InfoChachkie

JANUARY 23, 2012

"I started the site when I was 19. Ignorance is not bliss in business, but it does allow entrepreneurs to face the unknown with a measure of confidence. Ignorance is not bliss in business, but it does allow entrepreneurs to face the unknown with a measure of confidence. 1) Get A Mentor. "I " [Tweet this quote].

Startup 268

Startup Tips CTO Coach Technical Review 268

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 30, 2012

For many entrepreneurs, college has little appeal. Academia's arbitrary, bureaucratic structure, combined with its predominant focus on theoretical issues, causes many entrepreneurs to depart college early. I generally encourage my UC Santa Barbara students to complete their formal education before joining or creating a startup.

Tips 247

Tips Startup Entrepreneur Santa Barbara 247

socalTECH

JULY 7, 2010

One complaint we sometimes hear from venture capitalists visiting Southern California for the first time, is the difficulty of finding experienced entrepreneurs and executives. socalTECH.com has mined its proprietary database of high tech companies and entrepreneurs and identified just a few of the repeat entrepreneurs to watch in the region.

Southern California 228

Southern California Entrepreneur SoCal Mahalo 228

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

No business or startup wants to be the next Myspace, or even the next RIM (BlackBerry), where changes in the marketplace were subtle. For example, if it’s getting harder to charge a price premium for the product you’re marketing, or others are offering your subscription service for free, it may be time to start thinking in a new box.

Entrepreneur 93

Entrepreneur eBook Metrics Examples 93

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2013

Customer service has always been reactionary, meaning someone has to wake up and answer website email requests. That’s just not savvy enough to hold today’s fickle, less loyal, and ready to jump customer. This exemplary customer service is just savvy marketing. Respect your customer’s view of usability.

Custom 89

Custom Customer Services High Tech 89

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

Technology is so key to every business these days that experienced business-smart but non-tech entrepreneurs are feeling deeper and deeper in the hole. Should they go after high-tech nerds for partners, or professional technologists? Continually ramp up your own technical competence.

Technology 87

Technology High Tech Startup Social Media 87

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2019

Image via Wikipedia From the advice I hear these days, if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you need to be in Silicon Valley, Boston, New York, or one of the few other financial hubs around the world. What does that mean for the rest of us, who reside or grew up in the thousands of small towns that cover most of the landscape?

Technical Review 107

Technical Review Entrepreneur Startup Custom 107

InfoChachkie

FEBRUARY 20, 2012

Like Steve Jobs, Michael Dell and Larry Ellison, he is one of the few startup Founders who remained at the helm of their respective companies throughout their entire maturation process. Great Startup Ideas Come From Everywhere. "At One Of The Most Important Startup Skills. "The " [Tweet this quote].

Tips 275

Tips Startup IP Santa Barbara 275

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 3, 2011

So they don’t have enough dots to connect, and they end up with very linear solutions without a broad perspective on the problem. Everything Is A Remix – Including Your Startup. Of particular interest to entrepreneurs, Part III discusses the creative process of technical innovations. Nobody starts out original.

Startup 255

Startup High Tech SaaS .Net 255

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 18, 2015

No business or startup wants to be the next Myspace, or even the next RIM (BlackBerry), where changes in the marketplace were subtle. For example, if it’s getting harder to charge a price premium for the product you’re marketing, or others are offering your subscription service for free, it may be time to start thinking in a new box.

Entrepreneur 106

Entrepreneur eBook Metrics Startup 106

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2012

I come from a high-tech software background, and only a few years ago, it would cost at least a million dollars ($1M) for a team of professionals to produce any commercial software product. Here are a few examples: Setting up the business. I recognize that different small businesses will have different types of startup costs.

Startup 102

Startup Search Engine Optimization SEM Social Network 102

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. In fact, most of the rich entrepreneurs you know actively turned away early equity proposals. Need to spread the risk.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup Equity 102

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 27, 2012

Make no mistake, successful entertainers are entrepreneurs. They must compete with tens of thousands of other performers who are all pursuing the same customer dollars. Entrepreneurs and entertainers alike must address their fears. If you are not anxious, then you are probably not pushing yourself or your startup hard enough.

Tips 204

Tips Startup Entertainment Entrepreneur 204

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2022

No business or startup wants to be the next Myspace, or even the next RIM (BlackBerry), where changes in the marketplace were subtle. For example, if it’s getting harder to charge a price premium for the product you’re marketing, or others are offering your subscription service for free, it may be time to start thinking in a new box.

eBook 111

eBook Metrics Examples Startup 111

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

Of the 225 customer reviews currently posted on Amazon, over 90% are highly positive. As Guy notes in the accompanying video interview, his primary goal with Enchantment is to reach a broader audience, beyond the high-tech, startup world. I even plan to use it in my upcoming UC Santa Barbara Entrepreneurial Selling class.

Santa Barbara 262

Santa Barbara Technical Review Social Media Startup 262

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2011

I come from a high-tech software background, and only a few years ago, it would cost at least a million dollars ($1M) for a team of professionals to produce any commercial software product. Here are a few examples: Setting up the business. I recognize that different small businesses will have different types of startup costs.

Entrepreneur 94

Entrepreneur Startup Search Engine Optimization SEM 94

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2014

In the US, many entrepreneurs see grants as “free money,” since they are not loans and don’t have to be repaid. A grant is not an equity investment, so the entrepreneur doesn’t have to give up a stake in the company either. That is time and resource that you must add to the million other high-priority startup tasks.

Startup 97

Startup High Tech Research Funding 97

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2013

“Scope creep” (or feature creep) is an insidious disease that kills more good startups than any other, especially high-tech ones, and yet most founders (who may be the cause) never even see it happening. Founders who constantly give in to changes will get more until the startup breaks. Final features approval event.

Technical Review 110

Technical Review Startup Software Review High Tech 110

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 10, 2010

Let me start by saying I’m a huge business book cynic. But Net had told me that he picked up some valuable lessons from the book, so I thought, “WTF? They can travel the world, take classes in interesting subjects, spend time with loved ones or start new hobbies. You’re on the DS (deferred startup) plan.

Startup 295

Startup Email Technical Review Course 295

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 27, 2016

Technology is so key to every business these days that experienced business-smart but non-tech entrepreneurs are feeling deeper and deeper in the hole. Should they go after high-tech nerds for partners, or professional technologists? Continually ramp up your own technical competence.

High Tech 58

High Tech Startup Social Media Entrepreneur 58

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 9, 2010

Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Need office or Tech Space? Custom Insurance Programs for Technology Companies. Startups Made Simple. An on-line community for entrepreneurs. PricewaterhouseCoopers' Vision To Reality Program for Emerging Tech Companies. Yarnell Design (www.masonyarnell.com/tech).

Southern California 113

Southern California Tech Coast Angels IP Orange County 113

socalTECH

DECEMBER 21, 2010

Last week, we announced our end-of-the-year project, which was to collect and share the opinions of some of the top influencers in Southern California's high tech community. Today, we share the thoughts of Scott Painter the CEO and founder of TrueCar , as well as a number of other successful firms and startups in Southern California.

Truecar 203

Truecar Southern California High Tech Startup 203

InfoChachkie

DECEMBER 17, 2012

Dynamic, growing startups consistently identify more ideas and opportunities than they have the time or resources to pursue, including: entering into potential partnerships, developing new products and accessing emerging markets. It is that time of year again - annual planning season. Quantified Scores Reduce The Emotion Quotient.

Tool 255

Tool Startup Ideas Resource 255

InfoChachkie

APRIL 9, 2012

These entrepreneurs do not risk everything, work outrageous hours and put themselves under extreme pressure because they want to. It is not rational to put oneself into the uncertain, stress-filled environment of a startup. Entrepreneurs want to matter. “It is difficult to see the picture when you are inside the frame.”.

Startup 243

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Statistics 243

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 24, 2011

There has recently been a common theme among the entrepreneurs I have interviewed and the conferences I have attended: despite the relatively weak state of the world economy, now is a great time to create a high-tech startup. If there was ever a time to start a company, this is it.”. Basically, everything is free.

Company 257

Company Companies Startup Study 257

socalTECH

DECEMBER 26, 2012

For the last week of the year, we're featuring the thoughts and reflections of some of the movers and shakers of Southern California's high tech community. Howard Marks is co-founder of Activision , and head of Los Angeles-based startup accelerator StartEngine. I don't even know where to start. SAAS is here to stay.

Southern California 168

Southern California High Tech SaaS Social Media 168

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2013

In the US, many entrepreneurs see grants as “free money,” since they are not loans and don’t have to be repaid. A grant is not an equity investment, so the entrepreneur doesn’t have to give up a stake in the company either. That is time and resource that you must add to the million other high-priority startup tasks.

Equity 92

Equity Startup High Tech Research 92

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 23, 2013

I have long advised startup companies that if you don’t control your messaging somebody else will and your potential customers will form impressions of you shaped by somebody else or by nobody at all. My starting salary was $27,000. But they weren’t good enough for our problems – we were the tech rescuers.

Technical Advisors 385

Technical Advisors Marketing Startup Venture Capital 385

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 29, 2011

For most new high-tech products, the first customers are always “early adopters.” I see two pitfalls with any concerted focus on early adopters; first, the size of this group may not be as large as you think, and secondly, their feedback may lead you directly away from your real target market of mainstream customers.

Custom 91

Custom Customer High Tech News 91

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 2, 2013

Currently, social media is the least used of all customer interaction methods. Dell announced years ago that it had earned $3 million in revenue from using Twitter, and other businesses report daily on increases in web traffic up to 800%. My advice is to pick one, start slow, and spread out as you learn. What’s the problem?

Social Media 106

Social Media Media Startup Social Network 106

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2012

Every startup faces a myriad of challenges that are well beyond the scope of any founder, so you need a few guiding lights to illuminate the road ahead. I recommend that every early-stage startup find three Advisory Board members. Once your company is past the startup stage, you do need a board of directors.

Startup 95

Startup Technical Review Software Review High Tech 95

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2022

Every business owner and entrepreneur I meet in my consulting rounds dreams of finding that “ disruptive ” innovation that will supercharge their business and move it into the ranks of business unicorns (billion-dollar valuations), such as SpaceX and Apple. Before you act, shut up and listen to employees, customers, and futurists.

Technical Review 101

Technical Review Metrics Resource Software Review 101

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2011

Now that President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package has been out for a while, including $50 billion aimed at alternative-energy initiatives, applying for grants has become the rage for high-tech startups. I applaud the initiative, and encourage startups in this direction, but there are costs.

High Tech 88

High Tech Startup Research Entrepreneur 88

socalTECH

MARCH 12, 2010

Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Need office or Tech Space? Custom Insurance Programs for Technology Companies. Startups Made Simple. An on-line community for entrepreneurs. PricewaterhouseCoopers' Vision To Reality Program for Emerging Tech Companies. Silicon Valley Bank (www.svb.com). Think Glendale.

Orange County 145

Orange County Glendale Southern California SoCalTech 145

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2012

There is so much written these days about how to attract investors that most entrepreneurs “assume” they need funding, and don’t even consider a plan for “bootstrapping,” or self-financing their startup. In fact, most of the rich entrepreneurs you know actively turned away early equity proposals. Need to spread the risk.

Technical Review 95

Technical Review Startup Equity Entrepreneur 95

socalTECH

OCTOBER 30, 2009

Without all of you, we wouldn't be able to keep you updated on Southern California's high tech news and companies. Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Need office or Tech Space? Custom Insurance Programs for Technology Companies. Startups Made Simple. An on-line community for entrepreneurs. Think Glendale.

Southern California 140

Southern California IP Orange County Glendale 140

socalTECH

JUNE 5, 2009

Thanks to all of the sponsors and advertisers, who allow us to keep you updated on Southern California's high tech news and companies. Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Custom Insurance Programs for Technology Companies. Startups Made Simple. An on-line community for entrepreneurs. They include: Sponsors.

SoCalTech 100

SoCalTech Southern California Rustic Canyon IP 100