Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 12, 2016

Why is it that only the most successful entrepreneurs , including Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Richard Branson, admit to having a mentor and actually use them? Obviously, I’m a big fan of business mentors based on my own experience, since I have been at different times on both the contributing and receiving end of the relationship.

Mentor 95

Mentor Coach Metrics Entrepreneur 95

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 15, 2014

I think startup communities being simple cheerleaders doesn’t help anyone. Local mentors matter. I figured if we couldn’t fund every company locally we should at least embrace them as a community and show that we’re willing to mentor them whether they raise their money in town or not. Local capital matters.

Company 369

Company Companies Startup Snapchat 369

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2020

Freelancers and consultants have to demonstrate results, without training and mentoring, so they can help you more quickly and probably at a lower total cost. Prioritize demonstrated execution versus potential. Career hiring has traditionally focused on potential, but you need results now.

Competition 168

Competition Startup Demand Training 168

socalTECH

OCTOBER 3, 2011

Department of Energy to help foster student entrepreneurs via a business plan competition run by the group called First Look West. The new effort, led by Caltech's Resnick Institute, is hoping to tap into OnGreen's network to find mentors to guide student groups and clean energy projects.

CalTech 165

CalTech UCLA Southern California Pasadena 165

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 14, 2011

The debt market has pretty much shut down for people, though there is some money coming out of the SBAs that have been somewhat helpful. Investors are very focused on diligence, on business models that make sense, and those companies that have a definite competitive advantage and defensibility to what they're doing.

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Tech Coast Angels Technical Review Angel Southern California 231

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 29, 2022

One of the things I’ve learned over my years as a business mentor and investor is that life isn’t fair when it comes to succeeding in business. Use friends and mentors with extensive experience to gauge both. The key is to keep learning, from mentors, books, and online. The more you have, the greater your potential.

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Help Mentor Paramount Technical Review 130

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

He had an idea for a startup that would help consumers better book service jobs and would take on Service Magic, which he believed had a business model that could be disrupted. I acted as the occasional mentor, advisor and coach to Ethan. In the same year they won Business Insider’s Startup competition. Nice sweep!

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CTO Coach Google CTO Hire Yammer 359

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2013

” Most VCs view it as their responsibility to mentor, debate, cajole and generally assist with investments they make. And it is significantly easier to help when you are local. Thus, a desire to invest more locally where I think I have a competitive advantage. It’s a goal to help you understand the life of a VC.

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Venture Capital Marketing Santa Barbara Startup 365

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2016

I believe their competitive advantage is their top on-site leadership, exclusivity, and connections to investors. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. An incubator won’t help you if the market opportunity is small, the competitors are large, or your solution doesn’t address a real need.

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Incubator Startup Help Resource 106

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2010

Due in large part to the current economy and an ultra-competitive job market, a Gen-Y entrepreneurial tsunami is already upon us. For a startup or small business executive serving as mentor, the proverbial “win-win” is created as they benefit from an injection of essential bandwidth, youthful energy, and technical expertise.

Competition 96

Competition Startup Technical Review IBM 96

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 31, 2018

The only “sustainable competitive advantage” in business is self-awareness. Effective advisors and boards are most helpful in these times, when the tough questions are less apparent but critical. Self-awareness helps you achieve balance between these tendencies, and be open to insights from others. It’s a recipe for disaster.

Competition 81

Competition Startup Examples Coach 81

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Take advantage of free startup programs and mentors. Every school recognizes the power of “hands-on” work to help you develop your own ideas into a business. For example, I do business mentoring at nearby Arizona State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Write a business plan and pitch deck for learning.

Entrepreneur 157

Entrepreneur Mentor Class Resource 157

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

Jonathan Simkin: What makes us unique from other sites, is we're here to help students save time, in addition to money, when they buy books. They've got a program called Springboard, which helps really young companies get set up with mentors, and guides you through the startup process. What's SwoopThat?

UCSD 185

UCSD Course Startup Sites 185

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

I believe their competitive advantage is their top on-site leadership, exclusivity, and connections to investors. Mentoring and technical assistance from volunteer or paid experts. An incubator won’t help you if the market opportunity is small, the competitors are large, or your solution doesn’t address a real need.

Incubator 98

Incubator Startup Help Resource 98

Berkonomics

MAY 29, 2014

Richa is a successful entrepreneur and technologist giving back to the entrepreneurial community in many ways, including his weekly Internet TV program on entrepreneurism, and participation in several mentoring programs. . Helps you to be more focused. Business planning is a crucial part of a successful business.

Startup 166

Startup Guide Help Mentor 166

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 19, 2011

A friend helped him get out of this situation and changed Matt’s life forever. Get connected to the right mentors and your business may catapult to the next level. I figured if Matt was on the verge of bankruptcy and one mentor changed his trajectory, what if we had a formalized, community-wide program? The answer?

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Acquisition Startup Customer Custom 304

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2021

As a mentor, I’m regularly frustrated by people who try to cover their lack of confidence with ego and arrogance , rather than working on the base issue. Show that others are an inspiration, not competition. Everyone sees your energy applied more productively, and has the urge to help.

Mentor 174

Mentor Satisfaction Competition Marketing 174

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 9, 2021

In these days of rapid change, the pandemic, and worldwide competition, you need to make sure your entire team is customer-focused, innovative, and always looking around the corner for the next big thing. Find folks who are customer-centric and sensitive to competition.

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Coach Activity Customer Custom 174

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2020

Most aspiring entrepreneurs look to their alma mater, or any university, as a source of classes that can help them, but neglect to think outside the box or take advantage of all the other resources to be found there. Get help with grant funding and incubator resources. Access to entrepreneurs-in-residence, business mentors.

Class 124

Class Startup Resource Mentor 124

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 2, 2017

com) � backed by local investors Rincon Venture Partners and Bonfire Ventures�is helping to solve that problem, with its career pathing software designed for helping employees at large enterprises figure out what's next. It helps you figure out what you can do in a business, what roles are available, what might be my future here.

Help 100

Help Southern California Startup Technical Review 100

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2021

She speaks from years of experience mentoring and facilitating independent contractors and helping large companies, since well before the term “gig economy” was even coined. As a new business advisor and mentor myself, I enjoyed her recommendations on many of these issues. Know your competitive value.

Pricing 149

Pricing Mentor Entrepreneur News 149

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 10, 2022

In my own experience as a startup advisor and mentor, I find that entrepreneurs who can’t attract and maintain a highly motivated team rarely even get off the ground. Yet many managers unintentionally de-motivate their team by being too busy with business challenges to communicate, understand, or help people. Start today.

Examples 145

Examples Mentor Activity Product 145

socalTECH

OCTOBER 14, 2010

The group--which was started by Richard Koffler and John Morris , two well known investors in Los Angeles--has been trying to help connect CEOs with interesting university and other technology projects. It's trying to determine if there is a viable way to go to market, and also deal with competitive issues. Thanks for the time today.

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Networking Research Startup USC 215

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2020

Based on my experience and a business advisor and mentor, this is the ideal time to get back to the basics of business leadership and innovation. Team members can’t help you overcome any challenge if they don’t understand where you are coming from and why. He considers mentoring on of his most critical roles at work.

Mentor 122

Mentor Ideas Competition Examples 122

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2021

As a long-time business advisor and mentor to entrepreneurs, I consistently find that the most thriving businesses are people-centric, and those team members create the best processes, rather than the other way around. People-centric leaders realize that the right motivated and accountable people are their real competitive advantage.

Satisfaction 154

Satisfaction Demand Resource Competition 154

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

Most aspiring entrepreneurs look to their alma mater, or any university, as a source of classes that can help them, but neglect to think outside the box or take advantage of all the other resources to be found there. Get help with grant funding and incubator resources. Access to entrepreneurs-in-residence, business mentors.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Class Startup Resource 110

socalTECH

DECEMBER 10, 2010

Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Rely on Vistage to Help Them Grow. pushing CEOs and business owners to innovate to outperform the competition. you had a personal board of advisors to help? CEOs and business owners rely on Vistage to help grow their business, seize. Silicon Valley Bank (www.svb.com). Technology.

SoCalTech 127

SoCalTech Advertising Rustic Canyon Glendale 127

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 23, 2012

1) Get A Mentor. "I These individuals would have undoubtedly helped the company avoid some of its intellectual property and employee compensation lawsuits. " When asked about the competition he feared most, Bill Gates is alleged to have said, "the two guys inventing away in a garage somewhere."

Startup 268

Startup Tips CTO Coach Technical Review 268

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2016

Since our initial funding round the company went on to win the TechCrunch Startup Battleground in a head-to-head competition with some very impressive startups. I’ve seen firsthand how food can impact your well-being , in my case with helping me keep my ADD in check. They have raised $14 million to date.

Company 207

Company Companies CTO Coach Funding 207

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2020

Many entrepreneurs I have mentored make big mistakes in this area, by hiring low-cost friends and family, with minimal skills or training, and expecting them to have the same work ethic , passion, and business knowledge as the founder. In addition, you can reduce to soft costs of mentoring, relationship building, and socializing.

Outsource 123

Outsource Startup Technical Review Training 123

Tech.Co

MAY 25, 2018

In 2006, a passion to help startups grew into Tech Cocktail , a company whose mission was to showcased burgeoning companies in bars around the country. Meet some of the amazing organizations that partner with the Startup of the Year program, and could be a valuable resource for you to help build your business.

Startup 137

Startup Technical Review Competition Software Review 137

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2020

In my own experience as a startup advisor and mentor, I find that entrepreneurs who can’t attract and maintain a highly motivated team rarely even get off the ground. Yet many managers unintentionally de-motivate their team by being too busy with business challenges to communicate, understand, or help people. Start today.

Product 129

Product Examples Mentor Activity 129

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2021

I’ve always wondered if there was some way that I could quickly deduce a new entrepreneur’s “sweet spot,” and optimize my mentoring to those strengths and weaknesses, maybe similar to the Myers-Briggs type indicator for business professionals. Ultimately, most get the best help from business advisors and mentors. Opportunist.

Entrepreneur 134

Entrepreneur Framework Mentor Web 134

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2021

Over the years I have spent mentoring entrepreneurs and startups, I often notice the similarities between successful professionals managing their careers and successful entrepreneurs building a business. Reid Hoffman, cofounder of LinkedIn, helped me crystallize these similarities with his classic book “ The Start-up of You.”

Startup 143

Startup Entrepreneur Demand Competition 143

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 14, 2020

It also helps to create office events for family members and local community groups. They need incentives to investigate market trends and competitive actions, as well as continuous communication of the bigger picture of the business and current objectives. Encourage networking. Reward success.

Marketing 130

Marketing Develop Development Startup 130

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2019

Based on my recent experience as an angel investor, and advisor to new business owners, I now recommend that all entrepreneurs, especially introverts, learn and practice the discipline they need to build and nurture relationships with key constituents through the following activities: Formalize a mentoring relationship with someone you trust.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Mentor Activity Startup 104

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 11, 2021

Finally, entrepreneurs should never forget that investors really believe that they are there to help (not like “I'm from the IRS and I'm here to help”). As an early-stage startup, you may have some hand-picked mentors as an Advisory Board, but now you need a formal Board with approval rights on all your strategic decisions and pivots.

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Funding Startup Entrepreneur Report 173