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. The market changes, executives learn new things, customers demand changes, and technology changes. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 110

Technical Review Startup Software Review High Tech 110

InfoChachkie

FEBRUARY 20, 2012

"The best way to prepare [to be a programmer] is to write programs, and to study great programs that other people have written. Mark noted that even if an entrepreneur does not become a master developer, by simply understanding the software development process, they will be a more effective startup leader. Treasure it.

Tips 275

Tips Startup IP Santa Barbara 275

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 6, 2014

Provisional Protection - Most US high-tech companies begin the utility patent process by filing a provisional patent application. Provisional filings are especially beneficial for startups because: You gain a year to write a thoughtful, defensible patent without delaying your filing date.

IP 210

IP Patents Journal Equity 210

InfoChachkie

APRIL 9, 2012

These entrepreneurs do not risk everything, work outrageous hours and put themselves under extreme pressure because they want to. If it were a decision to be an entrepreneur, then most right-minded individuals would decide to turn back when they encountered the first inevitable startup crises. Entrepreneurs want to matter.

Startup 243

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Statistics 243

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2012

For software, websites, and high-tech products, this is the “meat” of what you intend to build. Because this document is “outward facing” the tone and level has to change to be understandable by customers and investors. Skip the acronyms, write at an eighth-grade level, and talk in terms of “benefits” rather than “features.”

Product 92

Product Outsource Development Competition High Tech 92

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 10, 2010

Unlike an unregistered copyright, which you gain automatically by expressing an idea in written form, you cannot gain intellectual property protection by simply being the first person to describe an idea in writing. Most US high-tech companies begin the utility patent process by filing a provisional patent application.

IP 256

IP Patents Company Companies 256

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 6, 2011

“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. The market changes, executives learn new things, customers demand changes, and technology changes.

Technical Review 96

Technical Review Startup Software Review High Tech 96

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

“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. The market changes, executives learn new things, customers demand changes, and technology changes.

Technical Review 75

Technical Review Startup Software Review High Tech 75

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. You’re a tech guy. When I started my second company I was a serial entrepreneur. I was a serial entrepreneur.

Technical Advisors 385

Technical Advisors Marketing Startup Venture Capital 385

socalTECH

JUNE 23, 2011

One trend in the Southern California high tech startup market has been an increasing number of startups--and executives--who have been looking to combine their interests in business with their enthusiasm for giving back through nonprofits and causes. First, for those not familiar with CauseCast, what is the company all about?

Causecast 222

Causecast Startup Content Education 222

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 10, 2010

Want to take a year pursuing your dream to write a screenplay, travel through Asia, run a triathlon or start your own fashion line? We were high tech at the very start of the boom. I got to experience much of the local culture and customs. If not now, then when? I learned much and had great experiences.

Startup 295

Startup Email Technical Review Course 295

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 12, 2010

They taught us to write down questions when they came up and batch them together in point sheets. Dmitry walks the audience through the basic techniques that most high-tech savvy professionals use to streamline our digital lives. Tags: Entrepreneur Advice Start-up Advice Startup Advice. Some large, some small.

Product 280

Product Startup Email Technical Review 280

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2010

For software, websites, and high-tech products, this is the “meat” of what you intend to build. Because this document is “outward facing” the tone and level has to change to be understandable by customers and investors. Skip the acronyms, write at an eighth-grade level, and talk in terms of “benefits” rather than “features.”

Product 48

Product Outsource Development Competition High Tech 48

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 1, 2010

aka: An Open Letter to the Next Big Social Network) - 500 Hats , November 1, 2010 I've held off writing this post for a long time, because I couldn't quite get my head around all the issues. But I didn’t write it for you; I wrote it for myself. How to Take Down Facebook -- Hint: It Ain't Twitter. but: Something is Still Missing.

Technical Review 175

Technical Review Startup Product Technology 175