Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 17, 2016

It is a hugely compelling show because Zakaria covers world issues that will affect all of us in ways that are accessible and with frameworks for processing disparate information. It seems to me that we obsess too much with product features, sales pipelines, competitive pressures, fund raising and such.

Coach 150

Coach Technical Review Framework Google 150

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2019

In building successful businesses, I find that creating a new and innovative product or service is usually the easy part. Most investors admit that they invest primarily in people, not ideas, and they inherently believe that they can sense this leadership ability needed to get the rapid growth and 10x return we all strive for.

Coach 96

Coach Framework Entrepreneur Tool 96

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

Capitalism is fundamentally about timing, since market competition is about finding opportunities before others. When should a VC invest? Anyone who has worked in a large company further knows that timing a product launch or a new marketing strategy has more to do with internal politics than reading market forces.

Venture Capital 202

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Invest 202

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. But being best-in-class at online marketing is also a sine qua non to standout from your peer group.

Marketing 379

Marketing Startup SEM SEO 379

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

Let’s set up a framework. We’re going to start aggressively spend money on marketing our product. otherwise I prefer to invest less and risk less). Gross margin (GM) is the amount of profit you make per sale of your product or service taking into account your total costs of selling that product or service.

Startup 383

Startup Company Companies .Net 383

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

Let me start with Professor Christensen’s definition: “An innovation that is disruptive allows a whole new population of consumers access to a product or service that was historically only accessible to consumers with a lot of money or a lot of skill.&#. They offered a product that didn’t even try to compare with Siebel.

Startup 376

Startup Framework Marketing Customer 376

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 3, 2019

Image via Pixabay Most startups, and many big businesses, still don’t have a clue on how to use social media productively for marketing their business. Measuring is all about return-on-investment (ROI). Ric Dragon, an expert in online marketing, in his classic book. Pick the ones that fit your desired outcome. Marty Zwilling.

Social Media 96

Social Media Media Marketing Metrics 96

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 3, 2009

So I thought I’d try to lay out a framework for how you should think about it as many you will inevitably be faced with this experience. When they promise to help you with marketing, sales, distribution, integrated product development, etc. But the venture guys don’t make the calls on what the product / business guys do.

Venture Capital 279

Venture Capital Startup Entrepreneur Framework 279

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 30, 2017

In building successful businesses, I find that creating a new and innovative product or service is usually the easy part. Most investors admit that they invest primarily in people, not ideas, and they inherently believe that they can sense this leadership ability needed to get the rapid growth and 10x return we all strive for.

Coach 64

Coach Framework Entrepreneur Tool 64

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2013

In building successful businesses, I find that creating a new and innovative product or service is usually the easy part. Most investors admit that they invest primarily in people, not ideas, and they inherently believe that they can sense this leadership ability needed to get the rapid growth and 10x return we all strive for.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Coach Framework Tool 101

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2013

Every entrepreneur tries to maximize his startup growth by building and selling more product and services for the widest geographic area that he can support. Invest in selective strategic alliances. There is no question that startups which manage the broadest alternatives for growth will gain competitive advantages.

Acquisition 88

Acquisition CTO Hire Startup Outsource Development 88

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

Every entrepreneur tries to maximize his startup growth by building and selling more product and services for the widest geographic area that he can support. Invest in selective strategic alliances. There is no question that startups which manage the broadest alternatives for growth will gain competitive advantages.

CTO Hire 91

CTO Hire Startup Outsource Development Resource 91

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2017

Most startups, and many big businesses, still don’t have a clue on how to use social media productively for marketing their business. The first thing that entrepreneurs need to realize is that the process and framework for making social media marketing work are different from traditional marketing, and trial and error certainly doesn’t work.

Social Media 62

Social Media Media Metrics SEO 62

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2013

In his book, “ Out-Executing the Competition ,” seasoned executive Irv Rothman provides tips to corporate executives on how to dig in and “get their fingernails dirty.” Instead, set long-term business objectives and develop a framework for the trajectory your team needs to get there. Balance the long-term with the short.

Startup 103

Startup Entrepreneur Template Mentor 103

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 13, 2011

I would argue that this mostly consists of consumer Internet companies (although not exclusively) and it is predominantly early-stage people who are product gurus and have a mildly technical bend to them. I’m a product geek more than a spreadsheet ninja. The product feedback will be invaluable. Consumer?

Venture Capital 299

Venture Capital Slides Technical Advisors Startup 299

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2012

In his new book, “ Out-Executing the Competition ,” seasoned executive Irv Rothman provides tips to corporate executives on how to dig in and “get their fingernails dirty.” Instead, set long-term business objectives and develop a framework for the trajectory your team needs to get there. Balance the long-term with the short.

Entrepreneur 94

Entrepreneur Startup Template Mentor 94

SoCal CTO

JUNE 9, 2010

My Obsession With The Product - Feld Thoughts , May 3, 2010 For some reason I’ve been doing a lot of interviews lately. The Yin and Yang of Product and Engineering - A VC : Venture Capital and Technology , May 22, 2010 For a tech company, product and engineering are the heart and soul of the business. Here’s why. I know I do.

Startup 248

Startup Venture Capital Conference Social Media 248

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2012

Most startups, and many big businesses, still don’t have a clue on how to use social media productively for marketing their business. The first thing that entrepreneurs need to realize is that the process and framework for making social media marketing work are different from traditional marketing, and trial and error certainly doesn’t work.

Social Media 91

Social Media Media Metrics SEO 91

SoCal Delicious

JANUARY 9, 2014

Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle framework “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it” Simon Sinek If your customers believe in your mission, then they’ll warm to you and listen to what you offer and how. Having a clear focus means it’s easier to communicate what your product is and who it’s for. Here are two examples.

Startup 78

Startup Design Customer Custom 78

Xconomy

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

Limited financial resources make it challenging for these companies to invest in sophisticated security mechanisms or full-fledged IT departments – a fact that hackers and cyber attackers use to their full advantage. These statistics belie the common notion that cybercriminals attack only big businesses.

Startup 40

Startup Framework Statistics Customer 40

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 26, 2016

It's quite a different framework from an Airbnb or HomeAway. We became Amplify's first investment, and first exit, and went from concept to acquisition in eight months. I got to live in Tel Aviv for four months with their product team, and I really got bit by the travel bug. How did the idea come about for Overnight?

Startup 100

Startup Los Angeles Mobile Pricing 100

Xconomy

SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Each company is investing untold billions of dollars in developing AI technologies, betting on a future defined by computer systems that can perceive, reason, advise, and decide. Microsoft, meanwhile, announced a new 5,000-person group Thursday dedicated to the development of AI technologies and products that use them.

Artificial Inteligence 40

Artificial Inteligence Technical Review Technical Advisors Research 40

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 3, 2015

I am often asked how we make decisions on investments at Upfront Ventures. A typical investment discussion is not a bed of roses. The rest of our partners, principles, associates and EIRs can weigh in with commentary on their views of the quality of the entrepreneur, the market, the product, competition and so forth.

Startup 150

Startup Venture Capital Invest Framework 150

SoCal CTO

JULY 23, 2012

While I do fill that role at the moment, I'm a little hesitant to refer to myself as a CTO as we still haven't launched a product, acquired a single user, or turned or a penny in profit. How do we need to structure the systems to get ahead and stay ahead of the competition? How are we going to manage the product roadmap?

CTO Coach 231

CTO Coach CTO Hire Outsource Development Develop 231