today. Once gone, customers won’t be back.

Technical Review 84

Technical Review Customer Custom Startup 84

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2018

While this reaction to such a valuation is understandable, to anybody who has seen the meteoric rise in consumer demand and actual revenue the valuation is much less surprising and may turn out to be quite conservative. You can expect some strong competition, but it’s unlikely that there will be 5 great scooter companies. Not really.

Santa Monica 256

Santa Monica Funding Startup Course 256

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2019

Smart entrepreneurs are just now starting to look at this option again, due to its unpredictability and the challenges of running a public company. Too many startups have experienced early financial losses and technical glitches, like Uber and the Zynga IPO a while back, which antagonized individual investors and startup executives as well.

Startup 84

Startup Technical Review Report IBM 84

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 25, 2016

According to many observers , we can thank or blame technology for these higher expectations, providing information at the speed of light, leading everyone to expect more. Some entrepreneurs are so focused on their technology, they assume their customers think the same way. Every job on your team drives your customer experience.

Customer 55

Customer Custom Startup Coach 55

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2017

Many are reluctant to really “market” themselves, and have trouble differentiating their offerings to clients, except by price. If your business card and website come across as just another advisor, consultant, or accountant, then don’t be surprised if price is the only focus. They expect reviews and testimonials from other clients.

Social Media 56

Social Media Pricing Technical Review Demand 56

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 5, 2011

Seattle should be the envy of any non Silicon Valley tech community in the country. It really wouldn’t take much to turn a great technology ecosystem into a truly electric one. He listed all of the product releases that were up coming, the customers that were in the pipeline and where he saw his competition moving.

Venture Capital 317

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Press 317

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

Smart entrepreneurs are just now starting to look at this option again, due to its unpredictability and the challenges of running a public company. Yet they still see warning lights in many geographies around the world, due to political uncertainties. The M&A alternative looks simple by comparison.

Startup 87

Startup Technical Review Report Entrepreneur 87

socalTECH

AUGUST 18, 2009

In the recent surge in interest in the clean technology and energy investment area, we're constantly surprised by the number of startups in the area focused on some aspect of the industry. Let's start on the technology side--can you tell us about the technology, and its origins? It's very simple, from the technical perspective.

UCLA 159

UCLA Technical Review El Monte Startup 159

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

Many startup businesses – tech or otherwise – fail. Trying outrageous new things or even trying mundane things but in new ways but with extreme quality & innovation is what fuels the tech startup industry. The perfect competitors are the ones where they unable to respond due to The Innovator’s Dilemma.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 23, 2012

" When asked about the competition he feared most, Bill Gates is alleged to have said, "the two guys inventing away in a garage somewhere." " I recently performed a 360-Review on two Co-Founders who were the company's CEO and CTO. " Even if this quote is apocryphal, it remains instructive.

Startup 268

Startup Tips CTO Coach Technical Review 268

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2015

Smart entrepreneurs now avoid this option like the plague, due to its unpredictability and the challenges of running a public company. Because public shareholders usually take the short-term view, they want to see constant rises in the stock''s price so they can sell their shares for a profit. Constant pressure to increase earnings.

Startup 98

Startup Technical Review Report Entrepreneur 98

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 12, 2010

Offers typically don't last long - either they run out of stock, or they change the prices due to high demand! Not many people realize that Dell has very competitive prices on cell phones. It's typical starting price is $449.99. Netbooks also boast a much lower price point, ranging from typically $200-$400.

Southern California 40

Southern California Pricing Demand Competition 40

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 1, 2012

From the phone in your pocket to the television hanging on your wall, apps have penetrated technology and they aren’t going anywhere. Smart technology doesn’t work without clever software to make it useful. Niche apps can usually demand a higher price point because there isn’t much competition out there.

Marketing 97

Marketing Startup Software Review Competition 97

InfoChachkie

MAY 16, 2011

Fallacy: AdVentures tend to evolve once you begin speaking with pesky customers and demanding partners. Value is created through diligent hard work. Once you prove that a substantial, addressible market segment is willing to pay a price for your solution that exceeds your costs, you can consider a licensing strategy.

Startup 242

Startup Outsource Development Outsource Sales 242

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

Stewart Roberts , President of Orange County of Tech Coast Angels. Demand Media is a leading online media company that informs, entertains and connects millions of people every day. Founded in 2006, Demand Media is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA with offices in Bellevue, WA, Austin, TX, New York, NY and London, UK.

Social Media 71

Social Media Technical Review Mixergy Tech Coast Angels 71

Tech Coast Venture Network

OCTOBER 25, 2010

That's because employees who are facing individual fines for not having insurance will, in many cases, choose to buy it at the workplace, thereby increasing demand. As a consequence, small businesses should be able to get competitive insurance plans and better pricing. What if a business can't afford employee health care?

Slides 100

Slides Startup Study Resource 100

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2012

I get approached about clean tech or biotech periodically – I don’t focus on these. In ad tech there’s Seth Levine at Foundry Group and both Dana Settle & Ian Sigelow at Greycroft. So winning means they’re paying the highest price. Right for my stage? Focused on my industry? (I

Develop 366

Develop Development Funding Venture Capital 366