Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

What used to be an “A” round in 2011 is now routinely called a Seed round and this has been so engrained that founders would rather take less money than to have to put the words “A round” in their legal documents. We can’t wait for customers to use the product for 12–18 months and do customer interviews or look at purchase cohorts.

Venture Capital 471

Venture Capital Writing Invest Pricing 471

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 28, 2020

The days of lengthy, text-heavy, business plan documents prepared by expensive experts are behind us. Building a minimum viable product, with customer validation. Early customer feedback will position your solution, and help you make pivots before critical time and money are lost.

Tips 161

Tips Startup Social Media News 161

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2018

Your historical trading information including financials and a “customer file” which shows the history of your transactions so that investors can run “cohort” analyses Customer reference, personal references, key team members, compensation, cap table, stock option plan, etc. It doesn’t. The data room is where your process goes to die.

Funding 336

Funding Venture Capital Startup Email 336

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 3, 2016

The best entrepreneurs know what they don’t know, aren’t afraid to ask for business help, and always offer something in return. Sets goals and milestones, with metrics to track progress. Good implementers document and communicate long-term goals, and translate them into daily action items. Investors like happy teams.

Entrepreneur 106

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Metrics Ideas 106

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2021

You continually get frustrated with your team members, customers, vendors, and partners. You can’t build a great company without help. Data – Define a handful of key metrics to free you from managing personalities, egos, subjective issues, emotions, and intangibles. Each must be documented clearly and refined regularly.

Entrepreneur 174

Entrepreneur Search Engine Optimization Satisfaction Social Media 174

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2011

But the reality is that sellers are no longer in charge of the customer buying process. Kristin Zhivago, in her new book “ Roadmap to Revenue ,” makes the point that the selling system is broken, since sellers no longer sell the way customers are buying. The best way to do this is with real customer interviews.

Customer 96

Customer Custom Search Engine Optimization Summary 96

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 1, 2021

For example, in a conflict over the right branding logo , it may help to understand who and how the ultimate decision will be made, including key elements driving the decision, such as targeted customers and competition. Make sure the process is respectful of their needs as well as yours.

Activity 145

Activity Organization Examples Satisfaction 145

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2013

But the reality is that sellers are no longer in charge of the customer buying process. Kristin Zhivago, in her book “ Roadmap to Revenue ,” makes the point that the selling system is broken, since sellers no longer sell the way customers are buying. The best way to do this is with real customer interviews.

Startup 105

Startup Search Engine Optimization Summary Customer 105

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2017

But the reality is that sellers are no longer in charge of the customer buying process. Kristin Zhivago, in her classic book “ Roadmap to Revenue ,” makes the point that the selling system is broken, since sellers no longer sell the way customers are buying. The best way to do this is with real customer interviews.

Search Engine Optimization 58

Search Engine Optimization Startup SEO Customer 58

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

The number is much higher for those who choose to go it alone, without help. In my experience, the key steps I look for always include the following: Testing the idea against customers who have money to spend. Prepare your marketing story for customers and investors.

Ideas 94

Ideas Slides Technical Review Patents 94

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2014

Like it or not, you are now entering the dreaded realm of specifying and documenting “formal business processes.” Even if you are doing the work yourself, you need to document requirements, features, metrics, and milestones. Here you will likely need to train others to help you, so more detail may be required in this process.

Startup 107

Startup Outsource Development Training Outsource 107

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2012

But the reality is that sellers are no longer in charge of the customer buying process. Kristin Zhivago, in her book “ Roadmap to Revenue ,” makes the point that the selling system is broken, since sellers no longer sell the way customers are buying. The best way to do this is with real customer interviews.

Tips 93

Tips Search Engine Optimization Summary Startup 93

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

Jackson, CEO and co-founder of CapLinked (www.caplinked.com), which is developing tools to help entrepreneurs and investors connect. Eric is also author of the book The PayPal Wars: Battles With Ebay, the Media, the Mafia, And the Rest of Planet Earth , where he documented that experience. How do you do that?

Southern California 243

Southern California Entrepreneur Software Review Yammer 243

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2017

At worst, it’s a learning opportunity for you and your team, which can lead to providing a better customer solution or experience. At best, you may find a new revenue stream providing a product or service that eliminates a painful problem for both you and your customers. Enlist help and advice from the right people.

Metrics 58

Metrics Entrepreneur Examples Coach 58

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2013

Like it or not, you are now entering the dreaded realm of specifying and documenting “formal business processes.” Even if you are doing the work yourself, you need to document requirements, features, metrics, and milestones. Here you will likely need to train others to help you, so more detail may be required in this process.

Outsource Development 92

Outsource Development Training Outsource Metrics 92

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

This is smart because amazing board members can be transformative with important advice and access and can also help attract other great board members (and team members). I actually think having a formal board can really help you. If your metric move immediate up-and-to-the-right? Some seed investors are amazing.

Startup 236

Startup Venture Capital Tips Capital 236

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2016

An initial revenue surge, or a major cash advance from investors often leads to a mentality of building a large customer base at any cost. As the business grows, it pays to learn how to use automated financial tools, and review the key financial metrics daily. Failure to follow-up on customer receivables delays.

Startup 57

Startup Training Entrepreneur Customer 57

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 7, 2016

Founders soon learn that customers only spend real money for solutions rather than ideas. A good execution requires a plan and the right people, combined to create operational excellence and exceptional customer value. Smart entrepreneurs architect a value chain that includes customers, partners and vendors, based on market dynamics.

Ideas 59

Ideas Technical Review Google Startup 59

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2015

You continually get frustrated with your team members, customers, vendors, and partners. You can’t build a great company without help. Data – Define a handful of key metrics to free you from managing personalities, egos, subjective issues, emotions, and intangibles. Each must be documented clearly and refined regularly.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Search Engine Optimization Satisfaction Social Media 111

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2016

It doesn’t matter how dedicated and capable you are, there are only so many hours in a day, and as your business scales, you need to count on others for help. When the business starts to scale, you need documented processes and people with the right skills and training who can do the right work without you.

Social Network 59

Social Network Startup Demand Entrepreneur 59

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2016

The days of lengthy, text-heavy, business plan documents prepared by expensive experts are behind us. Building a minimum viable product, with customer validation. Early customer feedback will position your solution, and help you make pivots before critical time and money are lost.

Startup 61

Startup Social Media News Tool 61

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

Even if you are doing the work yourself, you need to document requirements, features, metrics, and milestones. Unless you are bootstrapping everything, you need to have a clear plan on what networking and documents are required to get to friends and family, angel investors, and institutional investors. Manage human resources.

Startup 102

Startup Outsource Development Writing Training 102

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2010

Even if you are doing the work yourself, you need to document requirements, features, metrics, and milestones. Unless you are bootstrapping everything, you need to have a clear plan on what networking and documents are required to get to friends and family, angel investors, and institutional investors. Manage human resources.

Startup 95

Startup Outsource Development Writing Training 95

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 4, 2016

You continually get frustrated with your team members, customers, vendors, and partners. You can’t build a great company without help. Data – Define a handful of key metrics to free you from managing personalities, egos, subjective issues, emotions, and intangibles. Each must be documented clearly and refined regularly.

Search Engine Optimization 55

Search Engine Optimization Satisfaction Entrepreneur Social Media 55

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2010

It’s human nature to prioritize the metrics that get measured, so the simple act of keeping track is often enough to have a significant positive impact. Customers: A company’s only sustainable source of cash is sales, so you need to keep track of your business development efforts. His website is [link].

.Net 89

.Net Metrics Competition Template 89

socalTECH

JUNE 25, 2012

introNetworks is still going strong and has some of the biggest customers in the world, like NASA and McCann World Group. Those folks are any tool they can find to help them, any new tool they find. We're working on how quickly we can provision servers, and what those metrics are, and it's been fantastic. Thanks, and good luck!

Social Media 203

Social Media Startup Tool LAMP 203

SoCal CTO

FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Once you build it, they will now ask you about the key metrics that they need proven in order to see if you really are a good investment. The second bullet, getting feedback from customers is most often not valid either. The real reason to build an MVP is to do early tests of key Startup Metrics for the business.

Technical Review 338

Technical Review CTO Hire CTO Coach Software Review 338

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 9, 2022

I too often see people who are quick to make excuses, blame failures on peers or customers, or see management as the reason for their lack of productivity. Document plans and progress, with checkpoints. Setting your own metrics, and measuring yourself , will facilitate accountability. Communicate ongoing needs and changes early.

Activity 109

Activity Organization Mentor Training 109

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

Thus, startups must quickly determine which prospects are most likely to purchase in the near term and focus their energy on delivering these prospective customers an incredible experience. The reason we previously offered our customers the option of a Pilot was to secure their business more quickly.

Sales 215

Sales Outsource Development Metrics Resource 215

Berkonomics

JANUARY 16, 2014

Taking on a business partner can be an excellent strategic decision in helping move the business forward. Research and talk to existing and past customers. Clarify operation responsibilities and metrics used to measure performance. It should be well thought out for all parties involved. Define each partner’s title and position.

Technical Review 204

Technical Review Startup Examples Metrics 204

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 15, 2013

This entrepreneur gets out there and actively looks for people who can help make an idea into a business, including potential customers, suppliers, employees, investors, friends and peers. Proactively sets metrics and track goals. Effective business people work hard to align everyone in the organization toward key metrics.

Entrepreneur 103

Entrepreneur Ideas Metrics Activity 103

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2012

This entrepreneur gets out there and actively looks for people who can help make an idea into a business, including potential customers, suppliers, employees, investors, friends and peers. Proactively sets metrics and track goals. Effective business people work hard to align everyone in the organization toward key metrics.

Entrepreneur 97

Entrepreneur Ideas Metrics Activity 97

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2017

In my view, that’s why “two heads are better than one” in starting a business – one with the passion and skill to create an innovative solution, and the other with a business savvy, customer focus, and the ability to build and lead a team. Businesses are driven by your team, investors, partners, and most of all, customers.

Ideas 67

Ideas Product Startup Satisfaction 67

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2016

In addition, I look for do-it-yourself confidence that minimizes any dependence on outside help. Document and commit to specific goals. Lack of focus only confuses customers and dilutes your scarce time and resources. Define and use metrics to measure your progress. Celebrate small successes with the team.

Social Network 94

Social Network Startup Ideas Entrepreneur 94