Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

to “How can we hire more staff to keep up with the services they offer?” In short, the VC industry is very sharp-elbowed amongst some very competitive people who are used to winning and most deals don’t have enough space to share investment rounds so people were naturally pretty quick to judge A16Z. Do they win competitive deals?

Venture Capital 264

Venture Capital Invest Funding Competition 264

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 22, 2015

But the bigger truth is the competition is important. market share today and are stuck with high real-estate costs, shitty customer service, bad value propositions and no ability to respond to competition because they have effectively become real-estate holding companies that store stuff for cashflow.

Funding 150

Funding Competition Marketing Summary 150

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 12, 2022

The solution is to establish and maintain a culture and processes that don’t view change as a discrete event to be spotted and managed, but as an ongoing opportunity to improve competitiveness. In summary, change will happen. They need a sense of urgency to handle change, and confidence in their leaders. Imbue customer change focus.

Startup 116

Startup Training Statistics Summary 116

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 16, 2023

Here is my summary of the seven most successful lead-generation vehicles he and I still recommend today, despite the popularity of viral marketing: Search-engine marketing. Scott, published a classic book that I still recommend, ” The New Rules of Lead Generation ,” highlighting the changes wrought by the internet and social media.

Marketing 114

Marketing Invest Social Media SEM 114

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2021

The specifics of these shortcomings are hard to nail down, but I was impressed with the good summary provided in a new book, “ Make It, Don’t Fake It ,” by Sabrina Horn. Yet every change can cause brand dilution or competition you don’t need. She is a widely acclaimed C-suite advisor, speaker, and founder of HORN Strategy, LLC.

Examples 170

Examples Customer Custom Social Media 170

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 18, 2021

Here is a quick summary of the priorities normally covered by the due diligence process: Evaluation of key players. Having a great product or service is not enough. During this time or earlier, you should also be doing your own due diligence on the investor, as suggested in a classic article on avoiding problem investors.

Technical Review 152

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Summary 152

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2019

In my experience the key attributes in any sector would include the following: A product or service with depth and a robust set of features. Customers today are looking for an engaging total customer experience, including shopping, reviews from peers, speed of delivery, and follow-on options, as well as support and service.

Startup 91

Startup Customer Custom Examples 91

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2020

Bloom is a widely known expert on managing business growth, and he starts by summarizing the three key weapons of current customers, which include an instant summary of choices, prices, and features. Great startups manage to continually improve the relationship through outstanding follow-on support and service.

Customer 124

Customer Custom Startup Course 124

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 18, 2022

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 Investors are buying part of the business, not the product or service. I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.”

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Startup Statistics Social Media 109

InfoChachkie

JULY 21, 2011

Paige is a gifted communicator and my summary does not do him justice. He offers a number of worthwhile tips and tricks that I was not able to capture in the textual summary, so the 14-minute audio file is well worth your time. What follows is a summary which paraphrases Paige’s responses. Click here to listen to the Audio File.

Summary 246

Summary Tips Sales Entrepreneur 246

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

If you are rolling out a new business, or focusing on a revamp for your existing one, here is a summary of the key elements I recommend as a long-time business advisor for a winning customer-centric strategy today: Demonstrate a commitment to purpose and vision. Seek opportunities to leverage competitor shortcomings.

Customer 133

Customer Custom Satisfaction Examples 133

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2022

Success in any business these days requires a constant flow of new and innovative solutions, to keep up with changes in the market, competition, and to attract new customers. Here is my summary of the ten top creativity mistakes we both still see too often: Criticize any new idea or employee suggestion.

Ideas 111

Ideas Framework Summary Organization 111

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 24, 2014

Investors hear this as trying to do too many things with limited resources, meaning the startup will not shine at anything, and will not survive the competition. Keep these balanced and aligned between people (customers, employees) and process (quality, service, revenue), and keep the scope realistic (eliminating world hunger is too broad).

Entrepreneur 103

Entrepreneur Competition Technical Review Oracle 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 20, 2020

Here is my summary of the seven most successful lead-generation vehicles he and I still recommend today, despite the popularity of viral marketing: Search-engine marketing. Scott, published a classic book that I recommend, ” The New Rules of Lead Generation ,” highlighting the changes wrought by the internet and social media. Trade shows.

Customer 146

Customer Custom Marketing Startup 146

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2014

Serious investors, on the other hand, look for a professional business plan or summary first, and hardly ever look at the product plan. Just for clarification, I characterize a product plan as a formal description of your product or service, with a quick business description at the end for effect. Provide details on the business model.

Product 101

Product Entrepreneur Summary Activity 101

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2012

One of the toughest decisions for a startup is how to price their product or service. Here is a summary, with some of the pros and cons or special considerations for each: Product or service is free, revenue from ads and critical mass. Product is free, but you pay for services. Competitive positioning.

Pricing 112

Pricing Competition Customer Custom 112

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 12, 2014

It’s building a product that is substantially differentiated, and, as Bill Gross, one of the most prolific tech entrepreneurs of our era says, “ It needs to be 10x better than the competition ” (because if you shoot for that then in competitive markets you might achieve 3x. But many people benefitted. But it works.

Marketing 379

Marketing Startup SEM SEO 379

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 27, 2013

Investors hear this as trying to do too many things with limited resources, meaning the startup will not shine at anything, and will not survive the competition. Keep these balanced and aligned between people (customers, employees) and process (quality, service, revenue), and keep the scope realistic (eliminating world hunger is too broad).

Startup 103

Startup Competition Technical Review Oracle 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 26, 2012

The elevator pitch should be the first few paragraphs of your business plan, your executive summary, your investor presentation, and the first page of your web site. Unlike [competition], we [differentiation].” Here are some additional recommendations to increase the impact: Describe your product or service.

Startup 113

Startup Patents Template Competition 113

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2014

One of the toughest decisions for a startup is how to price their product or service. Here is a summary, with some of the pros and cons or special considerations for each: Product or service is free, revenue from ads. Product is free, but you pay for services. Cost-based model. Product line pricing.

Startup 114

Startup Pricing Customer Custom 114

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2013

Entrepreneurs always work hard to create an innovative product or service, but often count on standard seller marketing for sales. Distribute an Executive Summary and Recommendations report, as well as transcripts of your interviews, to all the key players in your company. Their perception is your reality. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 105

Startup Search Engine Optimization Summary Customer 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2016

Serious investors, on the other hand, look for a professional business plan or summary first, and hardly ever look at the product plan. Just for clarification, I characterize a product plan as a formal description of your product or service, with a quick business description at the end for effect. Provide details on the business model.

Product 55

Product Startup Summary Entrepreneur 55

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2019

Some investors seem to focus wholly on the strengths of the management team, or a sustainable competitive advantage, and in reality these are the core attributes for every funding equation. Relevancy for an early-stage company is the discovery and understanding of the real addressable market for a product or service.

Startup 97

Startup Education Customer Custom 97

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 21, 2020

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 Investors are buying part of the business, not the product or service. I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.”

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Statistics Startup Social Media 124

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 12, 2011

I think you’ll really enjoy this video , but as always I have summary notes for those with less time. If you like the quick summary notes, please check out Adam’s blog on tech, entrepreneurship & VC as a thank you. Hopefully it will entice you to come back and watch the show at a later time! West Coast”).

Technical Review 281

Technical Review Venture Capital Startup Artificial Inteligence 281

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2019

The solution is to establish and maintain a culture and processes that don’t view change as a discrete event to be spotted and managed, but as an ongoing opportunity to improve competitiveness. In summary, change will happen. They need a sense of urgency to handle change, and confidence in their leaders. Imbue customer change focus.

Startup 94

Startup Training Statistics Summary 94

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2012

Send the plan without a summary. An Executive Summary is a one page elevator pitch of the whole plan (may be separate from the plan), which gives an investor a net perspective on the key business parameters. Too many plans don’t have a summary section, or the summary is all you get. You lose in either case.

Summary 97

Summary Technical Review .Net Ideas 97

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2010

One of the toughest decisions for a startup is how to price their product or service. Here is a summary, with some of the pros and cons or special considerations for each: Product or service is free, revenue from ads and critical mass. Product is free, but you pay for services. Competitive positioning.

Pricing 98

Pricing Product Startup Competition 98

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2013

One of the toughest decisions for a startup is how to price their product or service. Here is a summary, with some of the pros and cons or special considerations for each: Product or service is free, revenue from ads. Product is free, but you pay for services. Cost-based model. Product line pricing.

Pricing 116

Pricing Product Customer Custom 116

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 31, 2015

Passionate entrepreneurs tend to talk on and on about their disruptive technology, their intent to change the world and free services, but if a business can’t provide quantifiable value to real customers, the dream will likely turn into a nightmare. Your second sentence should acknowledge competition, but highlight your added value.

Startup 104

Startup Summary Patents Examples 104

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

The elevator pitch should be the first few paragraphs of your business plan, your executive summary, your investor presentation, and the first page of your web site. Here are a few thoughts to help you get started: What is your product or service? Briefly discuss who you are selling the product or service to. Who is your market?

Startup 93

Startup Competition Summary Patents 93

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 18, 2010

Even if you know your product/service suite down cold, understand the strengths/weaknesses of the competition, and have built pro forma financials that are sane. Make the repayment terms as clear as possible at either the beginning or end of the Executive Summary. you still have to write the plan for a particular audience.

Writing 97

Writing Summary Ideas Research 97

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2012

Entrepreneurs always work hard to create an innovative product or service, but often count on standard seller marketing for sales. Here is my summary of her detailed roadmap to get you back on the right track with a “customer-centric” approach rather than a “company-centric” approach: Find out what customers want and how they want to buy it.

Tips 93

Tips Search Engine Optimization Summary Startup 93

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2011

Send the plan without a summary. An Executive Summary is a one page elevator pitch of the whole plan (may be separate from the plan), which gives an investor a net perspective on the key business parameters. Too many plans don’t have a summary section, or the summary is all you get. You lose in either case.

Summary 97

Summary Technical Review .Net Ideas 97

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 9, 2015

Yet many entrepreneurs rely on expensive outside services and outside money, rather than do the networking for a co-founder or two who have the right skills to work for equity. Here is a summary of the top four wrong reasons I see for looking for investors: A desire to start with an impressive infrastructure.

Startup 101

Startup Entrepreneur Equity Summary 101

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 24, 2012

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. Build an investor presentation and summary. This must be someone who is willing to pay real money for your product or service. Free trials don’t count.

Angel 104

Angel Screening Summary Startup 104

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.

Santa Monica 256

Santa Monica Funding Startup Course 256