Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2020

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Investor due diligence on a startup is not a mysterious black art, but is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of your business model, team, product, customers, and plan.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Funding Innocal Offshore 124

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2016

Some analysis and due diligence along the following lines should be performed on every idea, as a reality check, before committing your efforts and other people’s money to building a business: Look for places where competitors are few. Don’t forget to consider customer alternatives, like trains versus airplanes.

Technical Review 58

Technical Review Ideas Patents Startup 58

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 7, 2014

I spend a lot of time with startups and thus hear many companies talk about their approach to sales and their interactions with customers. From these meetings you can really tell the leaders that care deeply about their customers and those the look down on them. You’d be very wrong. Contrast that with a VC conversation I had.

Customer 341

Customer Custom Venture Capital Software Review 341

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2023

Some analysis and due diligence along the following lines should be performed on every idea, as a reality check, before committing your efforts and other people’s money to building a business: Look for places where competitors are few. Don’t forget to consider customer alternatives, like trains versus airplanes.

Ideas 106

Ideas Technical Review Patents Startup 106

socalTECH

MAY 21, 2013

One of the largest concentrations of technical talent in Los Angeles is in Glendale, at YP -- staffed with a surprising number of Los Angeles startup vets. Our whole product and technology team is about 500 people. Talk about the technology behind your operations here? What''s your background and how did you end up at YP?

Technical Review 223

Technical Review Glendale Advertising Google 223

socalTECH

MAY 21, 2013

One of the largest concentrations of technical talent in Los Angeles is in Glendale, at YP (www.yp.com) -- staffed with a surprising number of Los Angeles startup vets. Our whole product and technology team is about 500 people. Talk about the technology behind your operations here? Louis and Atlanta.

Technical Review 211

Technical Review Glendale Advertising Google 211

socalTECH

JULY 14, 2010

Santa Barbara-based RingRevenue , the provider of pay-per-call technology headed by Jason Spievak, apparently is powering a trial by Google in its Google Affiliate Network. In news leaked out by Affiliate New Review, apparently Google is using RingRevenue on a trial of paying commissions for phone-based traffic.

Google 182

Google Santa Barbara Technical Review Advertising 182

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Investor due diligence on a startup is not a mysterious black art, but is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of your business model, team, product, customers, and plan.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 103

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2016

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Investor due diligence on a startup is not a mysterious black art, but is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of your business model, team, product, customers, and plan.

Technical Review 63

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 63

Tech.Co

MAY 31, 2023

Business tools — from customer relationship management ( CRM ) platforms to accounting software — help to save startups time and money by automating key processes and maximizing efficiency. Best Communication Tools for Startups Communication tools refer to any type of technology that helps businesses stay connected. From its 4.3-inch

Tool 131

Tool Startup Software Review Technical Review 131

socalTECH

DECEMBER 28, 2020

Every year, we feature the year end reflections of founders, CEOs, investors, and others in Southern California's high tech community. In 2020, the pandemic radically changed the customer acquisition process for many consumer-facing industries. We'll be posting these throughout the next two weeks. Contact our editors for details.

Technical Review 140

Technical Review Software Review Organic Search Startup 140

socalTECH

DECEMBER 20, 2017

Then show them what happened when Google decided to get rid of all its product managers in 2001. Anyone could submit an idea, and others in the customer community could participate by upvoting and commenting on the ideas they liked best! Needless to say, they were hired back in a hurry. Read more… ?? Read more… ?? ?? ??

Technical Review 100

Technical Review Metrics Ideas Product 100

TechCrunch LA

JULY 19, 2022

Privacy is important, so inventory owners can choose the restrictions on who can see the liquidation, like competitors, and it doesn’t appear in Google searches, Kaplan explained. Ghost is not alone in developing technology focused on inventory. Last week, Syrup Tech raised $6.3 Syrup Tech bags $6.3M

Product 191

Product Funding Technical Review Equity 191

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 20, 2015

Instead, expeditiously pick a reasonable moniker and then get back to work delivering value to your customers. To illustrate the extent to which a company’s name is largely irrelevant to its ultimate success, let’s examine the genesis of six successful technology companies’ names. Some of my favorites are listed HERE.

Customer 100

Customer Custom Technical Review Software Review 100

socalTECH

DECEMBER 21, 2020

Every year, we feature the year end reflections of founders, CEOs, investors, and others in Southern California's high tech community. It's been a tough year for many due to the pandemic; how have you or your company adapted to the business environment? What are you most looking forward to in the technology/startup world in 2021?

Technical Review 113

Technical Review Startup CIO Southern California 113

TechEmpower

JULY 2, 2013

We caution all readers to review the source code of each test when interpreting the plaintext numbers. However, in some cases due to custom core components in a framework or implementation particulars, a framework may exceed 100%. In particular, a great deal of effort was provided in reviewing the ASP.NET MVC tests.

Framework 521

Framework Software Review Technical Review EC2 521

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2018

The market is changing so fast these days, and if you are not planning a solution today for tomorrow’s customers, you may be setting yourself up for failure and don’t even realize it. Regularly follow reviews and influencers in your industry. Ask the right questions, and listen to your customers.

Customer 57

Customer Custom Technical Review Software Review 57

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2015

I usually envision a 50-50 ownership split for their efforts, but every engineer believes the technology side deserves the majority share. If you consider yourself a technologist, you probably believe and may be propagating one of the following myths: The first priority for funding should be to develop the technology.

Technical Review 101

Technical Review Patents Entrepreneur Customer 101

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

Many times they also pick up product and tech, too. Often times you find the CEO who really just likes to do product or tech. Similarly I talk to CEOs who can’t do a sales pipeline review with me. I once did due diligence on a potential investment where the CEO was projecting $9 million in sales for his next 12 months.

Startup 325

Startup Technical Review Sales Report 325

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

Even when you do sign-up initial customers it’s still not clear that your company will be a success and you’re still likely paying yourself under market rates. He or she has worked at some very successful big technology or media companies and went to a great school. If you can and if you want to – you should.

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Startup Venture Capital IP 150

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 12, 2019

What's the best way to reach out and recruit diverse candidates for your technology company? is an HR tech platform that makes it very easy for companies to source diverse talent. How do you create those communities, and are those focused on different technical areas? It's not easy, which is why Los Angeles-based Divercity.io

Technical Review 140

Technical Review Startup Platform Resource 140

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. Google , for example, was not the first Internet search provider (think Yahoo!, But Google is not unique.

Ideas 59

Ideas Technical Review Google Startup 59

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2023

The Google team stayed tight as they developed the technology, first working out of Larry Page’s dorm room at Stanford, then a garage. Think of the risk taken by CEO Todd Davis of LifeLock when he posted his Social Security number online, to assure customers the he could protect them from identity theft. Marty Zwilling

Technical Review 107

Technical Review Startup Entrepreneur Examples 107

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 2, 2022

As a long-time mentor to entrepreneurs, here is my collection of smart risks that investors and I look for in new startups: Focus on a tough customer problem rather than a fun technology. Investors hate technology solutions looking for a problem, due to the high risk of no customers.

Resource 121

Resource Metrics Entrepreneur Customer 121

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 27, 2012

David encourages entrepreneurs to stay away from the big tech firms (such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple) because they are hard to compete with. And Dropbox & Box.net in a Google, Microsoft, Apple world. We once thought Microsoft was a monopoly on the Internet due to IE. Where David is Totally Right.

Technical Review 299

Technical Review Venture Capital Yammer Google 299

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

Many of the entrepreneurs I advise or invest with spend considerable time on the Internet, keeping up with technology, customers, and competitors, but very few feel the need for an early personal presence. Consistently review and respond to relevant online feedback. Reach out to friends and supporters for positive mentions.

Product 127

Product Entrepreneur Technical Advisors Technical Review 127

Eric Greenspan

MAY 29, 2010

Using social media to increase your company’s touch and reach with each of your customers may be the most important reason to jump in to this game changing strategy. Social media can help bridge a long standing gap between customers and the companies they trust with their hard earned cash. 40,000) to join me on Facebook.

Social Media 214

Social Media Customer Custom Media 214

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 31, 2013

01% conversion rate again to the people who clicked over to the website from the YouTube video, that’s 185 new customers, 185 people who would have never thought to google search for a tampon service, who will now be signing up to spend the 15 bucks a month to get tampons delivered to their door. If we apply that.01%

Dollar Shave Club 101

Dollar Shave Club Customer Custom Marketing 101

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 24, 2018

Some analysis and due diligence along the following lines should be performed on every idea, as a reality check, before committing your efforts and other people’s money to building a business: Look for places where competitors are few. Don’t forget to consider customer alternatives, like trains versus airplanes.

Ideas 83

Ideas Technical Review Patents Startup 83

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 11, 2013

New York City residents especially those in southwest Chelsea have a reason to smile due to a partnership that will see them get free WiFi. According to Ben Fried, Chief Information Officer for Google.“Google Google is proud to provide free WiFi in the neighborhood we have called home for over 6 years. Silicon Alley Growth.

Google 88

Google Help Networking Study 88

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 19, 2013

And of course the most successful technology companies: Google, Facebook, Salesforce.com [duh], Oracle, Microsoft all have loads of sales people. The most important way to sell a product for an early-stage business (or frankly any stage) is to have strong referenceable customers. How do you get referenceable customers?

Startup 403

Startup Sales Software Review Technical Review 403

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 25, 2020

The Google team stayed tight as they developed the technology, first working out of Larry Page’s dorm room at Stanford, then a garage. Think of the risk taken by CEO Todd Davis of LifeLock when he posted his Social Security number online, to assure customers the he could protect them from identity theft. Marty Zwilling.

Technical Review 123

Technical Review Startup Entrepreneur Examples 123

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

Guy’s latest book, Enchantment , was released in March of 2011, to overwhelmingly upbeat reviews. Of the 225 customer reviews currently posted on Amazon, over 90% are highly positive. I enjoyed the book as well, as evidenced by the review I wrote at the time of its release, which you can read HERE.

Santa Barbara 262

Santa Barbara Technical Review Social Media Startup 262

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2020

As a long-time mentor to entrepreneurs, here is my collection of smart risks that investors and I look for in new startups: Focus on a tough customer problem rather than a fun technology. Investors hate technology solutions looking for a problem, due to the high risk of no customers.

Entrepreneur 129

Entrepreneur Resource Metrics Customer 129

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

In The Art of One-line Pitching: A Study of AngelList , Chris Eleftheriadis reviewed 1,700AngelList postings and identified the nine most common categories of positioning pitches (Chris'' list is edited here for brevity): 1. Better than Amazon''s customer experience for any brand" and "LinkedIn on Steroids.". Customer Segmentation.

Product 208

Product Yammer Technical Review Google 208

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 1, 2016

While the epicenter of tech innovation is undeniably Silicon Valley, a tide of new hubs emerging across the globe are gaining recognition. We are very close to the University of Waterloo, and many talented undergraduates have taken internships and permanent positions with tech startups like HiMama. PanTrek connects U.S.

Technical Review 40

Technical Review Startup Incubator Media 40

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 1, 2010

I never built a Google-sized business but I did build an organization from scratch that grew to 120 employees in 5 countries before we sold it. You’ll get sales information from your VP of Sales, marketing information from your VP Marketing, tech information from your CTO and so on. But issues do arise as your company grows.

Startup 308

Startup CTO Coach Technical Review CTO Hire 308