Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2019

With the advent and popularity of crowdfunding platforms, including Kickstarter and IndieGoGo , as a winning alternative for funding your new venture, I find that many aspiring entrepreneurs are confused about the need to ever seek a professional angel investor. Consider the need for multiple rounds of funding.

Funding 119

Funding Startup Platform Examples 119

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 29, 2010

Competitiveness - One attribute that I believe most VCs look for in entrepreneurs is competitiveness. If you stumble on to a really good idea believe me it will get competitive really quickly. I know that people who aren’t competitive always find competitive people slightly distasteful. Simple example.

Competition 296

Competition Entrepreneur Startup GRP Partners 296

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2020

Venture capitalists (VCs) have long been seen as the top of the pyramid for startup funding sources, but in fact angel investors now fund over twice as many companies, according the Crunchbase. Here are a couple of concerns and possible negatives to avoid: More startups left in the funding gap.

Funding 125

Funding Venture Capital Startup Class 125

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 26, 2020

leadership, mentorship, competitiveness, communications, relationship-building?—?and I’ve become fond of saying “if I had a dollar for every person who told me just how much they loooooved Kara Nortman, I’d have a 10x fund.” He launched our scout program as an example. She had all of the skills and traits we sought?—?leadership,

Venture Capital 361

Venture Capital Startup Invest CitySearch 361

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

If you’re funding the same stuff as everybody else and if you started your activities when the clues were obvious you’re much less likely to drive enormous returns. When Fred Wilson funded Twitter I guarantee you it wasn’t obvious that it was a billion dollar idea. Venture Capital is a tricky industry. Far from it.

Funding 362

Funding Technical Review Ideas Startup 362

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2021

For example, I once worked for a small software company selling a sophisticated enterprise workflow solution. This example illustrates only the first of six potential growth wins provided by creative coopetition between startups, as well as larger companies. They also manage internal venture funds that may be your growth lifeline.

Startup 173

Startup Outsource Development Examples Customer 173

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 1, 2022

For example, innovative technologists often come up with a new device or app, just because they can, and assume everyone will want one. Investors expect this step to be proven successful before funding. Don’t be hesitant to use focus groups, crowd funding, and personal interviews to quantify interest.

Ideas 145

Ideas Startup Case Study Writing 145

socalTECH

OCTOBER 23, 2012

However, the recent surge in startup activity has attracted a lot more capital into the area, including a significant amount of capital from LA's latest fund: Karlin Ventures (www.karlinvc.com). TX Zhuo: Karlin Ventures is an early stage venture fund based in LA. We're a very new fund, but are aggressive and like to hustle.

Funding 253

Funding Startup Invest Commerce 253

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

The lesson of finding help, connections, and even funding where other people may never look is one that makes all the difference in the entrepreneur lifestyle. Get help with grant funding and incubator resources. For example, I live in Arizona, home of Arizona State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Class Startup Resource 110

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2020

A business plan is the outward facing definition of the business you hope to drive with your hardware solution, with a hardware overview in the intro to highlight customer value and competitiveness. For example, “We just patented a new battery technology that will cut your smartphone charge time and cost in half.” and trademarks.

Product 169

Product Summary Startup Examples 169

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2022

There are no “overrides” – for example, businesses don’t thrive just because they offer the latest technology, or because everyone wants to be “green,” or because their goal is to reduce world hunger. Competition. Investors look for a sustainable competitive advantage, like a patent. How many competitors do you have?

Sales 102

Sales Customer Custom Outsource 102

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 31, 2022

If you are a genius at invention, for example, then that is the role you should seek to keep you motivated and productive. I like his model and examples from the field to help you identify the type of work that is your forte, and will likely bring you joy and energy, rather than frustration and burnout.

Activity 108

Activity Satisfaction Metrics Startup 108

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2014

Venture capitalists (VCs) have long been seen as the top of the pyramid for startup funding sources, but in fact angel investors now fund over 60 times as many companies, according the Center for Venture Research. Here are a couple of concerns and possible negatives to avoid: More startups left in the funding gap.

Angel 104

Angel Funding Startup Venture Capital 104

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 19, 2023

Harris, in his classic book “ Transformative Entrepreneurs ,” provides examples of key elements of transformative ideas and leadership abilities that separate the winners from the losers. Nearly all new businesses aspiring to reach meaningful scale require some sort of outside funding to finance a competitive growth trajectory.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Competition 101

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

A nonprofit organization is generally defined as an organization that does not distribute its surplus funds to owners or shareholders, but instead uses them to help pursue its goals. Examples include charitable organizations, trade unions, and public arts organizations. Individual and institutional philanthropy. Government grants.

Angel 52

Angel Funding Equity Technical Review 52

TechCrunch LA

DECEMBER 8, 2020

Today, a startup that is doing this in the specific area of distressed property is announcing a round of growth funding to ramp up its team and expand its business. The funding is being led by QED Investors; Founders Fund, Susa Ventures, Navitas Capital, and Prudence Holdings also participated. million Series A also led by QED.

Sales 282

Sales Demand San Diego Funding 282

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2021

For example, TOMS shoes agreed to donate a pair of shoes to the needy for every pair sold. Yet, I find that most of us don’t have the financials for that option, so we must share the equity, control, and reward, and rely on funding from family, friends, and professional investors. Do I rely on my own resources of seek investors?

Startup 159

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Equity 159

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2023

If your forte is a service, like consulting or web site design, it’s harder to find guidance on what will get you funded, and how you can scale your business. With services, scaling the business often implies cloning yourself, since you are the intellectual property and the competitive advantage.

Startup 111

Startup Training Services Writing 111

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2020

The lesson of finding help, connections, and even funding where other people may never look is one that makes all the difference in the entrepreneur lifestyle. Get help with grant funding and incubator resources. For example, I live in Arizona, home of Arizona State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Class 124

Class Startup Resource Mentor 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2022

The result is that ideas are no longer in short supply, and no longer a differentiator in competition. Elon Musk, for example, likely receives thousands of ideas from friends, but he has been able to focus a few of these into initiatives that demonstrate real innovation. Visionary execution, on the other hand, is not so common.

Ideas 149

Ideas Startup Entrepreneur Resource 149

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

Harris, in his classic book “ Transformative Entrepreneurs ,” provides examples of key elements of transformative ideas and leadership abilities that separate the winners from the losers. Nearly all new businesses aspiring to reach meaningful scale require some sort of outside funding to finance a competitive growth trajectory.

Startup 171

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Competition 171

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

Every investor expects to see some business traction, both before and after a funding event. If you have neither, and choose to approach an investor, you will get no attention, and probably never again get a shot at funding with that investor. That means skip the jargon and include explanations and examples.

Funding 112

Funding Entrepreneur Startup CTO Hire 112

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 24, 2018

For example, the personal motorized scooter Segway was announced as disruptive technology way back in 2002, but is still not a successful business. If there is no competition, there is likely not a market. Every potentially successful product has competition, or an alternative, or customers with no interest in change.

Startup 99

Startup Competition Examples Ideas 99

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2020

For example, I have a friend with a Ph.D. Then, he'll need to patent it and create a plan to show opportunity, competition, and financial projections. For example, I often cite the case of Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer , who grew Microsoft together. I have tried to convince him the general idea alone does not make a business.

Ideas 126

Ideas Writing Examples Outsource 126

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 2, 2010

As a founder, when you’ve been dealing with these kinds of objections for a couple of years it becomes natural and you easily handle objections on price, product & competition without much thought. Some examples of common objections across many companies: 1. It is tacit knowledge. You can have best of both worlds.

Sales 289

Sales Startup Training Pricing 289

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2014

Concentrate elsewhere on the near-term marketing activities (which are also expensive) for this round of funding. For example, exhibiting at trade shows is very expensive, and usually not very productive. Find partners and channels which are complementary, and not directly competitive. Establish partners and referrals.

Marketing 102

Marketing Funding Social Media SEM 102

SoCal CTO

NOVEMBER 19, 2012

As an example, I'm working with two sets of founders who are both going to be dealing with Getting Started with a Two-Sided Market Business - they are variants of two sided markets, but have similar characteristics. Funded is a good word to use. Who has launched a similar kind of business? As is being specific about your issue.

Startup 301

Startup Examples Acquisition Ideas 301

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

For example, many investors I know tell me they look for business plans that allocate the largest portion of a requested investment to marketing, but most often see the top “ use of funds ” to be further product or service development. The smart ones were already working on new features, and able to counter competition quickly.

Marketing 133

Marketing Customer Custom Outsource Development 133

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. While these may be necessary for funding, they may not be sufficient to make your startup the great success embodied in your vision.

Education 151

Education Customer Custom Sales 151

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2023

But there are notable examples of for-profit incubators that are thriving, including YCombinator , led by Paul Graham in Silicon Valley, and TechStars , led by David Cohen and located in several key cities around the country, that have an excellent reputation and track record. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts.

Organization 92

Organization Incubator Startup Resource 92

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2020

If your forte is a service, like consulting or web site design, it’s harder to find guidance on what will get you funded, and how you can scale your business. With services, scaling the business often implies cloning yourself, since you are the intellectual property and the competitive advantage.

Startup 174

Startup Training Services Writing 174

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 31, 2022

For example, you probably didn’t realize that both Facebook and YouTube started out intending to be dating sites, but implemented a Plan B when they found dating had become an over-saturated market. You can’t predict big quality problems, funding shortfalls, and viral events that don’t work. Get to know your headhunter or freelancer.

Startup 98

Startup Entrepreneur Competition Mentor 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2020

For example, Uber recently made the move into food delivery with UberEATS. Today the Internet is the best example of a new sales and delivery channel that has transformed many businesses, and killed others. What worked for you yesterday probably won’t keep you alive and competitive tomorrow.

Customer 143

Customer Custom Examples IBM 143

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 8, 2019

. “If big companies like Google, Facebook and Amazon are prevented from acquiring startups, that actually reduces competition,” Sirinivasan writes. If big companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon are prevented from acquiring startups, that actually reduces competition. — Balaji S. ”

Technical Review 144

Technical Review Startup Chief Technology Officer Social Media 144

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 14, 2011

The venture capitalists we look at to fund our deals are certainly tightening down, there's no question about that. What is not happening, is those marginal deals that would have gotten funded a number of years ago, when things were better, are not making it. So you don't see as many people looking for funding now?

Tech Coast Angels 231

Tech Coast Angels Technical Review Angel Southern California 231

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2023

Will the solution give you an “unfair competitive advantage,” meaning no competitor already has it, or can replicate your solution without your skills or intellectual property. A smaller market sizing may make a good family business, if you have the funding. Is there an educated marketplace waiting? Keep it simple and short.

Startup 96

Startup Education Ideas Customer 96

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2011

A non-profit organization is generally defined as an organization that does not distribute its surplus funds to owners or shareholders, but instead uses them to help pursue its goals. Examples include charitable organizations, trade unions, and public arts organizations. Individual and institutional donations. Government grants.

Funding 95

Funding Technical Review Organization Equity 95