Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2023

In reality, the business world gets tougher every day, with new entrants, new technology, and competitors more easily entering the fray from around the globe. Porter proposed his Five Forces framework for analyzing the competitive environment which I think makes even more sense today. Way back in 1979, Michael E. Either way you lose.

Competition 88

Competition Startup Framework Pricing 88

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 27, 2022

In my experience as a business advisor, most organizations, large and small, struggle to keep up with the pace of change and competitive forces today. A question I often get is how to transform that overall team into a smooth-running machine that will keep up with the pace of market change, and competition in today’s world.

Competition 136

Competition Resource Startup Organization 136

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 26, 2023

Every one of you business owners I know periodically introduces new products and services to sustain growth, fight off competitors, or take advantage of new technologies. The cost of any new product these days must include education and rollout marketing, perhaps equal or greater than the development costs.

Product 141

Product Services Technical Review Artificial Inteligence 141

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2019

Don’t bash the competition. Every investor knows how vulnerable a new startup is to competitors, so investors always ask about your sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. That says you are competitive today, have a real barrier to entry, and the potential to remain ahead of the competition for a long time.

Competition 120

Competition Patents Resource Invest 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 15, 2020

As an investor, I always listen carefully to what an entrepreneur says, and does not say, about competition. Every business area has competition and every customer has alternatives, so a smart entrepreneur needs to acknowledge these as a positive in defining a big market, and position the features of a new solution in this context.

Competition 125

Competition Entrepreneur Patents Custom 125

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 24, 2020

In reality, the business world gets tougher every day, with new entrants, new technology, and competitors more easily entering the fray from around the globe. Porter proposed his Five Forces framework for analyzing the competitive environment which I think makes even more sense today. Way back in 1979, Michael E. Either way you lose.

Competition 151

Competition Startup Framework Pricing 151

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2023

Most technical entrepreneurs I know demand the discipline of a product specification or plan, and then assume that their great product will drive a great business. Serious investors, on the other hand, look for a professional business plan or summary first, and hardly ever look at the product plan.

Product 112

Product Summary Activity Customer 112

socalTECH

MAY 16, 2019

According to XPRIZE, it decided to split the top $10M award in the competition between two winners-- Kitkit School , which has developed a learning program using a "game-based core"; and onebillion , a developer of "numeracy content" and literacy material. READ MORE>>.

Marina Del Rey 113

Marina Del Rey Competition Education Writing 113

Berkonomics

APRIL 11, 2019

An entrepreneur pitches using a deck with no slide for competition. We have no competition.”. Maybe there is advance knowledge of new technologies around the corner that makes any decision today a risky one. We investors see this all the time. When asked (as we always do,) the response is “This is new.

Competition 120

Competition Slides Sales Research 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2020

Technology is so key to every business these days that experienced business-smart but non-tech entrepreneurs are feeling deeper and deeper in the hole. Startups succeed most often when the founding partners know how to build and run a business, rather than how to build and run technology.

Competition 174

Competition High Tech Startup Social Media 174

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 Custom 86

socalTECH

DECEMBER 5, 2018

Goleta-based semiconductor Transphorm , which designs and manufactures gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors, says its technology has been used in a new product from Inergy. Inergy's products are targeted at the consumers and professional markets, including those in construction, emergency services, and industrial markets.

Product 133

Product Design Competition Marketing 133

socalTECH

JUNE 9, 2014

Los Angeles-based online advertising technology developer OpenX Technologies said this morning that it has launched a new product, the OpenX SSP (Supply Side Platform). OpenX said that such customers as YP, TVGuide.com, and the New York Observer are already using the product.

OpenX 159

OpenX Product Advertising Demand 159

TechEmpower

AUGUST 7, 2023

Exploring new technologies? Increasing competitive advantage? Here’s a graphic from Socal CTO that illustrates the roles as they change over time: In its earliest days, a startup’s top need is often to produce a product. It’s understandable - a hands-on developer can produce a product. The answer is: it depends.

CTO Hire 260

CTO Hire Develop Development Fractional VPE 260

socalTECH

AUGUST 28, 2018

Los Angeles-based online electronics retailer Newegg says it is launching a new promotion it calls "Smart September", with a new focus on smart home products. The company said it will focus on such areas as voice controllers; DIY smart security products; smart energy saving devices; and home automation for the holidays. READ MORE>>.

NewEgg 100

NewEgg Product Social Media Competition 100

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 25, 2019

The new era of highly connected and interactive technology is changing not only how business employees interact with customers, but also how they interact with each other, and with their company. Both are required to stay competitive. Reward shorter hours of high productivity. Peer pressure keeps productivity standards high.

Competition 127

Competition Case Study Platform Yahoo 127

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 19, 2020

Technical entrepreneurs love their technology, and often are driven to launch a startup on the assumption that everyone will buy any solution which highlights this technology. These founders all seem to be pushing their technology, rather than highlighting their solution to a painful need. Limit the features and complexity.

Technology 127

Technology Marketing Social Media Custom 127

socalTECH

JANUARY 10, 2013

It looks like competition is heating up in the smart parking market--and for local parking technology firm Parkme , which is based in Santa Monica--as yet another company announced Thursday more funding for giving consumers real-time information about available parking spaces.

Competition 187

Competition Santa Monica Funding Marketing 187

Berkonomics

APRIL 19, 2012

Professional investors laugh when they hear an entrepreneur state, “We have no competition.” Doing nothing is the main competitor for most products and services, whether a compelling new idea or a seasoned product long proven to be effective. That statement has killed more investment deals than almost any other.

Competition 189

Competition Slides Sales Ideas 189

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2014

As an investor, I always listen carefully to what an entrepreneur says, and does not say, about competition. Every business area has competition and every customer has alternatives, so a smart entrepreneur needs to acknowledge these as a positive in defining a big market, and position the features of a new solution in this context.

Competition 107

Competition Entrepreneur Patents Custom 107

SoCal Tech Calendar

JUNE 3, 2009

Tuesday, June 9, 2009 -- Strategic Marketing of Technology Products. Bring better market insight, marketing process, and marketing effectiveness to competitive strategy in your technology-driven business. See [link] (more).

Marketing 100

Marketing Product Technology Competition 100

Tech.Co

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

From apps to hardware, to KickStarter successes and international startups, we’re inching closer to finding out who will take home the title of Startup of the Year competition at our annual Celebrate Conference in October. Among the dozens of participants that applied for the online competitions, only a few progressed into the semifinals.

Competition 123

Competition Mobile Technical Review Startup 123

SoCal Tech Calendar

FEBRUARY 6, 2009

Thursday, February 12, 2009 -- Caltech Executive Education: Taking Technology Products to Market. Stand out in your competitive marketplace. Attend this 2 day course to learn how to provide customers with crystal-clear product positioning, meaningful branding, and carefully timed launch strategies. See [link] (more).

Product 100

Product Marketing Technology CalTech 100

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 14, 2014

In their passion and excitement about a new product or service, entrepreneurs tend to continually narrow the scope of potential competitors, and often claim to have no direct competitors. Competition for your new hydrogen fuel auto engine is not limited to other hydrogen auto engine offerings, or even other autos.

Competition 93

Competition Startup Patents Slides 93

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 29, 2010

Mark Zuckerberg seems to be me to be one of the most talented young technology professionals of his generation and seems to have an amazing vision for technology and product. Competitiveness - One attribute that I believe most VCs look for in entrepreneurs is competitiveness. This competitive streak paid off.

Competition 296

Competition Entrepreneur Startup GRP Partners 296

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 19, 2015

Technology is essential for businesses that want to gain an edge over competitors in today’s world. Computers and the Internet have now brought in a new era that relies on data to make profitable business decisions in the competitive environment. Cloud Services. Images via Shutterstock.

Competition 40

Competition Technology Social Media Tips 40

TechEmpower

AUGUST 21, 2023

It provides findings and recommendations intended to foster a mutual understanding between business and software leaders, shedding light on the current state of your technology and your team. Keeping up with the competition: You’re a market leader in a fast-growing field. It also provides concrete recommendations for improvements.

Technical Review 260

Technical Review Development Team Review Software Review TechEmpower 260

socalTECH

MARCH 22, 2019

Los Angeles-based XPRIZE , the nonprofit which runs competitions to encourage the development of new technology to solve some of the world's problems, has put its efforts behind forest health, saying it has put together an outline of potential breakthroughs required for healthier forest ecosystems.

Technical Review 133

Technical Review Competition Research Los Angeles 133

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 4, 2023

Ironically, as a startup investor and mentor, I have seen too many failures caused by just the opposite – too much money spent too soon, taking time to get product perfection, and assuming customers will wait. Startups funded by rich uncles rarely think about productivity. Rethink or reframe the challenge. Marty Zwilling

Resource 112

Resource Ideas Competition Entrepreneur 112

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 9, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has forced Energica to hit the brakes on production of its battery powered machines that can reach top speeds of 168 mph. The venture is also one of the few e-motorcycle companies drawing engineering tips from competition. Technology from the track is transferring to production models, according to Cevolini.

Technical Review 277

Technical Review Competition Demand Sales 277

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2021

In their passion and excitement about a new product or service, entrepreneurs tend to continually narrow the scope of potential competitors, and often claim to have no direct competitors. Competition for your new hydrogen fuel auto engine is not limited to other hydrogen auto engine offerings, or even other autos.

Competition 166

Competition Funding Startup Patents 166

Berkonomics

MARCH 10, 2022

But don’t close your eyes to the fact that your customers have grown to expect your products or services in the form of…. Expectations rise with technology. Be ready: remote 3–D printers may soon make “WHERE I want” common for some products produced locally on demand. Yes, we can blame the Internet for this. Blame the Internet.

Custom 156

Custom Customer Demand Blogging 156

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2023

New product process. Innovative technologies have no value until they are turned into solutions to real customer problems. Creating intellectual property, including patents, is the kay to long-term value and a sustainable competitive advantage. Sustainable innovation is really the only sustainable competitive advantage.

Coach 137

Coach Metrics Competition Ideas 137

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 24, 2022

In one industry I know well, the dominant player with 22% market share was acquired by one of the largest companies in the technology world. What if you had abandoned that market, reallocated your resources, and focused instead upon other non–competitive geographical or industry segments? Or charge in full speed?

Resource 156

Resource Competition Examples Custom 156

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2019

According to what I see, as outlined by Surdak, this data surge is being driven by the following six technological and social trends: Mobility: smartphones, tablets, and the “Internet of things.” Look for and reward quantum changes, like cutting cycle time in half, in your processes, products, and services. Marty Zwilling.

Technology 97

Technology Social Media Startup Entertainment 97

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 29, 2010

One of the most important questions you will be asked by potential investors is how your solutions beats the competition, not just today, but over the three to five year life of their investment. The concept is called “sustainable competitive advantage.” That implies competitive now, and the potential to stay in the lead.

Competition 89

Competition Patents IBM IBM 89

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 20, 2015

Even though I love technology, I always cringe when an entrepreneur starts his investor pitch to me by touting his new technology. They have forgotten that new technologies are perceived by most customers as causing more pain than the problems they eliminate. Is your product tempered with actual market and customer feedback?

Technology 109

Technology Entrepreneur Custom Customer 109