Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 31, 2012

If you haven’t read Adam Lashinsky’s awesome new book about Apple , you should. It takes on many of the lessons MBA programs and Corporate America have been teaching about business for the past 50+ years and questions whether lessons from Apple might be more applicable in thinking about the future.

Startup 319

Startup Sales Course Competition 319

Tech.Co

MAY 31, 2017

When you’re in a competition and on the spot, answering questions to industry experts can be a nerve-wrecking process. This competition required the team to answer “…questions on a Food and Nutrition data set that contained 28 features and 30,000+ rows. This article is courtesy of the Galvanize blog.

Competition 88

Competition Slides Artificial Inteligence Newsletter 88

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 12, 2019

Most entrepreneurs are quick to assert to potential investors that their product or solution will kill the competition, but unfortunately your opinion alone is not enough to convince most experienced investors. A competitive advantage to a non-problem or tiny niche is not interesting to investors.

Competition 86

Competition Patents Startup Customer 86

SoCal CTO

AUGUST 29, 2013

They had some pretty high quality companies presenting. I just found out about a great award opportunity for people connected to USC (or who can figure out a connection in time). Presentations Silicon Beach @ USC – September 18, USC Campus USC will be hosting its 2 nd annual Silicon Beach event on September 18 on the USC campus.

USC 159

USC Cornerstone OnDemand Startup Conference 159

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 13, 2011

I recently filmed a show for This Week in Venture Capital in which I talked about how to prepare for a VC meeting: whom you’ll meet, who should attend from your side, what materials you should bring and how you should run the meeting. So why would I have talked so much about the deck in my post? I funded them 8 weeks later.

Venture Capital 299

Venture Capital Slides Technical Advisors Startup 299

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 31, 2021

The sweeping infrastructure package put forward today by President Joe Biden comes with a price tag of roughly $2 trillion (and hefty tax hikes) but gives startups and the broader tech industry about $1 trillion worth of reasons to support it. What excites me about this space is that there’s so much low-hanging fruit.

Startup 229

Startup Technical Review Invest Research 229

socalTECH

OCTOBER 11, 2010

Last week, the University of Southern California 's Viterbi School of Engineering announced that it had established a new, business plan competition, the Maseeh Entrepreneurship Prize Competition ([link] specifically aimed at students in the engineering school. Why a business plan competition, and why in engineering school?

Competition 154

Competition Southern California Mentor USC 154

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 29, 2010

I started the series talking about what I consider the most important attribute of an entrepreneur : Tenacity. Competitiveness - One attribute that I believe most VCs look for in entrepreneurs is competitiveness. I replay things in my mind about why I lost and I try to correct my mistakes. I had to say it.

Competition 296

Competition Entrepreneur Startup GRP Partners 296

Tech.Co

MAY 9, 2024

We also offer some advice for writing your application, to make sure your proposal is as competitive as possible. The competitive program is open to select small businesses and specifically encourages participation from women and socially or economically disadvantaged persons. Learn more about the SBIR grant, and how to apply here.

Outsource Development 207

Outsource Development Technical Review Research Writing 207

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 12, 2016

Most entrepreneurs spend far too much time thinking negatively about competitors, and can’t resist making derogatory statements to their own team, to investors, and even to customers. As an investor, I always listen carefully to what an entrepreneur says, and does not say, about competition.

Competition 62

Competition Entrepreneur Patents Customer 62

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 19, 2015

We have made 5 online video investments in total – some we will talk about later this year. But here is the most misunderstood fact about YouTube that I think most smart business people have missed in their rush to criticize revenue splits* or CPMs. I’ve written about that, too. Startup Lessons'

SEM 150

SEM Content Platform Acquisition 150

SoCal Tech Calendar

SEPTEMBER 28, 2010

Friday, October 1, 2010 -- 2010 USC Student Innovator Showcase and Competition. The annual USC Student Innovator Showcase and Competition is a first glimpse at some of the most compelling innovators of the future. Judges select ten finalists from the showcase to give a two-minute presentation about their ideas.

USC 100

USC Competition Ideas Technology 100

Tech.Co

SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

Among the participants that applied for the online competitions, only a progressed into the semi-finals. In order to get a better understanding about what they do and how they are preparing for Celebrate, we sat down with Picking Duck CEO Ken Manubay to pick his brain. Celebrate Conference in October.

Competition 101

Competition Startup Ideas Conference 101

Berkonomics

APRIL 6, 2023

[Email readers, continue here…] Generative thinkers are relentless in asking questions that get to the core of an idea, often making the originator think more deeply about the effects over a longer period of time. or “How about the public relations impact?” Some ideas sound unbelievably creative – and may be that.

Company 156

Company Companies Ideas Competition 156

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 3, 2020

Investment bankers sometimes slow the process by requiring a cloud-based “data room” and “deal book” to be prepared containing considerable information about a company to help a buyer. Competition opens the deal to more public access, slows the deal and could give competitors wind of an otherwise confidential process.

Invest 156

Invest Competition Pricing Guide 156

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2011

Every entrepreneur should spend plenty of time thinking about competitors, and how they relate to your business, but you need to be very careful what you say out loud about them to your team, your investors, and your customers. You won’t get any credibility for refusing to admit that airplanes are competition for trains.

Startup 102

Startup Competition Patents Training 102

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

With the latter, you can make the price seem higher just by calculating the full amount of interest to be earned by the seller over time, adding that to the stated purchase price, and announcing a price much higher than the present value of the purchase. Ask for extended terms well beyond sixty or ninety days.

Pricing 156

Pricing Sales Examples Tool 156

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2010

As a member of the local angel group Selection Committee, I’ve seen a lot of startup presentations to investors, and I’ve never seen one that was too short - maybe short on content, but not short on pages! Every startup needs both a business plan and an investor presentation, completed before you formally approach any investors.

Slides 94

Slides Competition Sample Sales 94

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 21, 2014

The sessions served as a space where enthusiasts, innovators, and investors, of all scales could come together for open conversations about the crypto-currency space. Dan, now named as Product Manager for the Blockchain acquired Zeroblock apps, tells the audience about life after acquisition. Despite bad press (Silk Road, Mt Gox, etc.)

Startup 104

Startup Venture Capital Draper Invest 104

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2023

In my experience advising businesses, large and small, I have often been surprised by the level of complacency and general malaise I find in the ranks, with a resultant direct loss of productivity and competitiveness. A key to success is for you take the initiative and make the conversation about the other person.

Satisfaction 108

Satisfaction Metrics Competition Examples 108

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 15, 2023

As an advisor to entrepreneurs and active angel investor, I often get questions about the realism of the Shark Tank TV series, compared to professional investor negotiations. Personalize your presentation, if possible, for every investor. According to early reports , only about a quarter of the deals close as you see them on the show.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Sample Ideas Customer 111

Tech.Co

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Unlike a lot of grants on this list, the competition is open to all US small businesses, as long as they have fewer than 99 employees, have been operating for at least six months, and have a FedEx business account that's been open before September 1, 2023. It's competitive though – last year 18,000 applicants competed for only 12 slots.

Technical Review 193

Technical Review Software Review Startup Competition 193

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 23, 2019

How to Deal with Electronic Distractions Of course the biggest competition you have with the attention of your board members is their mobile phones. Either ask them to dial in or if they come ask them to really be present. My goal is to make sure every member is present.” Most likely you’d be wrong. Then you’ve lost them.

Slides 275

Slides Email News Startup 275

Tech Zulu Event

JUNE 24, 2016

These exchanges are designed to promote competition between major health insurance companies in those states which, in theory, should lead to more generous health insurance plans that are offered at competitive costs for all Americans. The Future of Medical Benefits is Highly Competitive.

Startup 49

Startup Competition Study Writing 49

Berkonomics

JANUARY 11, 2018

[Email readers, continue here…] Generative thinkers are relentless in asking questions that get to the core of an idea, often making the originator think more deeply about the effects over a longer period of time. Strategic thinking: Board members who ask: “What is the competitive landscape?”

Company 243

Company Companies Ideas Competition 243

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2021

To keep you on a positive track with potential investors, I recommend the following logic principles, to balance your passion in presenting your vision of a new business: Make sure your plan includes some business metrics. For example, if you have ever watched the Shark Tank show on TV, they always ask about the cost of customer acquisition.

Entrepreneur 162

Entrepreneur Social Media Examples Metrics 162

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2010

In my own effort to keep up with the times, I just finished a new book by Landy Chase, titled “ Competitive Selling: Out-Plan, Out-Think, Out-Sell to Win Every Time.” Establish the competitive playing field early. Selling around tough competition. Learning to negotiate properly is the key to every competitive sale.

Competition 92

Competition Entrepreneur Startup Customer 92

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2023

This means all business people, especially entrepreneurs, need to get beyond the presentations and the experts, to actively listen to real customers. They need to ask customers the difficult questions, and really understand costs versus benefits, as well as competitive alternatives. Diagnosing and understanding the customer problem.

Startup 154

Startup Sales Entrepreneur Customer 154

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2021

Each day presents an opportunity to learn more, do more, be more, and grow more in our lives and careers. Regularly assess and refine your competitive advantage. Your competitive advantage is the interplay of three different, ever-changing forces – your assets, aspirations and values, and the market realities of supply and demand.

Startup 143

Startup Entrepreneur Demand Competition 143

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2010

Yesterday I wrote about how to talk to investors about your competitors. In short, acknowledge they exist, be transparent about strengths & weaknesses and use your differences to talk about how you want to position yourself in the market. But forget talking about them, how should you actually treat your competitors?

Cloud Computing 320

Cloud Computing Competition Press Startup 320

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 10, 2013

Investment bankers sometimes slow the process by requiring a “deal book” to be prepared containing considerable information about a company to help a buyer. Competition opens the deal to more public access, slows the deal and could give competitors wind of an otherwise confidential process. Deal books are expensive to create.

Invest 207

Invest Competition Pricing Startup 207

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2021

So a better question than asking about the quality of an idea, is asking about the quality of your plan to implement the idea. Find out if something very similar is already selling, and who your competition would be if you proceed. All the evidence says that over 99% fail to make that leap. Keep thieves away (protect it).

Ideas 136

Ideas Entrepreneur Mentor Resource 136

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2020

As an advisor to entrepreneurs and active angel investor, I often get questions about the realism of the Shark Tank TV series, compared to professional investor negotiations. Personalize your presentation, if possible, for every investor. According to reports , only about a quarter of the deals close as you see them on the show.

Entrepreneur 127

Entrepreneur Sample Ideas Customer 127

SoCal Tech Calendar

MARCH 28, 2012

You will learn about our annual Business Competition, an opportunity to accelerate your cleantech startup with expert training, national visibility and up to $250,000 of cash and services. Beyond great networking, the event will include a brief presentation about how you can get involved as a volunteer, mentor, judge or more.

Mentor 113

Mentor Training Competition Networking 113

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 28, 2021

When you are not presenting to investors or your team, try to spend more time listening than talking. Building a business is all about building relationships, and one of the most important elements of a relationship is effective communication. Even good communicators average only about half their time listening. Feed it back.

Entrepreneur 124

Entrepreneur Competition Customer Custom 124

TechCrunch LA

DECEMBER 8, 2020

Those selling property want to present ready-to-inhabit homes for a quicker turnaround and to lower the barrier to sales. That’s presented an opportunity for developers (or as they are more commonly called in the US, property investors) who buy up those properties and put in the work themselves to make them more sales-friendly.

Sales 282

Sales Demand San Diego Funding 282

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2021

The recent pandemic was a strong signal for change, and I see most of you entrepreneurs and business owners responding to the business changes required and new opportunities presented. You may be getting killed today by customer expectations you never worried about just a few years ago. Scan for unmet needs to match new products.

Marketing 162

Marketing Social Media Metrics Customer 162