Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Investor due diligence on a startup is not a mysterious black art, but is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of your business model, team, product, customers, and plan.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 103

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2016

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Investor due diligence on a startup is not a mysterious black art, but is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of your business model, team, product, customers, and plan.

Technical Review 63

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 63

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

The press around the raise & company was fantastic and the promise of their technology – wireless charging that works as easily as WiFi – would positively affect many of our lives. uBeam’s tech does work and I have safely seen it demo’d in the real life many times. Of course the naysayers are out again.

Technical Review 417

Technical Review Startup Software Review Course 417

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 25, 2021

Partially due to the pandemic, but also due to longer, healthier lives and changes in job tenure, Boomers are now expected to stay in the labor force longer, and according to projections , could actually dominate the labor market by 2024. In terms of job creation, innovation, and productivity, entrepreneurs drive growth.

Technical Review 126

Technical Review Technical Support Entrepreneur Startup 126

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2012

Santa Monica-based Demand Media (www.demandmedia.com) has seen its share of ups and downs as one of the highest visibility technology and media companies to come out of Southern California's technology ecosystem in recent years. What is Demand Media doing nowadays? Can you explain that process?

Demand 240

Demand Media eHow Content 240

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 11, 2015

He knew first hand what it was like for people to bully or make you feel self conscious due to your weight or looks or physical abilities. It was sort of an anti Secret or YikYak that become bullying platforms due to their anonymity and cruel crowd-enraged mob behavior. So shots did away with both of those conventions. Make it great.

Social Media 150

Social Media Media Technical Review Startup 150

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 17, 2013

“We don’t have budget for that this year” “I don’t believe in social media advertising.” We will have to build (or buy) technology in this area.” She might gladly tell you who gets decisions made, who is a pain in the arse, who is super technical, etc. Not always, of course.

Sales 375

Sales Technical Review Organization Case Study 375

socalTECH

APRIL 23, 2013

The world of media is in the midst of a major transition, where radio and television are no longer the powers they used to be--and there''s a clear shift towards some unknown future online. Our other shows are about sports, entertainment, movie reviews, university news--all of the things that fit under the umbrella of news. Just do it.

Media 196

Media News Startup Technical Review 196

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

Periodically we do portfolio reviews to evaluate whether we have enough diversified risk across the fund. We look at stage, geography and of course sector. One such theme was “water conservation” and we morphed it into a broader theme of agriculture technology or “ag tech” for short. 6SensorLabs.

Funding 362

Funding Technical Review Ideas Startup 362

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

Of course you could start your own company. Of course I’m not suggesting people shouldn’t start a company. For some aspiring to be tech entrepreneurs, I often suggest a two-step process, as I argued in this post that “ The First Startup Founder You Need to Invest in Is You.” ” (Warren Buffett).

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Startup Venture Capital IP 150

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2023

But there is no magic formula on how to bring these together a second time, but I did see some good insights on the parameters in a classic startup business parable, “ Endless Encores ,” by Ken Goldstein, who advises startups and has built companies in technology, entertainment, media, and e-commerce.

Startup 91

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Ideas 91

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2022

Of course, how you do this effectively is critical. Technical skills are important, but your ability to build and nurture relationships with others is more important for leadership growth and career advancement today. Make rational and positive contributions on social media. Your first priority should always be to sell yourself.

Tips 121

Tips Social Media Mentor Technical Review 121

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 27, 2012

He didn’t mean to make a media storm out of it – it was a simple comment on his Facebook page. But then Marc Andreessen weighed in – as did I and several others – and the media picked up on his comments. We once thought Microsoft was a monopoly on the Internet due to IE. Of course not.

Technical Review 299

Technical Review Venture Capital Yammer Google 299

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

When my friend’s small business was struggling a while back, I suggested he add some social media marketing initiatives, and his answer was that he was “too busy.” According to a recent Harvard Business Review article , only 60% of companies today use social media for marketing, and only 12% of those feel that they are using it effectively.

Social Media 115

Social Media Media Startup Social Network 115

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2023

When I dig deeper, I find that many of you are easily excited by a great new idea, but fail to diligently follow a validation process to test the limits of your thinking, before proceeding to rollout. Start with a real problem, rather than a technology or solution looking for a problem. Evaluate alternatives that are now available.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Ideas Study Social Media 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 7, 2019

Partially due to the economy, but also due to longer, healthier lives and changes in job tenure, Boomers are now expected to stay in the labor force longer, and according to a USNews article, will likely dominate the labor market by 2024. The immigrant rate of entrepreneurial activity seems to be declining each year (now about.5%),

Startup 119

Startup Technical Review Technical Support Entrepreneur 119

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 16, 2022

I will summarize these here, with my insights, for your review and implementation: Physical health. Of course, you as the business leader have a key role in making all this happen. Remember that team members are people first, not just another technical solution component. Social interactions. Spiritual connections.

Technical Review 141

Technical Review Mentor Social Media Customer 141

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2020

But there is no magic formula on how to bring these together a second time, but I did see some good insights on the parameters in a classic startup business parable, “ Endless Encores ,” by Ken Goldstein, who advises startups and has built companies in technology, entertainment, media, and e-commerce.

Entrepreneur 129

Entrepreneur Startup Technical Review Ideas 129

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 25, 2021

Every entrepreneur with a new technology tells me that his innovation will be industry-disrupting, meaning that it will render the existing technology obsolete, and create a new market. Pick a technology that somehow seems inferior to the major incumbents. So why would any investor ever believe any of these claims?

Technical Review 157

Technical Review Entrepreneur Marketing Customer 157

socalTECH

DECEMBER 29, 2020

Every year, we feature the year end reflections of founders, CEOs, investors, and others in Southern California's high tech community. It's been a tough year for many due to the pandemic; how have you or your company adapted to the business environment?  We'll be posting these throughout the next two weeks.

Southern California 140

Southern California Technical Review Platform Organization 140

socalTECH

DECEMBER 23, 2020

Every year, we feature the year end reflections of founders, CEOs, investors, and others in Southern California's high tech community. It's been a tough year for many due to the pandemic; how have you or your company adapted to the business environment? What are you most looking forward to in the technology/startup world in 2021?

Venture Capital 124

Venture Capital Capital Technical Review Brentwood 124

Eric Greenspan

MAY 29, 2010

Using social media to increase your company’s touch and reach with each of your customers may be the most important reason to jump in to this game changing strategy. Social media can help bridge a long standing gap between customers and the companies they trust with their hard earned cash.

Social Media 214

Social Media Customer Custom Media 214

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 17, 2013

In my last post I pointed out that many of the media commentators who have criticized the YouTube video network companies as not having strong businesses were mistaken. The best “MCNs” are in fact building strong technology businesses with rapid growth and strong, defensible assets. Not so fast.

Company 339

Company Companies Technical Review Content 339

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 24, 2022

It encompasses your marketing strategy used to attract, engage, and retain customers by creating and sharing relevant articles, videos, podcasts, and other media. I assure you of the need to really listen to customer feedback, both proactively in market studies, as well as after-the-sale reviews. Don’t forget it.

Customer 100

Customer Custom Acquisition Technical Review 100

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2018

Over the course of the first few months I saw a few people out on the street taking Birds and then a steady uptick in riders. Capital of course drives scale advantages and when you have “winner take most” markets it also has a way of scaring away some investors from investing in the 3–5th “me too” competitors. There is nothing viral!

Santa Monica 256

Santa Monica Funding Startup Course 256

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 8, 2012

Building a strong tech industry to rival that of Silicon Valley is definitely no easy feat, but the overall feeling within Cal Tech’s Baxter Hall at last week’s event certainly bodes well for the year. Their presentation ended in a quick trivia round about science, a category which (of course), the techy audience chose.

Technical Review 94

Technical Review Idealab Startup Mobile 94

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2017

Even the most diligent investors are often surprised by apparently solid business startups that fail, while others succeed, despite the odds. There is indeed a fine line here, between stubbornly sticking to some pre-conceived assumptions, versus changing course based on today’s complaint. Balance of technical and business knowledge.

Technical Review 60

Technical Review Startup Mentor Study 60

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 12, 2014

If you’re a technology startup you need to excel at product, of course. While many tech startups do this intuitively (say, SnapChat thinking it would be much better if our photos out partying disappeared) it still happens. Of course reciprocity matters so they would all leap into action. But it wasn’t to be.

Marketing 379

Marketing Startup SEM SEO 379

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

“You have to look like America looks, because right now the tech sector doesn’t look like America.” And of course he’s right. But Troy has become a very successful tech investor in his own right having invested early in Uber, Lyft, Dropbox, Warby Parker and others. ” – Earvin Magic Johnson.

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Startup Course Entrepreneur 150

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2021

I’m a very logical guy, so I still fondly remember when new solutions and technologies started trends on the basis of their logical strengths. Today consumers reveal themselves online, with pictures, opinions, ratings and reviews, interests and locations, and expect businesses to adapt to them, and honor the implied relationship contract.

Marketing 127

Marketing Social Media Technical Review Product 127

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2023

Of course, every risk level can be mitigated by a good plan that addresses the issue, offers a credible action plan, and will convince you, as well as investors and customers, that what looks like a risk to many is actually a sustainable competitive advantage for your startup. You need a big differentiator in these arenas.

Invest 98

Invest Sites Technical Review Social Media 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2023

Be customer focused, not technology focused. New ventures with major innovations, called “ disruptive ” solutions, such as the advent of electric vehicles, require changes in support technologies, more marketing for customer education, and new government policies. You are just as important as your innovative idea.

Tips 80

Tips Startup Satisfaction Ideas 80

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 6, 2018

But there is no magic formula on how to bring these together a second time, but I did see some good insights on the parameters in a classic startup business parable, “ Endless Encores ,” by Ken Goldstein, who advises startups and has built corporations in technology, entertainment, media, and e-commerce.

Startup 93

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Ideas 93

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2014

Some pundits argue that the E-Myth principle is now outdated, due to the instant access to information via the Internet, pervasive networking via social media, and courses on entrepreneurship at all levels of education. In the interim, I recommend you use social media and the Internet to find your alter-ego.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Technical Review 107

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 1, 2013

The event is a 2-day training in.Net, HTML5, Windows 8, Asp.NET MVC and other Microsoft technologies. In addition, world renowned speakers are invited to discuss the latest trends in technology. Despite what you read in the media HTML5 web applications can be extremely powerful and engaging. It’s OK you can fight back.

Training 65

Training Technical Review Technology Software Review 65

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 21, 2016

Partially due to the economy, but also due to longer, healthier lives and changes in job tenure, Boomers are now expected to stay in the labor force longer, and according to a USNews article, will likely dominate the labor market by 2024. The immigrant rate of entrepreneurial activity seems to be declining each year (now about.5%),

Entrepreneur 75

Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup Technical Support 75

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

It’s obvious that we can be too late to these decisions of course. If — and it’s a big if of course — they can do that on the cheap, then why should an LP care at all? Pro tip: take on the mantle of book editor for a major tech publication, and the publishers will mail you books for free. Quality tech news from around the web.

Venture Capital 202

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Invest 202