Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

But Jason is one of the smartest thinkers in our industry so while style points in his eye-poking post might be low, he’s definitely scratching at something important. If you know, VCs end up writing sizable checks into their own funds, which is important in better aligning interests. million round I might write $1.8 – 2.2

Venture Capital 356

Venture Capital Invest Course Technical Review 356

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2014

Seed investors are aplenty and of course they need downstream money to fuel their early-stage bets. Of course these are great places to network with other investors, meet great entrepreneurs and keep your connections strong with senior execs at larger companies like Yahoo!, Of course I would like to be in every great deal ever done.

Venture Capital 374

Venture Capital Invest Press Startup 374

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 17, 2019

We not only have our Series A funds that can write $500k?—?$15 If you invest early and then pull back in the next 3 rounds your multiples on cash invested are much higher than if you keep writing checks. Of course the media doesn’t do nuance well so this is an emotional topic. VCs have different views and strategies on this.

Venture Capital 223

Venture Capital IP Startup Google 223

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2020

Some entrepreneurs love to talk and produce videos, but hate to write anything down. Of course, previous successes provide more direct evidence of a network of the right people. By definition, entrepreneurs need to love the art of the start, and that love needs to come across as part of the first impression you deliver to any investor.

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 5, 2020

Of course, part of the change is that Gen Z (born after 1996) now outnumbers the Millennials (born after 1981). Although customers today are comfortable providing personal information in return for a better experience, they are also quick to write you off if you misuse the data, disclose it, or use it to push irrelevant products.

Customer 133

Customer Custom Social Media Startup 133

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 31, 2012

Here is a sample of the reading list for the course that gives you a flavor for just how modern and practical this course is. Jeff (also an HBS alum) co-teaches the LTV course with Professor Eisenmann about a student of theirs who had written a blog post about sales taking on some of my previous assertions.

Startup 319

Startup Sales Course Competition 319

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 23, 2014

Just 3 years ago there was talk of institutional investors “not being able to write small enough checks.” Many pension funds are simply too large to write small checks and favor the ability to write $50-100 million checks to funds. Of course strongest industry players don’t stand still. Why is this?

Venture Capital 398

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Seed Funding 398

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

I know that “mission driven” sounds nebulous or some convenient definition of anything we want to fund. She highlighted for me how we measure human potential today and it’s based on the workforce that existing post WWII where teaching rote memorization of facts: Math, reading comprehension, writing, basic science, etc.

Design 150

Design Ideas Startup Writing 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2014

I know that finding time is hard, and good writing is simply not what most people do. Of course, ultimately you want employees who can blog for you and your company as well. Writing a blog is all about communication, and that’s your number one job as founder of a new startup. Take the initiative to put yourself out there.

Startup 101

Startup Blogging Writing Google 101

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2019

Investor and customer attention spans are short, and both will write you off quickly. Of course, now that you have investor attention, the devil is in the details. Of course, we all prefer billion dollar opportunities, with double-digit growth rates. Will you be selling to businesses or consumers, or both?

.Net 73

.Net Examples Customer Custom 73

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2011

2: As expected at least one person accused me of writing this post because I want to see lower valuations. As an early stage investor you’re often planning around 10x your investment at the time your write your first check so in this case you’d be going into your investment expecting an exit of $800 – $1.2

Startup 336

Startup Pricing Technical Review Marketing 336

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2013

I know that finding time is hard, and good writing is simply not what most people do. Of course, ultimately you want employees who can blog for you and your company as well. Writing a blog is all about communication, and that’s your number one job as founder of a new startup. Take the initiative to put yourself out there.

Blogging 104

Blogging Product Startup Writing 104

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 10, 2014

If you’re an early investor like I am that often means writing the first $2-3 million check into a business that previously had either survived on fumes or on a $500,000 angel round. Of course I’m not preaching crazy, irrational spend or having Kid Rock at your next company party. You can do them all yourself, of course.

Startup 381

Startup Resource Venture Capital Activity 381

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 12, 2010

When added to my volume of Facebook messages, LinkedIn requests, blog comments and Tweets my head is definitely below water. They taught us to write down questions when they came up and batch them together in point sheets. Of course if I’m not ensconced in deep, thoughtful work then by all means I answer the call.

Product 280

Product Startup Email Technical Review 280

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 11, 2011

One of the hardest things about being a blogger is drawing that line between being a business owner and writing for passion. Most bloggers wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to make a full time income from writing their blog. Who are you writing to…What are their fears, their dreams, their lifestyles? Write your content.

Blogging 83

Blogging Email Writing Sites 83

SoCal CTO

MARCH 3, 2011

Of course, I provide part-time CTO services. will definitely be handled. Do I have to write up the overview? Many of the founders of these companies are surprised to learn that I'm willing to review what they are doing (maybe an hour) and get on the phone for an hour with them and provide free advice.

CTO Hire 264

CTO Hire Startup Technical Review Development Team Review 264

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 18, 2014

Sometimes those motives are positive (they really want the chance to work with you, they think you have unique skills) and sometimes they are less positive (their first-tier of “go to” referrals passed on the deal, they don’t want to write another check themselves, etc.). I wrote here about why I avoid party rounds.

Venture Capital 337

Venture Capital Invest Ideas Entrepreneur 337

SoCal CTO

MARCH 3, 2011

Of course, I provide part-time CTO services. will definitely be handled. Do I have to write up the overview? Many of the founders of these companies are surprised to learn that I'm willing to review what they are doing (maybe an hour) and get on the phone for an hour with them and provide free advice.

CTO Hire 259

CTO Hire Startup Technical Review Development Team Review 259

InfoChachkie

APRIL 16, 2012

Large companies write business plans, why of course, that’s the organizing document for a startup. Yet we took this document, the business plan, because we knew nothing else and said, ‘Go write one of these.’. That was the implicit statement. Ten year later… (we know that) startups are not smaller versions of large companies.

Startup 229

Startup Class Press Custom Development 229

SoCal CTO

MARCH 12, 2012

I promised I would write this post with some thoughts and ideas on the topic. Of course, you will want to figure out a bit more about the specifics of what this developer needs to know vs. can learn. Of course, you are looking for something a little different - a technical Cofounder. Here's an example of that kind of email.

CTO Hire 211

CTO Hire CTO Coach Startup Equity 211

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2014

Some entrepreneurs love to talk and produce videos, but hate to write anything down. Of course, previous successes provide more direct evidence of a network of the right people. By definition, entrepreneurs need to love the art of the start, and that love needs to come across as part of the first impression you deliver to any investor.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Angel Social Media Patents 107

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2013

In the past, if your startup had a website presence, the company was credible by definition. Publish a regular blog, contribute to relevant social networks, and write a “white paper” on your technology. Of course, too many or obnoxious advertisements are especially harmful to a site’s credibility. They will exit quickly.

Search Engine Optimization 105

Search Engine Optimization Startup Advertising SEO 105

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

about their marathon 4-hour sessions to get to zero inbox or somebody else claiming email bankruptcy ( definition if you don’t know it already ). You’re writing a freaking blog post! I never get grumpy that people write. If you do randomly write me I have advice. Nobody really enjoys it. “But WAIT !!!

Email 314

Email Product Startup Writing 314

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2010

These resources are definitely are not limited to students, since every university wants and needs the real world exposure and experience of entrepreneurs who already have credibility in the marketplace. Every university has educational courses and can provide assistance on creating your initial plan. < Business plan creation.

Help 94

Help Startup Mentor Incubator 94

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 1, 2016

But of course all of these things are intertwined. If you have a team of 10 people then by definition 90% of the time spent on activities is not put in by you and on a team of 100 it’s 99%. Obviously you need to be mentally flexible enough to spot if your instincts were wrong and a change of course is necessary.

Startup 150

Startup Coach Course Invest 150

SoCal CTO

OCTOBER 11, 2010

I’ve seen that in courses and in design specs many times, and it’s a HORRIBLE IDEA. It’s one thing when you provide a blank space to write your goals when you are in a classroom and there’s a teacher who can help you. And last, but certainly not least, definitely keep in mind the necessity of having lots of reminders.

Satisfaction 167

Satisfaction Examples Course Technical Review 167

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2015

I must admit I discuss this very frequently with portfolio companies but hadn’t thought to write about it. The initial Apple/AT&T deal was of course limited to the geography in which AT&T operated and thus after its initial success Apple had a template for exclusivity agreements in other countries.

Outsource Development 150

Outsource Development Startup Customer Custom 150

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 29, 2010

So finding time is hard, and good writing is simply not what most people do. Of course, ultimately you want employees who can blog for you and your company as well. Writing a blog is all about communication, and that’s your number one job as founder of a new startup. Take the initiative to put yourself out there.

Blogging 93

Blogging Invest Startup Writing 93

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 18, 2013

Of course you know Gangnam Style , which is now the most viewed video in history at 1.3 For those who still don’t know the origins, the Harlem Shake started as a small skit from a YouTuber named Filthy Frank (10 million views as of this writing) on January 30, 2013. It is – by definition – participation.

Startup 380

Startup Media Content Platform 380

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2012

In the past, if your startup had a website presence, the company was credible by definition. Publish a regular blog, contribute to relevant social networks, and write a “white paper” on your technology. Of course, too many or obnoxious advertisements are especially harmful to a site’s credibility. They will exit quickly.

Search Engine Optimization 96

Search Engine Optimization Entrepreneur Sites Advertising 96

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 13, 2013

And of course we talked about many of my views of building startups. I spoke a lot about the need for “personal branding” which I plan to write about soon. And we had these vans and mobile kegs in the back, and we would go to golf courses. I guess if you do more than one, I guess by definition, that’s serial.

Startup 337

Startup Entrepreneur Ideas Venture Capital 337

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Of course, before you can communicate a vision, you have to have one. Being relentlessly resourceful is definitely not what you learn in big companies, or in most schools. The quicker you get it, the sooner you can be the next Jim Clark and write your own check. Relentlessly resourceful. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 94

Startup Resource Social Network Mentor 94

Tech.Co

MARCH 9, 2020

As a manager or project leader, it can be hard to keep track of whether or not your remote workers are actually working without installing a 24/7 video feed in your employees' living room – and you definitely shouldn't do that. You don't have to write out an hour-by-hour schedule or even keep track of your daily activities.

Tips 160

Tips Software Review Study Email 160

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 18, 2011

I received an inquiry from a reader of my blog and thought I would provide some thoughts, but would definitely welcome input: I am an unpaid CTO of a small startup. Of course, that doesn’t help here. For me – I would definitely start by soul-searching – do I want to still be involved? Don’t put yourself in this situation.

CTO 167

CTO CTO Hire CTO Coach Equity 167

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 19, 2015

“Of course I work!” I imagine that for many – if you are fortunate enough to stay healthy – it’s the beginning of truly feeling comfortable in your aging skin and accepting the course of your life. These aren’t generally the thoughts of 20-year-olds. That is the age where you do more than think.

Entrepreneur 150

Entrepreneur Blogging Course Help 150

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 18, 2011

I received an inquiry from a reader of my blog and thought I would provide some thoughts, but would definitely welcome input: I am an unpaid CTO of a small startup. Of course, that doesn’t help here. For me – I would definitely start by soul-searching – do I want to still be involved? Don’t put yourself in this situation.

CTO 150

CTO CTO Hire CTO Coach Equity 150

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 5, 2010

In the past, if your startup had a website presence, the company was credible by definition. Publish a daily blog, contribute to relevant social networks, and write a “white paper” on your technology. Of course, too many or obnoxious advertisements are especially harmful to a site’s credibility. They will exit quickly.

Tips 92

Tips Search Engine Optimization Startup Advertising 92