Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2023

Products and services for a business need to be attuned to customer requirements, cost and quality tradeoffs, with milestones for pricing and completion. Even if you are not requesting outside funding, I would expect a clear process for sourcing and managing the investment you plan to apply. Preparation and management of funding.

Outsource Development 115

Outsource Development Startup Competition Ideas 115

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

During my time in Silicon Valley, I was struck by the fact that most successful entrepreneurs seemed to personally know and regularly hear from all the “movers and shakers” who had the investment capital and leadership they needed. Using metrics to measure results and commitments. Marketing your personal brand and your vision.

Startup 113

Startup Customer Custom Technical Review 113

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 2, 2010

Some objections are real and they end up becoming changes to your product, your service plan or your pricing / bundling. 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.

Sales 289

Sales Startup Training Pricing 289

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

All the investment money in the world won’t make your company succeed, if you have the wrong team. investors invest in people, not ideas) Effective and timely go-to-market. Have you set the right price for your entree, and correctly included all costs? Show return on investment, growth rates, and market penetration.

Startup 156

Startup Coach Metrics Marketing 156

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

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 7, 2020

Products and services for a business need to be attuned to customer requirements, cost and quality tradeoffs, with milestones for pricing and completion. Even if you are not requesting outside funding, I would expect a clear process for sourcing and managing the investment you plan to apply. Preparation and management of funding.

Entrepreneur 131

Entrepreneur Outsource Development Startup Competition 131

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

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

This financial leader could well have come through the finance org at another startup or at a larger company but they often also can come from strategy consulting (Bain, BCG or McKinsey) or through investment banking (Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, etc.). We built a strong brand in the city and acquired a ton of organic traffic.

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 286

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Things that make it investment-grade for outside investors will also benefit you, since you are the ultimate investor. Competition and sustainable advantage. Marketing, sales, and partners.

Invest 74

Invest Tips Competition Metrics 74

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. In a larger public company, it’s all about making your quarterly numbers, versus investing in strategic growth alternatives that may not pay off until several quarters later.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Layoffs Social Media Metrics 124

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

You have to understand whether they’re likely to yield revenue growth in the near term OR whether you have access to cheap enough capital to fund your losses until your investments pay off. If you have a market lead then raising capital and making investments now will help you as others enter the market. ” The Details.

Startup 418

Startup Venture Capital Sales Technical Review 418

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Things that make it investment-grade for outside investors will also benefit you, since you are the ultimate investor. Competition and sustainable advantage. Marketing, sales, and partners.

Competition 113

Competition Metrics Startup Invest 113

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2018

All the investment money in the world won’t make your company succeed, if you have the wrong team. investors invest in people, not ideas) Effective and timely go-to-market. Have you set the right price for your entrée, and correctly included all costs? Show return on investment, growth rates, and market penetration.

Startup 81

Startup Coach Metrics Marketing 81

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 4, 2019

These days, a fun shopping experience, or no-question returns, often tips the scales over extra product features or a lower price. Thus incremental investments are better spent figuring out ways to extract further value from sticky customers at any given point in time. Believing customer retention rates remain constant over time.

Customer 85

Customer Custom Product Metrics 85

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2017

A successful business requires focus – define the customer need with a specific solution for a specific price and cost. Normally the goal is to make enough money to be sustainable and provide a return on the investment of constituents. Manage the business with metrics and goals. Treat every business dollar as a personal one.

Ideas 72

Ideas Startup Metrics Entrepreneur 72

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

All the investment money in the world won’t make your company succeed, if you have the wrong team. investors invest in people, not ideas) Effective and timely go-to-market. Have you set the right price for your entrée, and correctly included all costs? Show return on investment, growth rates, and market penetration.

Entrepreneur 93

Entrepreneur Startup Coach Metrics 93

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Things that make it investment-grade for outside investors will also benefit you, since you are the ultimate investor. Competition and sustainable advantage. Marketing, sales, and partners.

Competition 116

Competition Metrics Startup Sales 116

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2015

Products and services for a business need to be attuned to customer requirements, cost and quality tradeoffs, with milestones for pricing and completion. Even if you are not requesting outside funding, I would expect a clear process for sourcing and managing the investment you plan to apply. Preparation and management of funding.

Outsource Development 99

Outsource Development Startup Competition Ideas 99

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 27, 2010

The VC industry has different segments in it that have different fund sizes, different investment amounts and different risk / return expectations. If you’re an angel you invest your own money and you have nobody to answer to except your spouse. If you invest it in startups you’re a VC professional money manager.

Venture Capital 308

Venture Capital Training Startup Entrepreneur 308

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2015

Competitor positioning and sustainable competitive advantage. Of course, these should never be in a customer pitch, but investors expect an overall strategy with specific budgets, milestones and metrics. Partnerships, distribution channels and pricing models should be included. “If

Product 103

Product Slides Customer Custom 103

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2019

Be willing to invest in effort, before expecting results. Every business owner understands the need for making an investment first, before realizing any return or instant gratification. Owners realize that customers and the market change rapidly these days, and innovative change is necessary to keep ahead of competition and survive.

Technical Advisors 75

Technical Advisors Startup Satisfaction Customer 75

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. Set pricing to assure both revenue and profit.

Social Media 56

Social Media Pricing Technical Review Demand 56

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2016

Products and services for a business need to be attuned to customer requirements, cost and quality tradeoffs, with milestones for pricing and completion. Even if you are not requesting outside funding, I would expect a clear process for sourcing and managing the investment you plan to apply. Preparation and management of funding.

Ideas 62

Ideas Outsource Development Startup Competition 62

socalTECH

MARCH 6, 2017

A lot of what we've been looking at are the metrics. It seem that now, versus a few years ago, it's a lot more competitive to try to get out and acquire a user profitably for an app. Traffic Marketplace, Adconian, TheTradeDesk)--what is it that you look for in investing in a startup?

Media 153

Media Mobile Startup Acquisition 153

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2012

Bloom’s “ The New Experts ,” that today’s customers are armed with three lethal weapons – instant access to information about every potential purchase, immense choice, and real-time comparison of competitive prices. These are the transactions that require far less investment and will create far more profitable revenue.

Customer 93

Customer Custom Startup Competition 93

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2012

All the investment money in the world won’t make your company succeed, if you have the wrong team. investors invest in people, not ideas) Effective and timely go-to-market. Have you set the right price for your entree, and correctly included all costs? Show return on investment, growth rates, and market penetration.

Startup 96

Startup Writing Metrics Marketing 96

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

So when Sam Rosen came to me with the idea of disrupting storage with a product that is priced cheaper than existing incumbents and he could build a product that is a better service I was intrigued. What would it take in investments to acquire and retain traffic to support these businesses?

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 16, 2013

I remember just a decade ago in 2003 when we all laughed at how dumb people in the 90′s were talking about the race to “capture as many eyeballs as possible” before your competition. The minute you try to monetize now they have metrics with which to beat you up and say you’re business has limitations.”

Venture Capital 412

Venture Capital Startup Funding Snapchat 412

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 11, 2011

Bloom’s “ The New Experts ,” that today’s customers are armed with three lethal weapons – instant access to information about every potential purchase, immense choice, and real-time comparison of competitive prices. These are the transactions that require far less investment and will create far more profitable revenue.

Customer 88

Customer Custom Competition Metrics 88

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 16, 2015

There’s plenty of capital out there, but there’s also a lot of competition for startup funding. If you go this route, be careful to make the stakes clear: i.e., that they could lose their whole investment. Angels (invest their own money) and super angels. Be careful how you price this. Funding Vehicles. Convertible debt.

Startup 40

Startup Venture Capital Equity Funding 40

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2011

All the investment money in the world won’t make your company succeed, if you have the wrong team. investors invest in people, not ideas) Effective and timely go-to-market. Have you set the right price for your entree, and correctly included all costs? Show return on investment, growth rates, and market penetration.

Entrepreneur 91

Entrepreneur Startup Writing Metrics 91

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 16, 2018

Without taking a dime of outside capital, the company has achieved impressive success in a competitive, SaaS market segment, landing companies such as Nike, Intuit, NASA, AutoDesk and PBS. We both made personal investments in the company. Semick: We’re a very metrics driven company, and we have been from the beginning.

Venture Capital 115

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Santa Barbara SaaS 115

InfoChachkie

MAY 22, 2012

Send them a private message via Twitter or Quora that contains a compelling link relevant to their investment focus. Step 4: Reconnaissance Mission, Under Promise – An effective technique for acquiring investment capital is to initially not ask for money. Follow them on Twitter, Quora and become familiar with their Facebook presence.

Venture Capital 236

Venture Capital Capital Research Customer 236

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2013

Understanding where your VC partner sits in their respective fund and where their fund is in the cycle of its investment lifecycle will help you understand your VCs behavior. Each of your angels or seed investors may have 20-30 investments. Ask them for a meeting to review your pricing strategy with you. Already covered.

Tips 365

Tips Email Venture Capital CTO Coach 365

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2010

All the investment money in the world won’t make your company succeed, if you have the wrong team. investors invest in people, not ideas) Effective and timely go-to-market. Have you set the right price for your salad, and correctly included all costs? Show return on investment, growth rates, and market penetration.

Entrepreneur 48

Entrepreneur Startup Metrics Class 48

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 4, 2013

Put simply – you need enough users in a segment who care about what you’re doing to dictate investing further in the product or in sales & marketing resources. My most read post on marketing tips highlights this – please pay attention to tip #4 – you can’t have great marketing for bad or mediocre products.

Startup 401

Startup Customer Custom Technical Review 401

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Sustainable competitive advantage. As an entrepreneur, make sure you understand your direct and indirect costs, staffing requirements, margins and metrics to make sure these elements are in place. Validated pricing and a sufficient revenue stream. Every solution has competitors and alternatives, or it has no market.

Pricing 100

Pricing Technical Review Entrepreneur Startup 100