Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2022

For the rest of us, the following suggestions will help you survive the valley of death: Accumulate some resources before you start. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. It always reduces risk to plan your business first. Set expectations accordingly.

Tips 104

Tips Startup Technical Review Equity 104

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 24, 2022

Leaders and investors need to know if you have and are tapping into your key sources of relevant data, including web analytics, sales management data, and customer relationship management (CRM) software. I assure you of the need to really listen to customer feedback, both proactively in market studies, as well as after-the-sale reviews.

Customer 100

Customer Custom Acquisition Technical Review 100

SoCal CTO

MARCH 3, 2011

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. And I try my best to point them to resources that can help them longer term. Of course, I provide part-time CTO services. What Is This?

CTO Hire 264

CTO Hire Startup Technical Review Development Team Review 264

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

SoCal CTO

MARCH 3, 2011

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. And I try my best to point them to resources that can help them longer term. Of course, I provide part-time CTO services. What Is This?

CTO Hire 259

CTO Hire Startup Technical Review Development Team Review 259

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2011

It is often the fortuitous mixture of new technologies, customer awareness and then acceptance of the technology and then the slow adoption into our daily lives that leads to markets exploding. Facebook, Google) to a large market opportunity then you had better have enough resources to compete. And let’s be clear.

Development Team Review 374

Development Team Review Technical Review Startup Resource 374

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 27, 2012

David encourages entrepreneurs to stay away from the big tech firms (such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple) because they are hard to compete with. I believe entrepreneurs should, in David’s words, “build big businesses on the outskirts” but I don’t believe that Silicon Valley tech giants will outmaneuver startups.

Technical Review 299

Technical Review Venture Capital Yammer Google 299

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2019

For the rest of us, the following suggestions will help you survive the valley of death: Accumulate some resources before you start. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. It always reduces risk to plan your business first. Set expectations accordingly.

Startup 128

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 128

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2014

If you have a software development background like mine, Im sure you often get questions about when to outsource, versus building the solution in-house. If your software or your manufacturing process is your secret sauce, you need to keep the work in-house. The same applies to manufacturing and almost any process these days.

Outsource Development 95

Outsource Development Outsource Offshore Software Review 95

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 19, 2013

The era of VCs investing in successful consumer Internet startups such as eBay led to a belief system that seemed to permeate many enterprise software startups that hiring sales or implementation people was a bad thing. We only want software revenue.” We prefer to sell software, not get involved with client systems.”

Startup 403

Startup Sales Software Review Technical Review 403

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 3, 2015

It’s true that we also fund more mundane stuff like B2B software aimed at productivity improvements but we want some big bets in every fund where we feel we can contribute to “making our own little dent in the universe” as the saying goes – by backing ambitious entrepreneurs with that same goal. But it will take time.

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Software Review Startup Ideas 150

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2011

We need instant access to the most important of all resources, current contact info. Finally, we want it cheap (of course). Here’s the latest technology. Of course, you both need to have compatible smart phones with the software already downloaded. The scan hardware here is required for all software solutions.

Technical Review 83

Technical Review Technology Software Review Social Network 83

socalTECH

OCTOBER 4, 2010

The company provides SAT, ACT, and other similar test preparation courses and related software. I had worked as a tutor for Princeton Review, and Jake for Kaplan. We thought, we could put out a better product than Kaplan or Princeton Review, which would be more compelling, and also would tie in a strong social mission.

Software Review 178

Software Review Technical Review Education Startup 178

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2016

If you have a software development background like mine, I’m sure you often get questions about when to outsource, versus building the solution in-house. If your software or your manufacturing process is your “secret sauce,” you need to keep the work in-house. The same applies to manufacturing and almost any process these days.

Outsource Development 53

Outsource Development Outsource Software Review Technical Review 53

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 9, 2019

Also, investors from the super-hubs (Silicon Valley, New York, or Boston), probably won’t assume anyone outside their domain has the savvy and resources to make it happen. On the other hand, if you are into solar technologies, there is probably an advantage to being in Arizona or a similar location. The list goes on and on.

Startup 97

Startup Technical Review Oracle Software Review 97

socalTECH

JUNE 4, 2018

There are now a number of products, technology, and services which are being brought to market, which a few years ago had no way for an entrepreneur to generate money. Is sounds like the companies you are looking for are more in the software, systems, and fintech areas as opposed to medical devices and pharmaceuticals?

Startup 113

Startup Technical Review Software Review Artificial Inteligence 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2019

For the rest of us, the following suggestions will help you survive the valley of death: Accumulate some resources before you start. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. It always reduces risk to plan your business first. Set expectations accordingly.

Startup 87

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 87

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 1, 2014

Visions pan of endless cold emails and long days attending meetups and pitch nights while your operations/tech team grind away. Not that good old fashioned leg work isn’t still required of course.). But of course, this isn’t to be mixed up. You’ve built a great business, your customers love you.

Invest 100

Invest Startup Technical Review Software Review 100

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 30, 2016

Reflexively founders want to raise as much money as they can because they figure it will give them more resources, better chances of competing and a longer runways before they have to do the often painful job of asking, yet again, for money. Amongst the most often asked questions I get from founders is, “How much money should I raise?”

Startup 292

Startup Software Review Pricing Entrepreneur 292

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 26, 2016

And even when calculated correctly often CAC’s are assumed to be constant but of course they’re not. In an eCommerce or Internet Services business it is often the marketing costs (if purchased online) and in an enterprise software company it is often marketing plus enterprise sales reps. That bit is easy.

Metrics 150

Metrics Startup SaaS Course 150

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 5, 2016

Since business conditions are constantly changing, management must be aware of trends and technologies that will give its entity the highest return on its investment. When the model is completed, software and machinery may be needed to execute the process. The Bottom Line. Process modeling presents a broad overview. Automation.

Software Review 40

Software Review Technical Review .Net Outsource Development 40

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2015

For the rest of us, the following suggestions will help you survive the valley of death: Accumulate some resources before you start. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. It always reduces risk to plan your business first. Set expectations accordingly.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Technical Review Equity 105

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 4, 2014

It’s almost been a work week since Techzulu and Gadget Review’s REACH | The Connected Future and we’re still reeling with excitement. And of course, we’d like to thank our amazing panels of speakers for pouring their knowledge into the mental chalices of our present and virtual attendees. Cleantech, a Misnomer.

UCLA 99

UCLA Technical Review Software Review Incubator 99

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2015

Also, investors from the super-hubs (Silicon Valley, New York, or Boston), won’t assume anyone outside their domain has the savvy and resources to make it happen. On the other hand, if you are into solar technologies, there is probably an advantage to being in Phoenix or a similar location. The list goes on and on.

Startup 109

Startup Technical Review Oracle Software Review 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2014

For the rest of us, the following suggestions will help you survive the valley of death: Accumulate some resources before you start. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. It always reduces risk to plan your business first. Set expectations accordingly.

Entrepreneur 113

Entrepreneur Funding Startup Technical Review 113

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2017

For the rest of us, the following suggestions will help you survive the valley of death: Accumulate some resources before you start. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. It always reduces risk to plan your business first. Set expectations accordingly.

Develop 70

Develop Development Product Startup 70

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2013

For the rest of us, the following suggestions will help you survive the valley of death: Accumulate some resources before you start. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. It always reduces risk to plan your business first. Set expectations accordingly.

Startup 123

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 123

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2017

Also, investors from the super-hubs (Silicon Valley, New York, or Boston), won’t assume anyone outside their domain has the savvy and resources to make it happen. On the other hand, if you are into solar technologies, there is probably an advantage to being in Arizona or a similar location. The list goes on and on.

Sites 59

Sites Startup Technical Review Oracle 59

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2018

For the rest of us, the following suggestions will help you survive the valley of death: Accumulate some resources before you start. Of course, we all realize that this approach will take longer, and could jeopardize both roles if not managed effectively. It always reduces risk to plan your business first. Set expectations accordingly.

Startup 53

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 53

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2016

If your team has a depth of expertise in software, that won’t help you get funding for a new hardware solution. Even if your product is a technological marvel, I look for balanced strength on the team in finance, marketing and operations. Startup leaders have to be relentlessly resourceful in overcoming obstacles and competition.

Startup 60

Startup Entrepreneur Software Review Technical Review 60

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 24, 2011

We are now harnessing the ‘social’ aspect of the system where businesses and consumers begin to contribute to the data by adding or updating products listings as well as rate and review products.”. With that said, what books, blogs or other resources do you recommend for emerging entrepreneurs? I am obsessed with technology.

Blogging 219

Blogging Entrepreneur Software Review Course 219

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 7, 2013

Also, investors from the super-hubs (Silicon Valley, New York, or Boston), won’t assume anyone outside their domain has the savvy and resources to make it happen. On the other hand, if you are into solar technologies, there is probably an advantage to being in Phoenix or a similar location. The list goes on and on.

Startup 102

Startup Technical Review Oracle Entrepreneur 102

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

To grow faster businesses need resources in today’s financial period to fund growth that may not come for 6 months to a year. Exec Summary: Most companies (98+%) in the world (even tech startups) should be very profit focused. If you spent the 3 years perfecting some hugely differentiated technology IP that may also be different.

Startup 418

Startup Venture Capital Sales Technical Review 418

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 6, 2010

We need instant access to the most important of all resources, current contact info. Finally, we want it cheap (of course). I found dozens of software packages available on the Internet for free download, or a nominal price. I found dozens of software packages available on the Internet for free download, or a nominal price.

Technical Review 48

Technical Review Technology Software Review Social Network 48

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 6, 2011

We are now harnessing the ‘social’ aspect of the system where businesses and consumers begin to contribute to the data by adding or updating products listings as well as rate and review products.”. With that said, what books, blogs or other resources do you recommend for emerging entrepreneurs? I am obsessed with technology.

Entrepreneur 232

Entrepreneur Competition Software Review Course 232

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

Many startup businesses – tech or otherwise – fail. Trying outrageous new things or even trying mundane things but in new ways but with extreme quality & innovation is what fuels the tech startup industry. Yet I can’t help thinking there are many predictable failures that come from a lack of basic planning.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2012

Your goal is “ coopetition ” - to find a way to partner with your competitor in such a way that both parties can substantially benefit from the other's resources - without stealing customers or damaging anyone's credibility. As an example, a few years ago I worked for small software company selling an expensive enterprise workflow product.

Company 96

Company Companies Startup Examples 96