Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 15, 2022

Most social media outlets don’t require a subscription charge, but they certainly always require an investment, sometimes large, in people, in technology, your reputation, and your time. For some customers and many investors, a heavy focus on social networks and viral marketing may be a negative, rather than a positive.

Social Media 126

Social Media Media Startup Platform 126

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 21, 2018

Each new customer, each mention in the press or online adds to the feeling of early accomplishment. Email readers, continue here…] This moment is to celebrate every action, including shopping for supplies, furniture and technology to support the newly minted enterprise. Write your own Hollywood script.

Hollywood 120

Hollywood Writing Press Startup 120

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 11, 2022

In those years I learned to properly build product, price products, sell products and serve customers. Starting in 2009 I began writing checks consistently, year-in and year-out. I was in it for the love of working with entrepreneurs on business problems and marveling at technology they had built.

Venture Capital 466

Venture Capital Startup Marketing Pricing 466

TechCrunch LA

JUNE 9, 2021

Users don’t need to walk through the mechanics of setting up a wallet or writing down a seed phrase either. Users can purchase avatars on the platform with cryptocurrency through BitPay but they can also pay with a credit card. “We think this will actually change gaming for the long haul.

Platform 308

Platform Framework Los Angeles Design 308

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2023

Leading edge technology software and manufacturing require constant course corrections and iterative restarts. Customer-facing services, like call centers, should rarely be outsourced. Internal services, like marketing and accounting, are more manageable and have less customer visibility. Marty Zwilling.

Software Review 114

Software Review Technical Review Outsource Development Outsource 114

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 17, 2019

Invoca is now doing 10s of millions in recurring revenue and is growing > 75% year-over-year but it took the first 3 years to really build out the technology and acquire our initial enterprise clients. We not only have our Series A funds that can write $500k?—?$15 15 million first checks but we also have three growth funds.

Venture Capital 223

Venture Capital IP Startup Google 223

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2020

The Internet is the problem, by facilitating constant change, and it’s the solution, by providing an absolutely current view of customers, trends, and best practices. The Internet is the source of data for alternative views, and social media allows direct customer interactions to test these views.

Social Media 127

Social Media Startup Education Entrepreneur 127

Inverted Software

AUGUST 9, 2021

The above quote is a real customer that ended up at our office. The art of writing quality software is something we have been practicing successfully since 2001 and during this time, have acquired hundreds of customers that understand the Inverted Software difference. The is done by writing modular code. Scalability.

Software 105

Software Writing Framework Screening 105

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 15, 2013

Here is my edited summary of their ten principles, which I like and may convince you that you don’t need a business plan at all, or at the very least will help you write a better one later: A new venture is a means, not an end. So keep your eyes open and respond to new customers, new markets, and new partnerships.

Writing 102

Writing Startup Entrepreneur Capital 102

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2022

Most business advisors I know will say that writing a business plan is the first step to starting your own business, but I believe that a better first step is to do a self-analysis of your real drivers, strengths, and assumptions before committing to this lifestyle. You can’t really succeed in life if you are not happy.

Social Media 105

Social Media Writing Ideas Resource 105

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

In fact, I think the evidence is clear that many entrepreneurs started their journey while still in college, and capitalized on all the resources there, before moving on: Extend your technology focus with business basics. He learned quickly that several pivots were required for business, legal, and customer acceptance reasons.

Entrepreneur 157

Entrepreneur Mentor Class Resource 157

SoCal Tech Calendar

FEBRUARY 10, 2012

Thursday, February 16, 2012 -- Optimizing Websites, Social Media and Mobile Devices: Risk and Reward in the Wild West of Technology. Should you pay someone to write the code for you or should you use an app-generating and hosting alternative? Do you wonder how to best utilize your mobile applications to improve your business and brand?

Social Media 100

Social Media Mobile Media Technology 100

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 16, 2020

Obviously, it’s not that simple, but making the right first impression is critical for an entrepreneur, not just with investors, but also with partners, customers, and even yourself. Great entrepreneurs seek out critical customers and industry experts, and actively listen, but are not afraid to trust their own judgment as well.

Startup 171

Startup Entrepreneur Activity Ideas 171

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 23, 2013

I’ve been writing a series on a simple methodology that we used at my first enterprise software company. Simply, this is identifying a customer need that has economic value to them if they can solve it. This solves the customer question, “Why Buy Anything?”. There are many out there and many books have been written on the topic.

Sales 328

Sales Customer Custom Examples 328

TechEmpower

JULY 2, 2013

In preliminary tests, we experimented with more requests per pipeline but doing so caused socket write buffer overflows. The wrk tool was later enhanced to allow larger write buffers, but we ultimately decided to retain a 16 requests per pipeline test configuration. Unfiltered versus Netty; Spring versus Servlet; Rails versus Rack).

Framework 521

Framework Software Review Technical Review EC2 521

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 30, 2019

What every entrepreneur needs more than anything else, after they have built an innovative new product or service, is visibility, credibility, and trust by customers, potential employees, and future business partners. It makes customers feel special, and gives you the opportunity to highlight your broad experience and credentials.

Writing 19

Writing Technical Review Entrepreneur Advertising 19

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2021

While I do agree that many attributes of a good entrepreneur, such as curiosity, confidence and determination, are largely determined by early-life experiences, a good education is critical in understanding the elements of creating a business and wooing customers. Don’t forget business writing and communication.

Entrepreneur 149

Entrepreneur Tips Writing Coach 149

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 14, 2018

I know all of this because every VC knows this because we’ve all either funded companies that have marketing technology or we’ve seen a pitch with a company that does this. So while it might seem obvious that you should send it via a link, I’d like to make the counter-argument that it is not an obvious choice. What should not be in your deck?

Funding 239

Funding Venture Capital IP Email 239

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 13, 2020

Leading edge technology software and manufacturing require constant course corrections and iterative restarts. Customer-facing services, like call centers, should rarely be outsourced. Internal services, like marketing and accounting, are more manageable and have less customer visibility. Marty Zwilling.

Outsource Development 122

Outsource Development Outsource Software Review Technical Review 122

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 29, 2023

However, its unique-for-the-industry monthly subscription model has helped it maintain healthy profits from its loyal customer base in 2023. Writesonic Writesonic is an AI writing tool designed to help writers overcome writers block and level up their skills. Organic milk formula product Bobbie. Writesonic Library screenshot.

Startup 210

Startup Generative AI Newsletter Tool 210

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2023

Obviously, it’s not that simple, but making the right first impression is critical for an entrepreneur, not just with investors, but also with partners, customers, and even yourself. Great entrepreneurs seek out critical customers and industry experts, and actively listen, but are not afraid to trust their own judgment as well.

Entrepreneur 70

Entrepreneur Startup Activity Ideas 70

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2022

Some entrepreneurs love to talk and produce videos, but hate to write anything down. Message delivery must be customized for each investor. It takes more than one person to build a business, so the lone entrepreneur, without support from any visible team, advisors, partners, or potential customers, will not attract investors.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 111

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

For much of 2013 I watched the press write articles about how the YouTube “MCNs” (multi-channel networks) were doomed and tried to square that with the data I was watching at the one I invested in, Maker Studios, who has had one hell of a year. Selling at smaller retailers will net you fewer customers and higher margins.

Networking 366

Networking Media Content Customer 366

SoCal CTO

FEBRUARY 2, 2011

There's a lot out there around Customer Development - read Steve Blank : Entrepreneurship as a Science – The Business Model/Customer Development Stack - Steve Blank , October 25, 2010 Checklists for Chaos, The Path to Success - Steve Blank , October 28, 2010 and reading about Lean, MVPs, etc. What are they really looking for?

Startup 198

Startup Custom Development Sales Writing 198

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2011

By Bob La Loggia, CEO StormSource Technology is like a banana. Just like technology, a banana has very distinct phases. Eating a green banana is like introducing a technology for which people aren’t ready. Either the customer isn’t ready or the technology isn’t ready or the market isn’t ready. They feel right.

Technology 94

Technology Startup Web Customer 94

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 30, 2012

James (chairman of the Althea Foundation) and appointed Adam Sroka as Senior Vice President of Technology in a move to make business transactions simple and secure. . Jackson , “This financing round, coupled with hiring Adam Sroka as our head of technology, puts CapLinked in a position to further enhance our enterprise product offerings.”.

Technical Review 88

Technical Review Software Review Bertelsmann Technology 88

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2019

Based on my own experience in business over the years, and current coaching efforts, I recommend a focus on the following strategies and attributes: Make your customer the center of everything you do. Customers need to believe that you have their interests at heart. Highlight your credibility by visibility and relationships.

Customer 93

Customer Custom IBM IBM 93

Berkonomics

MAY 8, 2014

I am chairman of a company that, as I write this, is twelve years old and has not yet taken a dollar of outside investment. The company grows in value to its customers and to prospective buyers of the business, but without any dilution of control or ownership for the founders. Grant writing takes skill and immense amounts of time.

Company 166

Company Companies Writing Education 166

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2018

For example, both need to provide exemplary customer service, build customer loyalty, and provide real value for a competitive price. Even artisan-based services, like graphic design and writing good ad copy, have innovative processes and principles. Customers can touch and see a great product, but services are a bit ethereal.

Services 72

Services Startup Training Writing 72

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 17, 2013

The main thrust of the post is that with YouTube taking a 45% of revenue and talent taking 70% of the remaining revenue, YouTube Networks didn’t have sustainable businesses unless they invested heavily in technology as a tool to increase margin and provide defensibility. That is the definition of Disruptive Technology.

Company 339

Company Companies Technical Review Content 339

socalTECH

JANUARY 18, 2011

This morning, Pasadena-based Perfect Market (www.perfectmarket.com) announced a new, $9M round of funding for the firm's technology, which is used to help publishers monetize their content. Journalists are notorious for not wanting to write based on revenues or commercial intersts, or having anyone tell them what to write.

Marketing 232

Marketing Funding Content Writing 232

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 13, 2019

Most social media outlets don’t require a subscription charge, but they certainly always require an investment, sometimes large, in people, in technology, your reputation, and your time. For some customers and many investors, a heavy focus on social networks and viral marketing may be a negative, rather than a positive.

Social Media 79

Social Media Media Invest Platform 79

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2014

For example, both need to provide exemplary customer service, build customer loyalty, and provide real value for a competitive price. Even artisan-based services, like graphic design and writing good ad copy, have innovative processes and principles. Customers can touch and see a great product, but services are a bit ethereal.

Services 105

Services Startup Training Writing 105

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

As I was driving home from that meeting, I decided to work from there, and ended up writing a business plan and fundraising from family and friends. We have integrated technology to allow our matchmakers to work more efficiently, so we can scale very well. It was either, get back on the dating apps, or pay $14,000 for a matchmaker.

Startup 203

Startup Entrepreneur Southern California Netflix 203

TechCrunch LA

JULY 19, 2022

Ghost is not alone in developing technology focused on inventory. She went on to write, “Dee and Josh are the exact right team to tackle it. They have the unique mix of deep apparel and commerce expertise, empathy for the customer and need set through the businesses they have run, speed, and product-first mindset.

Product 191

Product Funding Technical Review Equity 191

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2023

Here is my edited summary of their ten principles, which I like and may convince you that you don’t need a business plan at all, or at the very least will help you write a better one later: A new venture is a means, not an end. So keep your eyes open and respond to new customers, new markets, and new partnerships.

Startup 142

Startup Capital Resource Research 142

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 13, 2020

Some entrepreneurs love to talk and produce videos, but hate to write anything down. Message delivery must be customized for each investor. It takes more than one person to build a business, so the lone entrepreneur, without support from any visible team, advisors, partners, or potential customers, will not attract investors.

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Social Media Patents Mentor 126