Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

Thus, I’m more impressed with entrepreneurs who ask me to review their implementation plan, rather than listen again to their idea. 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

JUNE 14, 2013

On a regular basis, I am approached by entrepreneurs who assert that business plans are a waste of time. They cite sources like a recent BusinessWeek story, “ Real Entrepreneurs Don’t Write Business Plans ” and this NY Times article. For the rest of you entrepreneurs, consider the value of a business plan when it is not required.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Technical Review Writing Slides 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 6, 2014

Maybe it’s just another example of nature abhorring a vacuum, but I prefer to think it’s a natural evolution of the pervasive social networking communities where people relate to, and expect to interact with businesses and products they like. You can’t force people to treat customers well if they feel ill-used themselves.

Startup 101

Startup Tips Education Customer 101

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2015

Social media is so pervasive in today’s world that every entrepreneur believes instinctively that they know how to use it for their startup. Startups should begin by selecting just a few of the vast array of social media offerings out there, and customize based on results. Assess your target customer demographics.

Social Media 108

Social Media Media Startup Tips 108

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2019

Before you know it, you will have a ten-slide pitch that you can use to gauge interest from potential customers, as well as friends, family, and early investors. Suddenly you will find that writing a ten-to-twenty page business plan with details is easy rather than daunting. Set target date milestones and metrics to gauge progress.

Ideas 99

Ideas Slides Writing Startup 99

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 7, 2016

Founders soon learn that customers only spend real money for solutions rather than ideas. Investors have also learned not to invest in ideas but only in entrepreneurs and teams who can deliver solutions. A good execution requires a plan and the right people, combined to create operational excellence and exceptional customer value.

Ideas 59

Ideas Technical Review Google Startup 59

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2017

Here are some key ones that I recommend, based on my experience in business, and my many years as an advisor to entrepreneurs: Choose a name that works across the Internet and the world. Having a website won’t help if customers can’t find it. Use social media to actively engage with your customers.

Social Media 57

Social Media Search Engine Optimization Startup Customer 57

InfoChachkie

APRIL 30, 2012

In his book Enchantment , Guy Kawasaki encourages entrepreneurs to immerse their audience in their “cause”, in order to enchant them. One of the immersion techniques Guy promotes is to offer a hands-on trial, in which the prospective customer can touch, feel and experience your product before purchasing it. Gender Bias.

Study 243

Study Advertising Research Customer 243

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Every plan must start with the problem you are solving, not a description of your company and product. Clearly define the customer, channel, and revenue model associated with this solution.

Competition 113

Competition Metrics Startup Invest 113

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 12, 2017

After the first few hundred applications, every word on the page is like Velcro across our eyeballs (which, btw, is why you should never wait until the last minute to apply to a popular accelerator program). So when we come across an entrepreneur who cannot resist using 20 words when 10 would suffice, it’s painful, really painful.

Tips 70

Tips Startup Statistics Metrics 70

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Every plan must start with the problem you are solving, not a description of your company and product. Clearly define the customer, channel, and revenue model associated with this solution.

Competition 116

Competition Metrics Startup Sales 116

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. The Venture Value Scorecard is a one-page summary of your company’s achievements and assets: the factors that contribute to the value of your organization. His website is [link].

.Net 89

.Net Metrics Competition Template 89

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 20, 2015

It forces the founder to spend time in front of customers. And if you’re lucky and hit product/market fit straight out of the gate – awesome. The funny thing about “too much money” is that it doesn’t just come from entrepreneurs. Money when you find product / market fit is an extreme differentiator.

Funding 150

Funding Venture Capital Startup Marketing 150

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Every plan must start with the problem you are solving, not a description of your company and product. Clearly define the customer, channel, and revenue model associated with this solution.

Invest 74

Invest Tips Competition Metrics 74

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. After the event, we caught up, Parker Thompson , Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) charged with leading Batch 8. They showed very impressive average customer repurchases.

Startup 111

Startup Mobile Commerce Education 111

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 12, 2008

Matthew Graczyk is founder of angel-backed Zubican (www.zubican.com)--saw a problem, which was the difficulty of finding suppliers for products for businesses--and decided to solve the problem, with a site specifically targeted at helping B2B buyers and sellers connect. We've also got SEO feed pages. What's the idea behind Zubican?

SEO 100

SEO Advertising Gogii Tech Coast Angels 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2013

Many entrepreneurs are too focused on their dream to take notice of health warning signs, which leads them to ignore business health signs as well. Real job performance is more a function of productivity than hours worked anyway. On a regular basis, at least once a quarter, you need to take a hard look at all your key metrics.

Startup 93

Startup Tips Entrepreneur Metrics 93

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 23, 2012

The movie, “The Social Network” might have had more of an impact on creating future entrepreneurs than any other event of the past 5 years. Try charging customers for your product when you have 12 competitors giving the product away free finances by $20 million of VC. Thank you, Aaron Sorkin! The Exit Problem.

Venture Capital 347

Venture Capital Capital Technical Review Startup 347

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. Metrics availability. Not so bad. Performance.

Startup 217

Startup Venture Capital Blogging Software Review 217