Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2018

As an advisor to new business owners, and an occasional angel investor, I see new business proposals daily, many seeking investors to fund early research and development (R&D) of a new product idea. Funding new product research and development is just too risky, with a large time delay before any return is likely.

Research 57

Research Develop Development Funding 57

StartUp Beat

NOVEMBER 9, 2017

Grigori Mikayelyan was a failed and an aspiring entrepreneur; furnished with a new idea – and determined to make a success of it – he became a Lyft driver to conduct customer research with his passengers. Mikayelyan was determined to test the idea properly before investing “a penny” in it.

Research 40

Research Custom Customer Entrepreneur 40

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 31, 2020

I was chairman of a company that, for twelve years never took a dollar of outside investment. A company like this grows in value to its customers and to prospective buyers of the business, but without any dilution of control or ownership for the founders. First, an example of grant-based financing . How refreshing!

Equity 156

Equity Writing Education Research 156

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 19, 2013

I still get business plans, looking for an investor, that say all too clearly that the primary “use of funds” will be to do research and development (R&D) on some promising new technology, like superconductivity or cancer cures. This stage is the transition to pilot-scale research on the technology. Technology development.

Research 97

Research Develop Development Funding 97

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

If you are one of the thousands of entrepreneurs who need equity funding to get your startup going (no loans to repay), you are probably overwhelmed at the prospect of finding, contacting and pitching to the huge number of qualified angels and investment groups around the country. Collect target customer testimonials and advocacy.

Platform 94

Platform Equity Invest Technical Advisors 94

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 13, 2019

Most social media outlets don’t require a subscription charge, but they certainly always require an investment, sometimes large, in people, in technology, your reputation, and your time. For some customers and many investors, a heavy focus on social networks and viral marketing may be a negative, rather than a positive.

Social Media 79

Social Media Media Invest Platform 79

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2019

Many entrepreneurs think that adapting to the new technologies, like smart phones and Internet commerce, are the key to attracting new customers. High-technology product startups, without customers, don’t make a business. Solis outlines the heuristics of social psychology that are key to building positive customer experiences today.

Custom 85

Custom Customer Social Media Technical Review 85

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2012

I still get business plans, looking for an investor, that say all too clearly that the primary “use of funds” will be to do research and development (R&D) on some promising new technology, like superconductivity or cancer cures. This stage is the transition to pilot-scale research on the technology. Technology development.

Research 89

Research Funding Venture Capital Angel 89

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2021

Whilst there are a wide range of LPs and you could have first meetings for months (and many VCs do), there is probably a much smaller number of LPs who want to invest in a fund your size, with your focus, and whose minimum or maximum check size lines up with what you’re seeking. We invest 40% of our dollars in Southern California firms?—?and

Sales 375

Sales Startup Invest Funding 375

TechCrunch LA

DECEMBER 19, 2018

With lead investors like Fika Ventures and Fathom Capital, and co-investors, including Toyota AI Ventures, Ubiquity Ventures, Riot.vc, Osage University Partners and Stage Venture Partners, Elementary Robotics is readying itself for commercial pilots with a few undisclosed customers as it proves out its technology.

Los Angeles 207

Los Angeles Angel Artificial Inteligence CalTech 207

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2011

I still get business plans, looking for an investor, that say all too clearly that the first goal of the new business is to do research and development (R&D) on some promising new technology, like superconductivity or cancer research. This stage is the transition to pilot-scale research on the technology. Commercialization.

Research 93

Research Develop Development Activity 93

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2021

Yet I still get too many business plans that clearly are looking for money to do research and development (R&D) on a new and unproven technology. This early stage is often called basic research , well before any specific commercially viable products might be envisioned. Technology pilots. Product verification and clinical trials.

Help 165

Help Research Startup Funding 165

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 19, 2010

I’m obviously only naming a small fraction of their investments since I don’t feel inclined to research them all and many other great venture firms have this kind of access. It’s hard for me to imagine that angel investing outcomes judged 10 years from now will have a drastically different profile.

Invest 280

Invest Angel Venture Capital Yahoo 280

socalTECH

AUGUST 13, 2019

Uniphore is a developer of conversational artificial intelligence software, which is being used in call centers, and helps provide automated customer service for companies. Uniphore said it will use the new funding for go-to-market in North America, research and development, and to grow its employee base globally.

Artificial Inteligence 113

Artificial Inteligence Capital Software Funding 113

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 8, 2013

Do your research. Identify those segments that will be your best potential customers and use financial projections to predict how much you will be able to sell to them. Then go out there and talk to these potential customers. Will there be increasing need for your offering and a growing customer base?

Invest 95

Invest Capital Startup Venture Capital 95

Berkonomics

APRIL 11, 2019

That statement has killed more investment deals than almost any other. Dis you really do your research? The statement shows a lack of research or previous thinking that is a red flag for us investors. Your potential customers could choose “do nothing.”. External factors to consider. Consider the state of the economy.

Competition 120

Competition Slides Research Sales 120

socalTECH

JUNE 3, 2019

Newport Beach-based Green Street Advisors , a provider of real estate research and analytics services and data, has been acquired by private equity investor Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe , from existing private equity investor Golden Gate Capital. Financial details of the buy were not announced. Green Street is led by CEO Craig Leupold.

Carson 100

Carson Equity Research Sales 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 20, 2010

I still get business plans, looking for an investor, that say all too clearly that the first goal of the new business is to do research and development (R&D) on some promising new technology, like superconductivity or cancer research. This stage is the transition to pilot-scale research on the technology. Commercialization.

Research 82

Research Activity Funding Technology 82

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2022

The key elements of leadership in a company, both individual and organizational, are less tangible, but very critical in setting a market value for investment, acquisition, or going public. In the investment community, these leadership elements are often called “goodwill.” Focus on talent and people growth.

Technical Review 129

Technical Review Funding Organization Coach 129

Berkonomics

MARCH 5, 2020

Professional investors will probe these five risk areas and make the decision to invest based upon comfort with each. One way to mitigate this is by using early money to create a prototype, to perform market research, to complete the first generation of the product, or to deliver the service to a satisfied customer.

Outsource Development 156

Outsource Development Ideas Resource Patents 156

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 19, 2020

Investors don’t invest in services startups. Here are some pragmatic tips on how to make your startup more scalable and investable: If you need investors, start with a scalable idea. These are more likely scalable and investable. Just because all your buddies think an idea is cool, that doesn’t mean it is scalable.

Startup 154

Startup Outsource Ideas Research 154

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 11, 2022

My first suggestion is that entrepreneurs need to forget the old myth that all they need to do is sketch an idea on a napkin, and investors will line up to invest. Here is my list of red flags that cause many investors to look elsewhere: No well-defined need or viable customer set. Ask only for the money you can justify.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Invest Funding Patents 108

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2023

But many have no insight or connections to the ethereal angel investment community, which In the U.S. A better approach is to first understand who these people are, why and how they invest, and then focus on the ones who are the best match for your particular startup stage, location and industry.

Venture Capital 106

Venture Capital Angel Seed Funding Invest 106

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 15, 2022

Most social media outlets don’t require a subscription charge, but they certainly always require an investment, sometimes large, in people, in technology, your reputation, and your time. For some customers and many investors, a heavy focus on social networks and viral marketing may be a negative, rather than a positive.

Social Media 126

Social Media Media Startup Platform 126

TechCrunch LA

JULY 29, 2019

And Stackin has raised $4 million in new cash from Experian Ventures, Dig Ventures and Cherry Tree Investments, along with supplemental commitments from new and previous investors including Social Leverage, Wavemaker Partners, and Mucker Capital.

Services 212

Services Mobile Platform Los Angeles 212

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2023

Here are some guidelines that will help you with the right answers, not only in closing your next investment, but in planning when and how much money to ask for: Investors are most interested in helping you scale the business. Startups whose marketing budget is trivial lose credibility and most likely the investment.

Tips 91

Tips Funding Startup Invest 91

TechCrunch LA

NOVEMBER 19, 2019

.” Using natural language processing and other machine learning tools, Maslo’s service will process entries by customers from their voice-activated, recorded journals and visualize data on a dashboard so that clients can see their how language patterns, thematic trends, and emotions recur among their customers.

Coach 113

Coach Artificial Inteligence Product Services 113

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 28, 2022

After researching the field for seven years, the brains behind the company have figured out a way to optimize the efficiency of the process by using fuel cells. In October the company launched Altas , an initiative that gives Wander customers the opportunity to invest in the homes they book. Please fill in your name.

Startup 118

Startup Artificial Inteligence Platform Newsletter 118

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

The “valley of death” is a common term in the startup world, referring to the difficulty of covering the negative cash flow in the early stages of a startup, before their new product or service is bringing in revenue from real customers. These resources often include a cash investment, as well as office space, and consulting.

Startup 136

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 136

TechCrunch LA

AUGUST 9, 2022

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but when it comes to getting ahold of an appointment for your hair or another treatment…that’s a different story: The bespoke nature of a lot of the work has meant that a large swathe of the professionals providing these services have stayed offline when it comes to interfacing with customers.

Help 195

Help Startup UCLA Tool 195

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

Your people on the customer front lines have the input you need on institutional changes required. Synthesize empathy with customers with new trends. Build a deep understanding of customer needs and ecosystem megatrends through interviews, focus groups, data analytics, and your own transformation team research.

Case Study 117

Case Study Outsource Development Outsource Custom 117

SoCal Tech Calendar

JULY 7, 2017

A well-developed patent portfolio (along with an intellectual property portfolio, generally) conveys a high degree of technical and commercial sophistication to potential investors, customers, competitors, and licensees. and abroad.

TCVN 100

TCVN Patents Research Invest 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 22, 2013

Many entrepreneurs think that adapting to the new technologies, like smart phones and Internet commerce, are the key to attracting new customers. High-technology product startups, without customers, don’t make a business. Solis outlines the heuristics of social psychology that are key to building positive customer experiences today.

Custom 100

Custom Customer Startup Social Media 100

Berkonomics

MAY 8, 2014

I am chairman of a company that, as I write this, is twelve years old and has not yet taken a dollar of outside investment. The company grows in value to its customers and to prospective buyers of the business, but without any dilution of control or ownership for the founders. How refreshing!

Company 166

Company Companies Writing Education 166

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 12, 2021

But very few are talking about how to measure your results and return on investment (ROI), and the right metrics for optimizing your marketing environment. Social media is the realm of public opinion and customer conversations. Measure customer response and action. Get the message from your customer.

Social Media 127

Social Media Media Metrics Satisfaction 127

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 12, 2020

Here are some guidelines that will help you with the right answers, not only in closing your next investment, but in planning when and how much money to ask for: Investors are most interested in helping you scale the business. Startups whose marketing budget is trivial lose credibility and most likely the investment.

Startup 134

Startup Invest Social Media Examples 134

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 28, 2021

In other words, the entrepreneur quality is more important than the idea -- in investor jargon, people invest in the jockey, and not the horse. High scoring leaders seek and positively respond to feedback from three critical groups: peers, customers, and direct reporting team members. Find and enjoy the company of one or more mentors.

Entrepreneur 165

Entrepreneur Mentor Ideas Invest 165