Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2013

It starts with a customer problem or need, and includes proving the technical concept, but starts earlier and goes much further, per the following key steps: Quantify problem cost-of-pain first. Start by testing the requirements on real customers, and providing “alpha” versions to get real feedback. Prove the technical concept.

Product 94

Product Pricing Customer Custom 94

socalTECH

MARCH 22, 2012

Earlier this month, Los Angeles startup Dollar Shave Club (www.dollarshaveclub.com) made a huge splash with its launch of a subscription, monthly delivery service for razor blades. What's your background, and how did the company start? You're going up against some giant companies, and marketing budgets.

Dollar Shave Club 210

Dollar Shave Club Startup Pricing Sample 210

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2010

One of the hot new approaches I have seen around the country for assisting startups looking for funding has been “crowd-sourcing” tools ( ProFounder ) or “crowd-pitching” events ( Funding Universe ). These are variations on a “crowd-funding” theme to raise money for a startup through social networks and voting at public events.

Funding 59

Funding Startup Social Media Sample 59

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2013

Many entrepreneurs seems to be convinced that the “crowd” of regular people using the Internet will somehow solve their startup funding needs, when they sense a lack of interest from accredited investors. When pitching to consumers, online or offline, the feedback will likely be on features and design.

Funding 106

Funding Equity Entrepreneur Sample 106

socalTECH

JANUARY 26, 2010

Last week, Irvine-based SolarFlare (www.solarflare.com) made an interesting move, and started to offer its technology direct to end users. The firm--which makes 10 Gigabit Ethernet semiconductors--said it would start selling its products in its own, branded adapters, particularly to financial and Fortune 100 firms.

Networking 124

Networking Startup Design Customer 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2012

It starts with a customer problem or need, and includes proving the technical concept, but starts earlier and goes much further, per the following key steps: Quantify problem cost-of-pain first. Start by testing the requirements on real customers, and providing “beta” versions to get real feedback. Prove the technical concept.

Entrepreneur 99

Entrepreneur Pricing Customer Custom 99

InfoChachkie

APRIL 6, 2015

During that time, his tenure as a young engineer at HP caused him to vow that when he started a company, he would create a culture that treated all employees with respect and humility. In 1978, George teamed up with 20-year old Stacy Peralta, a world champion skateboarder.

Mentor 100

Mentor Pacific Palisades Startup Class 100

InfoChachkie

APRIL 3, 2012

Note: This is Part IV in the Startup Team Building series. When the going gets tough (as it always does at any startup) the Wantrepreneurs get busy emailing their resumes to prospective employers. When I say “get personal,” I am referring to non-typical questions designed to determine who the candidate really is.

Entrepreneur 219

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Journal 219

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 5, 2010

It starts with a customer problem or need, and includes proving the technical concept, but starts earlier and goes much further: Quantify problem cost-of-pain first. Before you design your new solution idea, gather evidence and estimates of how much money a customer is willing to spend (if any) to solve the problem.

Tips 48

Tips Pricing Customer Custom 48

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 2, 2021

I’m always looking for evidence of early startup characteristics that might be predictors of long-term success. Every investor has his own list, usually based on his own very small sample, or simply his gut feeling. Of course, we would all like to have a magic list based on more definitive tracking of many real startups over time.

Startup 170

Startup Study Journal Sample 170

Tech.Co

MARCH 1, 2018

And while that cliché has been said about everything in the Lone Star state for years, it rings particularly true for the hottest startups showcasing their big innovations at SXSW Startup Night 2018 presented by the Kauffman Foundation and TechCo. Beast Mode is taking on a new meaning in the startup world.

Startup 79

Startup Mentor Platform Help 79

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 10, 2013

I’m always looking for evidence of early startup characteristics that might be predictors of long-term success. Every investor has his own list, usually based on his own very small sample, or simply his gut feeling. Of course, we would all like to have a magic list based on more definitive tracking of many real startups over time.

Startup 102

Startup Study Journal Sample 102

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 16, 2012

I’m always looking for evidence of early startup characteristics that might be predictors of long-term success. Every investor has his own list, usually based on his own very small sample, or simply his gut feeling. Of course, we would all like to have a magic list based on more definitive tracking of many real startups over time.

Startup 99

Startup Study Journal Sample 99

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2010

I’m always looking for evidence of early startup characteristics that might be predictors of long-term success. Every investor has his own list, usually based on his own very small sample, or simply his gut feeling. Of course, we would all like to have a magic list based on more definitive tracking of many real startups over time.

Startup 92

Startup Study Journal Sample 92

socalTECH

JUNE 23, 2009

A few weeks ago, we were surprised to run into a new launch of a semiconductor startup. The way we've been describing this to people has been, you can treat our RF device like a digital chip--all of the RF design is out of the equation. It's the same part that came out as our first engineering sample.

Patents 100

Patents Sample Technical Review Pricing 100