Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2014

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” For example, professional investors put great priority on your previous experience in building a business, and they expect to own a portion of the business equity and control for the funds they do provide.

Startup 113

Startup Entrepreneur Funding Equity 113

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2020

Entrepreneur Tony Hsieh , who founded Zappos, was passionate in his belief that he could “deliver happiness” to customers, before making a profit, through innovative moves like surprising 80% of customers with free overnight shipping. Take a realistic view of your ability to assemble the necessary funding, and attract the right people.

Ideas 151

Ideas Entrepreneur Resource Knowledge Base 151

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 8, 2022

Yet, based on my own years of experience “in the business”, mentoring many entrepreneurs, and following stalwarts like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, even these potentially controversial mindsets ring true to me: All risk isn’t risky. Fire your worst customers. Serious entrepreneurs trust their ability to beat a new path to the opportunity.

Entrepreneur 117

Entrepreneur Startup Custom Customer 117

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 20, 2023

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. Even the education system is starting to recognize this, with entrepreneurial courses and majors springing up in every university across the world.

Startup 106

Startup Social Media Course Entrepreneur 106

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. Even the education system is starting to recognize this, with entrepreneurial courses and majors springing up in every university across the world.

Startup 164

Startup Social Media Course Entrepreneur 164

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 18, 2020

When I heard a friend and business mentor say, “Your startup won’t fail if you don’t quit,” I realized that every entrepreneur should adopt “never give up” as their mantra. You probably realize that the leading edge is very near the bleeding edge, where only early adopter customers dare to tread.

Entrepreneur 121

Entrepreneur Startup Statistics Course 121

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 10, 2018

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” For example, professional investors put great priority on your previous experience in building a business, and they expect to own a portion of the business equity and control for the funds they do provide.

Entrepreneur 96

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Funding 96

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 20, 2014

According to a recent Forbes article , UC Santa Barbara''s Technology Management Program offers students a superior startup education over the University of Pennsylvania (home of Wharton), as well Harvard, Northwestern and even its acclaimed southern neighbor, the University of Southern California. All-Star Alumni. Am I biased?

Santa Barbara 258

Santa Barbara Technical Review Startup Venture Capital 258

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 7, 2012

That's funding our new product, FanMix, which is a a social media tool. We have about 8500 customers there, but only a small percentage have built great communities that took off, and the rest floundered. That's why we built FanMix, to solve our own problem, and help our SocialEngine customers to promote their own sites.

Startup 242

Startup CTO Coach Blogging Social Media 242

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2019

Yet, based on my own years of experience “in the business”, mentoring many entrepreneurs, and following stalwarts like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, even these potentially controversial mindsets ring true to me: All risk isn’t risky. Fire your worst customers. Serious entrepreneurs trust their ability to beat a new path to the opportunity.

Entrepreneur 92

Entrepreneur Startup Custom Customer 92

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2017

This is an emerging theme in the past decade as investors learn that customers assign more value and loyalty to business owners who display this attribute. The result is a win-win-win situation for investors, entrepreneurs, and customers alike. Develop the right mentoring relationships. More value delivered and success for all.

Technical Review 60

Technical Review Startup Mentor Study 60

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 15, 2015

As a mentor to startups, I see more and more startups that are really an individual professional, marketing themselves as a consultant or freelancer. Even the education system is starting to recognize this, with entrepreneurial courses and majors springing up in every university across the world. Marty Zwilling.

Entrepreneur 99

Entrepreneur Startup Mentor Social Media 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2014

Yet I still see business plans and funding plans for startups that have minimal or no allocation for travel. I’m talking about volunteering to be on industry panels for visibility, participating in startup weekends for education, and talking to groups of distributors or potential customers on technology trends.

Startup 100

Startup Tips Mentor Conference 100

InfoChachkie

MARCH 5, 2012

If you use the mentor-driven model that we pioneered at TechStars, you get entrepreneurs who are deeply connected with the broader entrepreneurial landscape. Many experienced entrepreneurs choose to go through an accelerator because of the network effect and the dynamics of the mentor help that they get.

Startup 270

Startup Incubator Doc Mentor 270

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 10, 2014

When I heard a friend and business mentor say, “Your startup won’t fail if you don’t quit,” I realized that every entrepreneur should adopt “never give up” as their mantra. You probably realize that the leading edge is very near the bleeding edge, where only early adopter customers dare to tread.

Startup 110

Startup Entrepreneur Statistics Course 110

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 2, 2017

You can find a mentor, a coach, a project, or experience, to help you prepare for the role you are looking for. We got really serious after the success of that customer, who wanted to make this technology available for all of its employees across the globe. How is it your first customer was in Australia? versus New Zealand?

Help 100

Help Southern California Startup Technical Review 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2013

They have worked with high technology and computers for at least 20 years, are highly educated, and highly motivated. How can you beat finding someone who has been there and done that, able to mentor Gen-Y, has lots of connections to people in your industry, and is often willing to work for equity alone? Customer service.

Startup 98

Startup Mentor Demand High Tech 98

InfoChachkie

JULY 21, 2016

Compressed Timeline - I realize that for purposes of the show's formula, funding decisions must occur immediately after the pitches. The show would be more educational (and realistic) if it allowed viewers who are looking to be educated and entertained to watch/listen to entire pitches online or via podcasts.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Entertainment Technical Review Ideas 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 5, 2017

Yet, based on my own years of experience “in the business”, mentoring many entrepreneurs, and following stalwarts like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, even these potentially controversial mindsets ring true to me: All risk isn’t risky. Fire your worst customers. Serious entrepreneurs trust their ability to beat a new path to the opportunity.

Entrepreneur 71

Entrepreneur Startup Custom Customer 71

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

Every startup mentor has his favorite list of basic strategies to avoid pitfalls, and I’m no exception. I offer these pragmatic recommendations: Buffer your funding requirements. Consider both the money you need before funding, and the size of investor funding requests. Severe cash flow problems may not be recoverable.

Tips 102

Tips Help Startup Blogging 102

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2014

Yet, based on my own years of experience “in the business”, mentoring many entrepreneurs, and following stalwarts like Larry Page and Sergey Brin of Google, even these potentially controversial mindsets ring true to me: All risk isn’t risky. Fire your worst customers. You’re in no rush to get an MBA. Consider it a waste of time.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Startup Custom Customer 107

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2015

Most entrepreneur that fail are quick to offer a litany of constraints that caused their demise – not enough money, time, customers, or support from the right players. Startups funded by rich uncles rarely think about productivity. Subtraction leads to simplicity, better usability, and easier education of your customers.

Resource 98

Resource Entrepreneur Competition Startup 98

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 12, 2018

As an advisor and mentor for many startups and small business founders, following my initial career in big business, I realize that the key strategies to achieve success in small businesses are often different from those that make larger businesses successful. Sharing the same space also facilitates creativity.

Sales 69

Sales Organization Entrepreneur Examples 69

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 30, 2011

Previously, Paul was the founder of The Mailroom Fund (MRF) – a venture fund in partnership with Accel Partners, Venrock and AT&T that focused on early stage investments in Southern California-based digital media firms. Dan Dato , Mentor at upStart.LA. Custom ad deals and partnerships.

Tech Coast Angels 105

Tech Coast Angels Startup Angel Southern California 105

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 15, 2018

When I heard a friend and business mentor say, “Your startup won’t fail if you don’t quit,” I realized that every entrepreneur should adopt “never give up” as their mantra. You probably realize that the leading edge is very near the bleeding edge, where only early adopter customers dare to tread.

Startup 56

Startup Entrepreneur Statistics Course 56

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2013

Yet, based on my own years of experience “in the business”, mentoring many entrepreneurs, and following stalwarts like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, even these potentially controversial mindsets ring true to me: All risk isn’t risky. Fire your worst customers. You’re in no rush to get an MBA. Consider it a waste of time.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Custom Customer 105

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2012

Every startup mentor has his favorite list of basic strategies to avoid pitfalls, and I’m no exception. I offer these pragmatic recommendations: Buffer your funding requirements. Consider both the money you need before funding, and the size of investor funding requests. Severe cash flow problems may not be recoverable.

Entrepreneur 98

Entrepreneur Social Network Startup Patents 98

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2016

When I heard a friend and business mentor say, “Your startup won’t fail if you don’t quit,” I realized that every entrepreneur should adopt “never give up” as their mantra. You probably realize that the leading edge is very near the bleeding edge, where only early adopter customers dare to tread.

Startup 58

Startup Entrepreneur Statistics Course 58

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 1, 2013

Aspiring creators learn by connecting with top web filmmakers and YouTubers on a topics specific to the web: developing a web series, producing web series, writing for genres like comedy & sci-fi, directing, editing, camera, Kickstarter funding, show hosting, distribution, and marketing. How unique are you from them?

Web 93

Web USC Course Guide 93

SoCal CTO

AUGUST 3, 2010

Welcome to the Lost Decade (for Entrepreneurs, IPO’s and VC’s) - Steve Blank , July 15, 2010 If you take funding from a venture capital firm or angel investor and want to build a large, enduring company (rather than sell it to the highest bidder), this isn’t the decade to do it. Customer Care Today. They ignore/disrespect the platform.

Startup 217

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Software Review 217

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 9, 2014

This was a chance to blow open the story on their companies, to address a room full of potential investors, mentors, partners, customers, and press. They showed very impressive average customer repurchases. We know language education is a huge market, with 1/7 of people around the world learning a new language.

Startup 111

Startup Mobile Commerce Education 111

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2010

Every startup mentor has his favorite list of basic strategies to avoid pitfalls, and I’m no exception. I offer these pragmatic recommendations: Buffer your funding requirements. Consider both the money you need before funding, and the size of investor funding requests. Severe cash flow problems may not be recoverable.

Guide 92

Guide Startup Social Network Patents 92

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2016

As a mentor to startups, I see more and more startups that are really an individual professional, marketing themselves as a consultant or freelancer. Even the education system is starting to recognize this, with entrepreneurial courses and majors springing up in every university across the world.

Entrepreneur 56

Entrepreneur Services Startup Social Media 56

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 15, 2016

Actively solicit mentoring from people with more experience. No one is entitled to a better job position or entrepreneur funding, no matter how passionate, educated, or articulate. Unfortunately, many Millennials were raised by well-intentioned parents who never let them fail, and gave them awards for merely showing up.

Entrepreneur 60

Entrepreneur News Outsource Activity 60

SoCal Delicious

JANUARY 9, 2014

Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle framework “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it” Simon Sinek If your customers believe in your mission, then they’ll warm to you and listen to what you offer and how. Happy customers tend to spend more, more often and tell their friends. This is where the Golden Circle comes in.

Startup 78

Startup Design Custom Customer 78

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 20, 2012

In 1991, Bill started Knowledge Adventure, an educational software publisher that grew to be the third largest educational software publisher in the world and was eventually sold to Cendant Software and is now a division of Havas Interactive, which is owned by Vivendi. Tech Coast Angels is actively seeking great startups to fund.

Idealab 84

Idealab Tech Coast Angels CalTech Startup 84

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 18, 2013

The 3-6 month program had several hundred applications from all over the country and abroad vying for the chance of $21,000 in initial funding, office space, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities with other startups. There is no right answer many times, just gut instincts and educated guesses.

Class 100

Class Startup Tech Coast Angels CTO Coach 100