Berkonomics

OCTOBER 5, 2023

Fixed overhead for salaries, rent, equipment leases and more make up the majority of the “burn rate” (monthly expenses) for most companies. Since this number is budgeted and pre-authorized, managers tend to focus upon other things such as sales, marketing and product development issues. The financial pain of unplanned delays.

Venture Capital 296

Venture Capital Product Marketing Resource 296

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 26, 2010

In December 2007, I described how I commonly take on an Acting CTO Role in a Start-up. However, I’ve now begun questioning how and what an early-stage / startup CTO should be. What worries me a bit is how often I read that startups should hire a developer / hands-on lead developer. Gap closed, right?

Fractional CTO 225

Fractional CTO CTO CTO Hire CTO Coach 225

SoCal Tech Calendar

NOVEMBER 14, 2011

Sunday, November 20, 2011 -- Startup Weekend Orange County. Startup Weekend is an intense 54 hour event which focuses on building a web or mobile application which could form the basis of a credible business over the course of a weekend.

Orange County 100

Orange County Startup Course Software Development 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

NOVEMBER 14, 2011

Saturday, November 19, 2011 -- Startup Weekend Orange County. Startup Weekend is an intense 54 hour event which focuses on building a web or mobile application which could form the basis of a credible business over the course of a weekend.

Orange County 100

Orange County Startup Course Software Development 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

NOVEMBER 14, 2011

Friday, November 18, 2011 -- Startup Weekend Orange County. Startup Weekend is an intense 54 hour event which focuses on building a web or mobile application which could form the basis of a credible business over the course of a weekend.

Orange County 100

Orange County Startup Course Software Development 100

SoCal CTO

AUGUST 4, 2011

Almost every day I'm talking to early stage startup founders (see Free Startup CTO Consulting Sessions ) about what they plan to do. Many of these founders have talked with several developers or development firms about their plans. Of course, it's way more complex than just these questions. SEO for Startups )?

Develop 396

Develop Development Startup SEO 396

SoCal CTO

AUGUST 4, 2011

Almost every day I'm talking to early stage startup founders (see Free Startup CTO Consulting Sessions ) about what they plan to do. Many of these founders have talked with several developers or development firms about their plans. Of course, it's way more complex than just these questions. SEO for Startups )?

Develop 384

Develop Development Startup SEO 384

SoCal CTO

APRIL 2, 2013

What's Going to Go Wrong A lot of founders don't really understand Lean Startup principles. They look at the following high level definition of Lean: and they interpret that as write up an executive summary with your ideas and hand it to developers to build. Correct your course quickly. What's going to go wrong?

CTO Coach 219

CTO Coach Metrics Framework Software Development 219

SoCal CTO

MARCH 11, 2010

If you’re a Web-based startup, for example, show me how many unique visitors you think you can get in the beginning, and what you’re using for an estimated conversion rate (buyers to browsers). And it’s surprising how few startup founders think in those terms. Part of those questions are around Startup Metrics.

Metrics 159

Metrics Search Engine Optimization Startup Ideas 159

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. They understand startup realities. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young.

Startup 89

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 89

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2023

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. They understand startup realities. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young.

Search Engine Optimization 103

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2023

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. Outsourcing is defined as contracting the work to another company, usually located in a developing country, like India, China, or Eastern Europe.

Software Review 114

Software Review Technical Review Outsource Development Outsource 114

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. They understand startup realities. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 108

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 27, 2011

There are very few people in Silicon Valley who have such a precise grasp on what defines success of early-stage startup companies than Eric Ries. Importantly we also discussed: should startups raise small amounts of money or large? how should you organize teams in a startup? And make sure to pick up a copy of his book.

Social Media 301

Social Media Startup Metrics Media 301

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 13, 2020

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. Outsourcing is defined as contracting the work to another company, usually located in a developing country, like India, China, or Eastern Europe.

Outsource Development 122

Outsource Development Outsource Software Review Technical Review 122

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 27, 2010

I grew up believing that human behavior was 20% nature, 80% nurture. of all data is made up. OK, not literally made up. Of course I don’t believe this argument. There is of course much nurture and culture weaved in. So going into a startup scenario you bring these innate skills or you don’t.

Startup 289

Startup Statistics Entrepreneur Study 289

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2020

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. They understand startup realities. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young.

Search Engine Optimization 124

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 124

SoCal CTO

JUNE 26, 2012

I've done four Free CTO Consulting Sessions in the past month with startup founders who all had run into variations of the same problem. They didn't feel they had visibility into timelines and costs for development of their software. You are just setting yourself up for problems. They couldn't plan their business.

Outsource Development 254

Outsource Development Software Development Develop Development 254

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. Actually, I should start by saying – I’m not a lawyer and you might want to get someone who can help you understand your position here.

CTO 167

CTO CTO Hire CTO Coach Equity 167

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. Actually, I should start by saying – I’m not a lawyer and you might want to get someone who can help you understand your position here.

CTO 150

CTO CTO Hire CTO Coach Equity 150

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2012

Cash is the fuel of every startup. It continually amazes me how two startups, seemingly comparable in stage and objective, can be so far apart in their burn rate. Here are some recommendations on how to keep the rate low, and help your startup to prosper at the same time: Measure it and manage it. Which would you bet on?

Startup 92

Startup Outsource Development Development Team Review Equity 92

Berkonomics

AUGUST 10, 2017

Fixed overhead for salaries, rent, equipment leases and more make up the majority of the “burn rate” (monthly expenses) for most companies. Since this number is budgeted and pre-authorized, managers tend to focus upon other things such as sales, marketing and product development issues.

Venture Capital 243

Venture Capital Product Resource Marketing 243

socalTECH

MARCH 14, 2014

How do you bring an outside perspective and a startup''s nimble perspective to your products, if you''re a big, established company? Are developers willing to invest their time and energy in building solutions around your products, company, or organization? Tell me a little bit about your hackathons, what they are all about?

Edmunds 172

Edmunds Southern California Ideas Startup 172

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 29, 2009

15desks.com), a new startup focused on the education market. We talked with him on why he decided to head up this startup, and what 15desks is all about. It's started with managing courses and grades, on to a whole array of other services. When you are in college, there's a whole array of things that open up.

Education 124

Education Startup Course Tool 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 28, 2011

Cash is the fuel of every startup. It continually amazes me how two startups, seemingly comparable in stage and objective, can be so far apart in their burn rate. Investors assume it will only go up with more funding. Investors assume it will only go up with more funding. Which would you bet on? Great strategy.

Startup 92

Startup Outsource Development Development Team Review Equity 92

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 18, 2015

No one likes to talk about it, but the odds of an individual startup making it are pretty daunting. Startup Killers. This might be tough to stomach, but founders themselves pose the greatest threats to the viability of their startups. And of course you’ll have payroll tax and other obligations. Playing “Who’s on first?”

Technical Review 40

Technical Review Software Review Startup IP 40

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

Are you a non-technical startup founder who’s about to go have a conversation with a Chief Technical Officer (CTO) or Technical advisory type person? Maybe you are going for a reality check on your current situation - wondering if you have a Weak Development Team or a Startup Founder Developer Gap. It’s not warming us up.

CTO Coach 211

CTO Coach Startup Web Guide 211

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 22, 2010

Last night I co-hosted a dinner at Soho House in Los Angeles with some of the most senior people in the media industry with executives from Disney, Fox, Warner, media agencies and many promising tech & media startup CEO’s. He started selling the mixtapes out of his trunk and even gave away some of his music. He was riveting.

Entrepreneur 356

Entrepreneur Venture Capital Startup Email 356

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 10, 2013

Something from a motivational panel, discussing Biz Dev strategies or maybe how to launch a lean start up. And of course, product managers relay the abstract to the engineering teams to ensure the delivered product is, what it was planned to be. Her description starts off with a standup meeting with her product team.

Product 87

Product Fandango Design Startup 87

SoCal CTO

FEBRUARY 20, 2007

Ive personally been involved in the start-up world in Los Angeles for about 15 years, and have had the opportunity to work on many early-stage companies (e.g., Of course, thats probably even more true in Silicon Valley. He has been the CTO for several start-ups, most notably eHarmony. eHarmongy) as an acting CTO.

CTO Coach 150

CTO Coach Southern California CTO Hire Social Media 150

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. Outsourcing is defined as contracting the work to another company, usually located in a developing country, like India, China, or Eastern Europe.

Outsource Development 95

Outsource Development Outsource Offshore Software Review 95

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2014

Cashflow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. They understand startup realities. Desperate entrepreneurs lose their leverage and die young.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 105

TechEmpower

FEBRUARY 13, 2013

As software developers, we're technophiles, so we enjoy these cycles and quite often find humor listening to the energy spent arguing on either side of issues. Yes, making the same decision several hundreds of times throughout a project adds up to measurable additional time. It's a fun and funny business to be in.

Web 200

Web Platform Technology JavaScript 200

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2010

Cash is the fuel of every startup. It continually amazes me how two startups, seemingly comparable in stage and objective, can be so far apart in their burn rate. Investors assume it will only go up with more funding. Investors assume it will only go up with more funding. Which would you bet on? Great strategy.

Startup 48

Startup Outsource Development Development Team Review Equity 48

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2020

As a mentor to startups, I see more startups that are really an individual professional, marketing themselves as a consultant or freelancer in this new gig economy. Of course, entrepreneurs delivering services have existed for some time, including business consultant, independent contractor, and freelancer titles.

Startup 164

Startup Social Media Course Entrepreneur 164

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. Outsourcing is defined as contracting the work to another company, usually located in a developing country, like India, China, or Eastern Europe.

Outsource Development 53

Outsource Development Outsource Software Review Technical Review 53

SoCal CTO

MARCH 16, 2010

This question came up last week. I am hearing from my project management team a bit of distrust in the technical capacity of our web development team. I think we suffer because of the distance and culture but the project management team takes every late delivery or small bug as evidence that the development team may not be capable.

Develop 179

Develop Development Course Software Development 179