Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2022

I still have to tell some entrepreneurs that even with the best idea, they have to move to Silicon Valley to find the investors they need, or they need to move to the U.S. Of course, there are always exceptions, but how much added risk do you need for your startup? But it is an important metric for firms in pursuit of explosive growth.

Technical Review 123

Technical Review Oracle Software Review Ideas 123

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 24, 2020

As a frequent advisor to new entrepreneurs and startups, I often hear your frustration with being treated differently from other startups by investors, on expectations for valuation , traction, and market size. Of course, getting money doesn’t assure success. Now is the time to fund your startups touting these capabilities.

Marketing 174

Marketing Startup Artificial Inteligence Technical Review 174

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2012

These things change so fast these days that the primary role of the entrepreneur as CEO is to be the Master of Realignment. Most entrepreneurs recognize the need to pivot on a regular basis, but many forget that pivoting usually requires a realignment effort to get all the players back in sync. Revisit your startup vision and values.

Entrepreneur 93

Entrepreneur Social Media Startup Framework 93

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 25, 2015

” This, too, is a must read for any entrepreneur. I have many investments with early traction and I the entrepreneurs I work with must tire of my constantly saying, “Are we really making a difference? And of course it’s true in personal productivity apps, SMB apps, B2B software and so forth.

Product 150

Product Startup Metrics Technical Review 150

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 3, 2019

They randomly churn for hours a day on a couple of their favorite social media platforms, with little thought given to goals, objectives, or metrics; and ultimately give up and fall back to traditional marketing approaches. Due to the information overload felt by consumers today, marketing at the generic segment level no longer works.

Social Media 96

Social Media Media Marketing Metrics 96

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 21, 2014

Consumers buying through smart phones, travelers using the new, shared economy and businesses replacing old software with modern cloud-based solutions. Of course back then it literally was sold in a package and stored on a shelf! Create company measures for success that go beyond financial metrics. It has been a good run.

Marketing 354

Marketing Case Study Metrics Sales 354

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2019

As a mentor to entrepreneurs, I often get asked for the magic that has made Amazon the world's most valuable brand , from a total unknown only twenty years ago. They present a convincing story that every entrepreneur has the same potential, but most get sidetracked and bogged down by their technology, competitors, and internal organization.

Marketing 123

Marketing Technical Review Customer Custom 123

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2016

I know now that investments will consume many hours including late nights / early mornings and weekends. Of course I also have to the concept. I know that sounds trite but it’s the best way I can describe my early-stage investments. I fall in love with both the founders and the concept. I know there will be good times and bad.

Invest 254

Invest Writing Pricing Metrics 254

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 9, 2019

I still have to tell some entrepreneurs that even with the best idea, they have to move to Silicon Valley to find the investors they need, or they need to move to the U.S. Of course, there are always exceptions, but how much added risk do you need for your startup? But it is an important metric for firms in pursuit of explosive growth.

Startup 97

Startup Technical Review Oracle Software Review 97

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2013

They randomly churn for hours a day on a couple of their favorite social media platforms, with little thought given to goals, objectives, or metrics; and ultimately give up and fall back to traditional marketing approaches. Due to the information overload felt by consumers today, marketing at the generic segment level no longer works.

Social Media 102

Social Media Media Product Metrics 102

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2017

They randomly churn for hours a day on a couple of their favorite social media platforms, with little thought given to goals, objectives, or metrics; and ultimately give up and fall back to traditional marketing approaches. Due to the information overload felt by consumers today, marketing at the generic segment level no longer works.

Social Media 62

Social Media Media Metrics SEO 62

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2013

These things change so fast these days that the primary role of the entrepreneur as CEO is to be the Master of Realignment. Most entrepreneurs recognize the need to pivot on a regular basis, but many forget that pivoting usually requires a realignment effort to get all the players back in sync. Revisit your startup vision and values.

Startup 94

Startup Social Media Entrepreneur Framework 94

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 2, 2015

I love the enthusiasm, the boundless energy and the sense of possibility that comes from having an idea that hasn’t yet been beat up in the marketplace of competing ideas, customer contracts, VC skepticism, jaded journalists or fickle consumers who are on the The New, New Thing. It’s the nature of most entrepreneurs, honestly.

Outsource Development 150

Outsource Development Metrics Startup Sales 150

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 11, 2015

In this capacity I can tell any entrepreneurs raising early-stage capital that I would have Matt on my short list if I were raising. He’s had a ton of recent successes in enterprise software investments but also has a history in doing consumer deals. Of course Kleiner has had a difficult couple of years. Conclusions?

Venture Capital 150

Venture Capital Gogii Course Activity 150

socalTECH

OCTOBER 14, 2019

Los Angeles-based BiasSync (www.biassync.com) was founded by three, very experienced serial entrepreneurs-- Michele Ruiz (broadcast journalism), Robin Richards (CareerArc, Internships.com, NTI Group, MP3), and Dan Gould (former VP of Technology for Tinder). That's what we do over the course of our two year contract.

Content 150

Content Training Education Outsource Development 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2012

They randomly churn for hours a day on a couple of their favorite social media platforms, with little though given to goals, objectives, or metrics; and ultimately give up and fall back to traditional marketing approaches. Due to the information overload felt by consumers today, marketing at the generic segment level no longer works.

Social Media 91

Social Media Media Metrics SEO 91

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2015

I still have to tell some entrepreneurs that even with the best idea, they have to move to Silicon Valley to find the investors they need, or they need to move to the U.S. Of course, there are always exceptions, but how much added risk do you need for your startup? But it is an important metric for firms in pursuit of explosive growth.

Startup 109

Startup Technical Review Oracle Software Review 109

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 7, 2013

I still have to tell some entrepreneurs that even with the best idea, they have to move to Silicon Valley to find the investors they need, or they need to move to the U.S. Of course, there are always exceptions, but how much added risk do you need for your startup? But it is an important metric for firms in pursuit of explosive growth.

Startup 102

Startup Technical Review Oracle Entrepreneur 102

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2017

I still have to tell some entrepreneurs that even with the best idea, they have to move to Silicon Valley to find the investors they need, or they need to move to the U.S. Of course, there are always exceptions, but how much added risk do you need for your startup? But it is an important metric for firms in pursuit of explosive growth.

Sites 59

Sites Startup Technical Review Oracle 59

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

As discussed in Hiring Entrepreneurs, the impact of each new hire during your startup’s early days is tremendous. As noted in Optimistically Pessimistic , successful entrepreneurs are indifferent as to the specific tactics they must employ to accomplish their fervently held strategic objectives.

Tips 279

Tips Startup Framework Customer 279

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 12, 2017

So when we come across an entrepreneur who cannot resist using 20 words when 10 would suffice, it’s painful, really painful. We want hard data and metrics – we want proof. For instance, one applicant claimed that 8 year olds consumed over 8 hours of digital media per day. The #TrustMeFail. The Hand Waver”). The #LinkerFail.

Tips 70

Tips Startup Statistics Metrics 70

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

In our industry we applaud the efforts for entrepreneurs to have tried and we know that today’s failure can bring the experience for tomorrow’s success. If you look at the structure of the travel industry above – of course we know that the hotel industry is fragmented while the airline industry is reasonable consolidated.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 18, 2014

That is, once you invest in a company, you''re a shareholder, and you help that company for the course of its life. When a company either has revenues, if that''s the primary metric, or if it''s a consumer application, high user acquisition and engagement, we know there is some degree of product-market-fit. That''s the minimum.

Incubator 187

Incubator Southern California Startup Ideas 187

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 9, 2014

After the event, we caught up, Parker Thompson , Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) charged with leading Batch 8. Something we didn’t know, mainstay education programs have < 1% course completion. Doorman solves the ultimate online consumer pain. First, A Look Inside 500 Startups. Mandarin Chinese will be launching soon.

Startup 111

Startup Mobile Commerce Education 111

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 27, 2013

For a similar company, with the same metrics and stage, valuations had been tiny. I think, of course, that we''re miles behind the valley, and probably behind event New York, but there''s no question this will be a highly vibrant ecosystem, and already is. The exits will come, as buyers and consumers are shifting their behavior.

Southern California 124

Southern California SoCal Commerce Invest 124

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 5, 2014

Peter Csathy – CEO Manatt Digital Media Ventures, accomplished media and digital media entrepreneur. Of course, when you’re talking about enabling/emerging technologies, as Brock Pierce puts it, “Market timing is critical to success.” Big or bust? The internet of things. Audible chuckles but some heads nod*.

Startup 95

Startup Google Education Venture Capital 95

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 31, 2010

TechCrunch Europe ran an article in November of last year that European startups need to work as hard as those in Silicon Valley and I echoed the sentiment in my post about the need for entrepreneurs to be maniacal about their businesses if one wants to work in the hyper competitive tech world. We were based in London.

Entrepreneur 308

Entrepreneur Startup Venture Capital Conference 308

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 3, 2013

Startup Grind was a truly awesome conference and Derek the consumate host. Today’s higher education is responding by making more courses online and available to people outside of physical boundaries. We talked about how business school historically hasn’t positioned entrepreneurs well for success.

Venture Capital 403

Venture Capital Education Offshore Outsource Development 403

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 23, 2012

The movie, “The Social Network” might have had more of an impact on creating future entrepreneurs than any other event of the past 5 years. And of course the funding problem coincided with the stock market correction that took away most exit options for years to come. There are 20x more consumers online. Thank you, Aaron Sorkin!

Venture Capital 347

Venture Capital Capital Technical Review Startup 347

SoCal CTO

AUGUST 3, 2010

Welcome to the Lost Decade (for Entrepreneurs, IPO’s and VC’s) - Steve Blank , July 15, 2010 If you take funding from a venture capital firm or angel investor and want to build a large, enduring company (rather than sell it to the highest bidder), this isn’t the decade to do it. Metrics availability. Make it unique. Not so bad.

Startup 217

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Software Review 217