Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 9, 2012

I’m sure that every one of us who has been out in the business world for a few years can look back with perfect hindsight and name a few college courses that we should have taken. But on the business side, here is my list of useful courses that we wish existed, but as far as I know, still aren’t generally available: Basic Office Politics.

Course 97

Course Writing Slides Email 97

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 29, 2014

And being persistent I believe is the most important attribute for success in an entrepreneur (assuming of course that you have all the other requisite skills). Of course at one end of the bucket are entrepreneurs who are persistent but just aren’t polite. You need to know how to write good & action oriented emails.

Venture Capital 389

Venture Capital Email Startup Conference 389

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 13, 2018

The short answer is that you should have multiple versions of your “pitch deck” (a short, visual presentation in Keynote, PPT or similar and shared as a PDF) and each occasion has a specific goal. Remember that the goal of an email to a VC or an introduction from a trusted mutual connection is simply to get you the meeting.

Venture Capital 261

Venture Capital Slides Email Startup 261

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 27, 2018

After presenting a “state of the company” report at a national meeting of resellers for a company where I sat on the board, I was approached by one of the audience members, complimenting my presentation and stating, “I have a problem. Of course, we took all of these. The background for my story. The year was 1998.

Sales 120

Sales Web Design Web Design 120

Tech.Co

NOVEMBER 28, 2022

Please fill in your email. TikTok’s sister company Douyin, for instance, which is also owned by ByteDance and mainly operates in China, has seen a 320% rise in sales between April 2021 and April 2022. Get the latest tech news, straight to your inbox. Don't miss out on the top business tech news with Tech.co's weekly highlights reel.

Social Media 148

Social Media Startup Commerce News 148

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. I got an email recently from my friend & fellow VC, Jeff Bussgang from Flybridge Capital Partners in Boston. My list of excuses includes: product, pricing, competition and lack of sales support.

Startup 319

Startup Sales Course Competition 319

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 27, 2018

To some it is financial security, building a base of wealth created from the increased value of the enterprise at the end point of sale or at an IPO. Email readers, continue here…] The best advice to anyone considering this course of action is to measure one’s ability to take the risk. Vision, risk and capital, oh my!

Startup 120

Startup Entrepreneur Course Email 120

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 27, 2018

To some it is financial security, building a base of wealth created from the increased value of the enterprise at the end point of sale or at an IPO. Email readers, continue here…] The best advice to anyone considering this course of action is to measure one’s ability to take the risk. Vision, risk and capital, oh my!

Startup 120

Startup Entrepreneur Course Email 120

Berkonomics

AUGUST 2, 2012

During CEO roundtables which I attend regularly, fellow CEO’s analyze a compatriot’s use of time during the once-a-year personal presentations each makes in turn. Email readers, continue here.] Do customers know what they want from their suppliers for future products? Of course they do. Of course it is.

Customer 159

Customer Custom Course Email 159

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2022

If your startup is looking for an angel investor, it makes sense to present your plan to flocks of angels, and assume that at least one will swoop down and scoop you up. They probably won’t respond well to high pressure sales tactics, information overload, or bribes. Or does it? Actually numbers and locations are just the beginning.

Startup 135

Startup Keiretsu Platform Invest 135

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 19, 2019

Email readers, continue here…] Whatever the problem, the person or board to whom you report does not want to hear about it after it has become a threat to the enterprise. And of course, a promise not kept is an indication of a lack understanding of the problem or of care for the solution. Keep the information to yourself?

News 120

News Statistics Resource Sales 120

Berkonomics

APRIL 4, 2019

And most of us investors are frustrated by the lack of regular communication – unless of course – the company needs more money. At the annual meeting (which can be attended by phone), there are actions that require a vote of the shares present either by proxy or in person. Required actions by shareholders. But don’t worry.

Class 120

Class Course Report Competition 120

Berkonomics

JULY 9, 2011

These are so succinct, so well defined, so precise that everyone in sales and everyone involved in marketing must be able to answer these three questions without pause, and convincingly. It would pay you to work over this set of questions in a special session with sales, marketing and senior management in the room at once.

Sales 222

Sales Customer Custom Pricing 222

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 7, 2019

Email readers, continue here…] Over the years, I have been delegated by more than several entrepreneurs and boards to negotiate critical agreements, sometimes to sell the company or merge it with another. Removing the emotion from a negotiation. A story of a big win-win. And a successful outcome.

Pricing 120

Pricing Sales Tool Entrepreneur 120

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 7, 2019

Email readers, continue here…] Over the years, I have been delegated by more than several entrepreneurs and boards to negotiate critical agreements, sometimes to sell the company or merge it with another. Removing the emotion from a negotiation. A story of a big win-win. And a successful outcome.

Pricing 120

Pricing Sales Tool Entrepreneur 120

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

After presenting a “state of the company” report at a national meeting of resellers for a company where I sat on the board, I was approached by one of the audience members, complimenting my presentation and stating, “I have a problem. Of course we took all of these. First here is a bit of the background. The year was 1998.

Sales 149

Sales Web Design Web Entrepreneur 149

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 23, 2017

If you have existing investors of course you feel a degree of comfort knowing that they would likely have your back in tough times — but of course you never really know. Having a list of VCs to approach is of course is a good start. Raising money is a sale and selling requires persistence and follow up. Be in Person.

Funding 238

Funding Venture Capital Startup Course 238

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 3, 2012

From the time we learn to manipulate our parents from the crib to the present day, we learn to negotiate to obtain our wants and needs. Email readers, continue here.] Over the years, I have been delegated by a number of entrepreneurs and boards to negotiate critical agreements, sometimes to sell the company or merge it with another.

Pricing 214

Pricing Sales Tool Entrepreneur 214

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 23, 2011

To some it is financial security, building a base of wealth created from the increased value of the enterprise at the end point of sale or at an IPO. Email readers, continue here.] The best advice to anyone considering this course of action is to measure one’s ability to take the risk.

Startup 149

Startup Entrepreneur Course Email 149

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 25, 2012

If you are the head of sales and the pipeline is emptying or sales have slowed for any sustained period, the red flag must be raised, even if the focus is on you as a result and not upon the problem when the news is first delivered. Email readers, c ontinue here.] An alert does not have to be too detailed or too long.

News 166

News Statistics Resource Sales 166

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2013

I’m sure that every one of us who has been out in the business world for a few years can look back with perfect hindsight and name a few college courses that we should have taken. But on the business side, here is my list of useful courses that we wish existed, but as far as I know, still aren’t generally available: Basic Office Politics.

Class 93

Class Course Writing Slides 93

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2019

If your startup is looking for an angel investor, it makes sense to present your plan to flocks of angels, and assume that at least one will swoop down and scoop you up. They probably won’t respond well to high pressure sales tactics, information overload, or bribes. Or does it? Actually numbers and locations are just the beginning.

Angel 96

Angel Keiretsu Invest Networking 96

Berkonomics

APRIL 14, 2012

Email readers, continue here.] At the annual meeting (which can be attended by phone), there are actions that require a vote of the shares present either by proxy or in person. Of course, a public company is not entitled to pare its information to reduce exposure to competitors.

Class 202

Class Report Competition .Net 202

Berkonomics

JANUARY 17, 2011

Email readers continue here.] Early in the rapid growth phase of my computer software company, I hired an excellent, IBM-trained vice president of sales to further growth and begin our international expansion. Everyone but the sales VP was present as anticipated. We walked into the meeting at the appointed time.

Training 136

Training Sales Course IBM 136

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 6, 2010

Email readers continue here.] Of course they should not. Reasonable care means that members deliberate issues in depth, attract expert advice when appropriate, attend meetings regularly, stay current on corporate issues and hold regular sessions of the outside directors without management present.

Class 179

Class Coach Invest Sales 179

InfoChachkie

MARCH 3, 2011

Once we located a company that we suspected was using BuddyHelp for commercial purposes, we then sent emails to any senior executive we could identify (using the techniques described in Infiltrating Big Dumb Companies ), hoping to eventually contact someone in the customer support department. Such unscrupulous users will never pay.

Customer 162

Customer Custom Technical Support Startup 162

SoCal CTO

OCTOBER 11, 2010

I’ve seen that in courses and in design specs many times, and it’s a HORRIBLE IDEA. Of course, improving customer satisfaction is a goal, but the system would drill down to specific issues such as knowledge of store layout. We always present why this is important and ask some questions around it.

Satisfaction 167

Satisfaction Examples Course Technical Review 167

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2014

If your startup is looking for an Angel investor, it makes sense to present your plan to flocks of Angels, and assume that at least one will swoop down and scoop you up. They probably won’t respond well to high pressure sales tactics, information overload, or bribes. Or does it? Actually numbers and locations are just the beginning.

Angel 115

Angel Startup Funding Keiretsu 115

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2017

If your startup is looking for an angel investor, it makes sense to present your plan to flocks of angels, and assume that at least one will swoop down and scoop you up. They probably won’t respond well to high pressure sales tactics, information overload, or bribes. Or does it? Actually numbers and locations are just the beginning.

Angel 67

Angel Keiretsu Invest Networking 67

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 11, 2011

We talked about a lot of great stuff in the video including how to do sales calls and a how a new “culture of writing&# is emerging as a critical skill set in business today. But of course we also focused on making content go viral. When it’s personal, it gets shared a lot. “How-to&# guides work well.

Buzzfeed 354

Buzzfeed Content Tips Blogging 354

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2013

If your startup is looking for an Angel investor, it makes sense to present your plan to flocks of Angels, and assume that at least one will swoop down and scoop you up. They probably won’t respond well to high pressure sales tactics, information overload, or bribes. Or does it? Actually numbers and locations are just the beginning.

Angel 108

Angel Keiretsu Organization Invest 108

SoCal CTO

NOVEMBER 11, 2009

I hadn't talked to her in a while and then because of a presentation I did around Social Media for Service Professionals she and I reconnected. Right now we're working on a multi-platform sales support program for Daylight Transport, a mid-sized LTL (Less Than Truckload) carrier and logistics company. Maybe ten years.

Marketing 150

Marketing Social Media Blogging Media 150

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

We had more than 700 resumes, short-listed 65, interviewed 16 in one-hour meetings had 6 full-day interviews including a presentation by the candidate on a selected market opportunity and we did 3 finalist dinners to test cultural fit. Sales is the lifeblood of every organization. MBA fine, but not required.

Startup 337

Startup Venture Capital Study Course 337

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 17, 2010

We held a 90-minute demo session where 150 of LA’s VC’s and senior technology executives watched the LPLA V2 group present in small groups of 12-15 each. And of course we had, TheMan. But at the highest level they’ve created a marketplace for “flash&# sales. Now begins the 6-month journey.

Company 276

Company Companies Startup Southern California 276

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 16, 2013

We discuss productivity, emails, communication, and the dynamics of the team. And of course, one day, the Blackberry dies and erases everything. Fetchnotes no longer uses the /slashtag in its present form. We text, email, share, and post these quick to consume pieces of media. The notepad was my idea bank.

Product 99

Product Ideas Email Organization 99

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 1, 2016

But of course all of these things are intertwined. But putting no time into anchoring your beliefs because you’re too busy executing sales, marketing, support, product & engineering is an easy recipe for leadership drift. Take some time to reflect on how well defined you believe your company’s sense of purpose is.

Startup 150

Startup Coach Course Invest 150

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 27, 2013

However, the Woodland Hills-based firm isn't satisfied with stopping there--it now wants to own the entire transaction--from finding a local service provider, to booking an appointment with that provider, to presenting estimates, invoices, and collecting payments, and has launched a whole set of products in that area yesterday.

ReachLocal 217

ReachLocal Technical Review Woodland Hills Services 217