Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2021

In case you hadn’t noticed, the key elements of a competitive advantage for your business have changed as businesses move online, and your domain is instantly global. As a business advisor, I have to recommend even to established companies that they review and revamp their competitive strategy now, even if it appears to be working today.

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Competition Software Review Social Media Customer 142

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.

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Berkonomics

APRIL 11, 2019

An entrepreneur pitches using a deck with no slide for competition. We have no competition.”. It is a failed litmus test for the entrepreneur, even if the plan is for a totally new device or service that could take the world by storm. We investors see this all the time. When asked (as we always do,) the response is “This is new.

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socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

El Segundo-based online postage provider Stamps.com said late Thursday that it has launched a new, international shipping service with GlobalPost, which will help ease its customer's uncertainty about possible international shipping disruptions due to the possibility of the United States leaving the Universal Postal Union (UPU).

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Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

For much of 2013 I watched the press write articles about how the YouTube “MCNs” (multi-channel networks) were doomed and tried to square that with the data I was watching at the one I invested in, Maker Studios, who has had one hell of a year. I agree with YouTube (that they provide more (hosting, ad sales, etc.)

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SoCal Tech Calendar

MAY 30, 2019

Wednesday, June 5, 2019 -- ACG101's 3rd Annual Emerging Growth Pitch Competition and Showcase. On June 5th, we're showcasing a select group of Greater-Los Angeles's finest startups in an event you won't want to miss. Three finalists will then be selected to formally do a 2-minute pitch for the grand prize! See [link] (more)

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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.

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Southern California Edison Blog

DECEMBER 8, 2021

By leveraging managed network services , startups can offload time-consuming maintenance tasks and strengthen their IT infrastructure to increase their competitiveness. . Below you will learn about how managed solutions address the largest network-related challenges facing tech startups. were denial of service (DOS) attacks.

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Networking Services Startup Resource 97

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

When Ethan was considering leaving Google we talked about it. 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. In the same year they won Business Insider’s Startup competition. Nice sweep!

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Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2018

My friend Michael Broukhim, founder & co-CEO of FabFitFun and I recently had a catch-up meeting for 3-miles on the Santa Monica “Bird Trail” No company has ever elicited so many questions by friends, colleagues, entrepreneurs, fellow VCs and journalists as has Bird, the company that pioneered the electronic scooter as a service market.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2022

Outbehave Your Competition to Create Customers for Life ,” offers eight key principles for defining and managing the experience to keep it consistent and profitable: Keep every employee on stage, delivering an experience. They have to out-behave and outperform your competition. Gregg Lederman, in his classic book, “ ENGAGED!:

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Customer Custom Services Training 123

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.

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Competition Santa Monica Funding Marketing 187

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.

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Tech.Co

JUNE 5, 2024

We round up seven grants that you should know about right now – including their eligibility criteria and funding amount. Learn more about the CO-100, and apply here 2. Learn more about the Creative Business Boost Initiative and apply here 4. Learn more about the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready and apply here 5.

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Berkonomics

APRIL 19, 2012

Professional investors laugh when they hear an entrepreneur state, “We have no competition.” It is a failed litmus test for the entrepreneur, even if the plan is for a totally new device or service that could take the world by storm. That statement has killed more investment deals than almost any other.

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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.

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Competition Mobile Startup Technical Review 122

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 26, 2022

that puts its 15-minute grocery delivery service in more than 14,000 Circle K convenience stores and Couche-Tard locations. At the time, the company raised $2 million, and Alexandrov said about the perceived competition, “The level of competition in this market in the U.S. We are creating new habits of customers.

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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.

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Competition Startup Patents Slides 93

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2021

Most leaders agree that poor customer service is a business killer today, in terms of lost customers, reduced profits, and low morale. Young entrepreneurs and startups, in particular, often remain naively unfocused, despite their passion, of what it takes to provide the high-quality service expected. Train and coach continuously.

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Startup Training Customer Custom 154

socalTECH

OCTOBER 23, 2012

We sat down with TX Zhuo , who is heading up the firm's venture investments, about the fund and his path here after a recent stint at Eric Schmidt's Innovation Endeavors fund in Palo Alto. Specifically, we look at digital media, healthcare IT, e-commerce, education technology and financial services. What is Karlin Ventures?

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Funding Startup Invest Commerce 253

Berkonomics

JULY 19, 2018

Dell’s response would be something like “Quality custom computers more quickly than the competition.” And in this company example, both quality and speed are the critical factors in competitive advantage. Its reputation is based upon fast food in a minute, with quality that is acceptable but not discernibly above the competition.

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Competition Examples Customer Custom 226

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

“I was the guy in the restaurant to pitch whenever there was a service or product,” Canter says. All of these different ordering services began to pop up and each one added more customers and incremental revenue, but each one brought challenges into our staff.” “All of a sudden online ordering started up.

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Tech.Co

OCTOBER 26, 2017

Along with the global strategic partnership between the two companies that will focus on passenger and mixed-use cargo service, Hyperloop One also announced that the company would be changing its name to Virgin Hyperloop One. The SpaceX competition succeeded in opening up the Hyperloop market to new and innovative companies.

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Berkonomics

JANUARY 25, 2024

Everyone, even seasoned CEO’s can use a good coach who knows how to bring out the best in a person, is knowledgeable about the business process, and who has an extended list of relationships to call upon to fill needs that become obvious in the coaching process. Business coaches come in all sizes and shapes. It is worth asking.

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Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

And the most logical one seemed to be “eyeballs” or number of unique monthly users finding their way to the site or registering for the service. per registered user of ICQ, the early messaging service. And yet, users rave about the service, and spend long durations of time on the site. And the numbers were staggering.

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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

socalTECH

MARCH 12, 2009

Irvine-based startup YouMail has just gotten a new competitor: search engine giant Google, which launched a significantly comparable service to YouMail's voice mail services. All of those features are key features of YouMail's service.

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SoCal Tech Calendar

JANUARY 11, 2012

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 -- Managing Your Product/Service Lifecycle. Your product is just about to go out the door. But how do you ensure that your product or service is what the customer really wants, needs and will pay for? Youre reviewing your launch plan and task assignments.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 4, 2023

In reality, resource constraints should be seen by startups a competitive advantage, by forcing them to develop new markets, and to think differently and act differently than existing players. Startups funded by rich uncles rarely think about productivity. Adding priced services is another way to augment a product business.

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Resource Ideas Competition Entrepreneur 112

socalTECH

MAY 8, 2015

The two have now turned their attentions to Serviz, which offers up on-demand home services, such as plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and other areas. Our vision is really to become the premier provider of on-demand home services. It's really about transparency and upfront pricing. We think this will play out for all local services.

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Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 20, 2022

Every entrepreneur assumes their product or service is so great that “word-of-mouth” will carry the day for them. A few years ago, I saw a classic primer on the key elements of great online content that I like, in “ Launch: How to Quickly Propel Your Business Beyond the Competition ,” by Michael Stelzner, founder of SocialMediaExaminer.com.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2013

Most leaders agree that poor customer service is a business killer today, in terms of lost customers, reduced profits, and low morale. Young entrepreneurs and startups, in particular, often remain naively unfocused, despite their passion, of what it takes to provide the high-quality service expected. Train and coach continuously.

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Customer Custom Startup Services 92

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 29, 2021

The most competitive startups do both, all the time and every time. In today’s competitive world, with its accelerating rate of change, no competitive advantage lasts long. The only sustainable competitive advantage is creativity. With a team full of passion, you can accomplish just about anything. Celebrate ideas.

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Competition Netflix Ideas Metrics 135

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2023

If you have a software development background like mine, I’m sure you often get questions about when to outsource, versus building the solution in-house. Saving cost won’t help you if you can’t make the daily innovations required to stay competitive. Look at internal services versus external services. Marty Zwilling.

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Software Review Technical Review Outsource Development Outsource 114

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2023

You have to get past how great the product is to address clearly what your business rationale is, why it is different from the competition's, and why it will succeed. A winning product or service. Provide a simple yet complete description of your product or service and its competitive marketplace. An impressive team.

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Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 24, 2022

And if that new strategy is proved to be true, the five-hundred-pound gorilla in that niche just moved out of the way of many of its smaller competitors, leaving a market that will surely see a scramble for new competition in the near future. Forgotten about selected vertical markets within the niche?

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TechCrunch LA

MARCH 3, 2020

If it’s fully implemented, the new Urban Air Mobility system could enable air transit for things like package delivery, taxi services, expanded air medical services, and cargo delivery to underserved or rural communities, the Agency said in a statement. There are preliminary technological tests that will take place this year. “We

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