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7 Ways To Validate Your Business Idea Before Starting

Startup Professionals Musings

Some analysis and due diligence along the following lines should be performed on every idea, as a reality check, before committing your efforts and other people’s money to building a business: Look for places where competitors are few. Of course, existing patents don’t stop you from innovating, but charging ahead into a wall is no fun.

Ideas 106
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The Audacious Plan to Make Electricity as Easy as WiFi

Both Sides of the Table

The practical uses for uBeam technology is limitless. Did anybody hold patents that would prevent us from using this technology? I seldom hire patent attorneys during due diligence but this was too important. We hired IP specialists to review prior art. Did the physics actually work? Was it safe?

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6 Lessons Most Entrepreneurs Only Learn On The Street

Startup Professionals Musings

In my role as a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I find that most have the technical challenges well understood, but many are a bit short on some basic street smarts , or basic business realities. Intellectual property is required for a competitive edge. Strategic planning is a required ongoing investment. Neither is good.

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10 Quotes You Should Never Use Around A Business Plan

Startup Professionals Musings

“Attached is a copy of my full business plan for your review.” The first page of the business plan better be an executive summary which gives the investor a taste of the financials, as well as opportunity, competition, and key executives. “I I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.”

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10 Strategies For Attracting Investors That Will Fail

Startup Professionals Musings

“Attached is a copy of my full business plan for your review.” The first page of the business plan better be an executive summary which gives the investor a taste of the financials, as well as opportunity, competition, and key executives. “I I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.”

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10 Preparation Steps to Win an Angel Investment

Startup Professionals Musings

are eliminated during due diligence. File a patent and trademarks to show real intellectual property. Having a defensible competitive advantage or “barrier to entry” is another critical step to funding, and another common stumbling block during all phases of the funding process. Prepare an investment-grade business plan.

Invest 99
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The 5 Criteria That Matter When Evaluating A College Entreprenurial Program

InfoChachkie

In my role as a Professor of Practice within UC Santa Barbara’s entrepreneurial Technology Management Program (TMP), I have worked with approximately 8,000 students over a ten year period. Note: due to the founders’ relative lack of experience, most student enterprises do not qualify for venture capital.