Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2021

A business is about making money, while inventions are more about spending money. In other words, inventions are necessary but not sufficient to create real value for investors and customers. So what do investors look for in qualifying you for that million dollars you need to take your invention from your garage to the market?

Technical Review 156

Technical Review Funding Patents Ideas 156

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2023

Most entrepreneurs spend far too much time thinking negatively about competitors, and can’t resist making derogatory statements to their own team, to investors, and even to customers. As an investor, I always listen carefully to what an entrepreneur says, and does not say, about competition.

Competition 111

Competition Entrepreneur Patents Custom 111

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 12, 2019

Much has been written recently about the requirement to focus today on the total customer experience, as a competitive edge or even for survival. The challenge I hear from savvy business owners and entrepreneurs operating on a shoestring is that providing a superior customer experience costs money.

Custom 96

Custom Customer Coach Pricing 96

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Most entrepreneurs I meet are reluctant to disclose anything about their idea to investors before getting a signed confidential disclosure agreement (CDA). Yet I can assure you that people who are paranoid, or want to avoid all risks, won’t be happy as entrepreneurs, so it’s all about balancing the risk-reward scale.

Ideas 159

Ideas Tips Technical Review Patents 159

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 18, 2022

Every investor knows how vulnerable a new startup is to competitors, so investors always ask about your sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. How an entrepreneur answers this question speaks volumes about their knowledge of business realities, customers, confidence, and their ability to handle investor funding.

Competition 133

Competition Patents Resource Invest 133

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2020

It starts with documenting and communicating a real purpose and mission in terms everyone can get excited about. You may think that patents and copyrights are not required, since your products are so innovative, but you will find that competitors are quick to copy your idea if you don’t protect it. Survival requires regular updates.

Entrepreneur 173

Entrepreneur Patents Startup Technical Review 173

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2014

Most entrepreneurs spend far too much time thinking negatively about competitors, and can’t resist making derogatory statements about them to their own team, investors and even to customers. As an investor, I always listen carefully to what an entrepreneur says, and does not say, about competition.

Competition 107

Competition Entrepreneur Patents Custom 107

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 24, 2021

When someone says Intellectual Property (IP), most entrepreneurs think only of patents. In reality, patents are only one of at least eight items that should be in your IP portfolio. Select it well – marketers will tell you that you will be selling your name, more than your products. Internet domain name. This name (www.

Startup 145

Startup Patents IP Social Media 145

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 21, 2016

Unfortunately, for most solution markets, early adopters represent only 10 to 15 percent of the total opportunity, so it’s easy to get mislead on the real requirements of mainstream customers. The good news is that early adopters are never reluctant to sign up as beta customers and will provide you early feedback on product quality.

Custom 100

Custom Customer Technical Review News 100

Berkonomics

AUGUST 31, 2023

Know your market and competition, or don’t spend a dime on anything else. Well, here is one of those, and it deals with market research first and foremost. But wait for the mic drop… [Email readers, continue here…] Here’s where some intelligent market research might have saved the company and my investment.

Competition 156

Competition Research Summary Pricing 156

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

Many people believe that new ideas are the critical element of innovation, but in my experience as a mentor and investor, long-term business success is more about implementation than ideas. Search for customer pain rather than high margins. New customers don’t see incremental improvements.

Artificial Inteligence 114

Artificial Inteligence Ideas Satisfaction Custom 114

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2023

That doesn’t mean that entrepreneurs should ignore business and market realities, under the assumption that success is a random phenomenon. Don’t forget to consider customer alternatives, like trains versus airplanes. Of course, existing patents don’t stop you from innovating, but charging ahead into a wall is no fun.

Ideas 106

Ideas Technical Review Patents Startup 106

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2021

Aspiring entrepreneurs ask me why their great idea hasn’t sold; they talk about it endlessly, and they expect others to do the development, finance, and marketing work for them. Your solution fills a real market need. Truly satisfied customers are a joy to every business person. Marketing is top priority.

Startup 160

Startup Patents Competition Social Network 160

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2018

New technology markets and paradigm shifts have traditionally been bad bets when seeking investors, since these were known to take decades to develop, and cost lots of money. For example, consider how many years it took for the market to move from radio to television, or fully accept personal computers on every desktop.

Marketing 92

Marketing Demand Examples Social Media 92

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 11, 2023

Many experts are certain that successful entrepreneurs are the ones with the most inspiration (passion and dream), while others will assert that it’s about more perspiration (working harder). Here are five key ones to celebrate: Enjoy the feedback from every satisfied customer. Increasing customer focus and loyalty.

Startup 118

Startup Satisfaction Custom Customer 118

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2022

You can’t succeed in business without an operational model that delivers value to customers at a reasonable price, with an underlying cost that allows you to make a profit. The most common failures are solutions looking for a problem, lack of a defined market, or an inadequate revenue model. Target market. Sales/Marketing.

Sales 102

Sales Custom Customer Outsource 102

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2021

In their passion and excitement about a new product or service, entrepreneurs tend to continually narrow the scope of potential competitors, and often claim to have no direct competitors. First to market, for example, is not normally a sustainable advantage for startups. Thought leadership position in your market and customer set.

Competition 166

Competition Funding Startup Patents 166

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 12, 2023

Offer free solutions to bring in more customers. Don’t get caught in the myth that you shouldn’t worry about monetization until after you have a large customer base. Viral marketing costs real money, and your support staff and hosting systems cost even more. Building a successful business is all about execution.

Startup 124

Startup Writing Entrepreneur Ideas 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2023

As an advisor to business professionals and entrepreneurs, I often hear about an innovative new solution that could lead to business growth or a new business. It was no surprise to me that all the investors he approached were less than excited about his plan for growing a new and nutritious algae. Pay attention to the market.

Tips 80

Tips Startup Satisfaction Ideas 80

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 12, 2016

Most entrepreneurs spend far too much time thinking negatively about competitors, and can’t resist making derogatory statements to their own team, to investors, and even to customers. As an investor, I always listen carefully to what an entrepreneur says, and does not say, about competition.

Competition 62

Competition Entrepreneur Patents Custom 62

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2020

That doesn’t mean that entrepreneurs should ignore business and market realities, under the assumption that success is a random phenomenon. Don’t forget to consider customer alternatives, like trains versus airplanes. Of course, existing patents don’t stop you from innovating, but charging ahead into a wall is no fun.

Technical Review 173

Technical Review Ideas Patents Startup 173

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2012

This approach, popularly known as “glocalization,” means you have to design and deliver global solutions that have total relevance to every local market in which you operate. But it does mean that you think about the global implications at every step of the process: Pick your company and product names carefully.

Marketing 104

Marketing Startup Patents Offshore 104

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2020

It’s still popular these days for startup founders to operate in stealth mode, meaning no details about the idea or progress are shared with anyone until the big reveal and rollout. The common reason given is that this prevents any competitor from stealing their idea and beating them to market. Meet investors before asking for money.

Search Engine Optimization 174

Search Engine Optimization Ideas Startup Custom 174

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 8, 2017

This approach, popularly known as “ glocalization ,” means you have to design and deliver global solutions that have total relevance to every local market in which you operate. But it does mean that you think about the global implications at every step of the process: Pick your company and product names carefully.

Marketing 54

Marketing Patents Offshore Startup 54

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 15, 2020

Most entrepreneurs spend far too much time thinking negatively about competitors, and can’t resist making derogatory statements to their own team, to investors, and even to customers. As an investor, I always listen carefully to what an entrepreneur says, and does not say, about competition.

Competition 125

Competition Entrepreneur Patents Custom 125

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2023

Here are the major elements of the best product plans: Market requirements section. This first section of every product plan defines the market, sizes the opportunity, and discusses individual needs and requirements that will be provided by your product and service. Now let’s talk about the basic components of a business plan.

Product 112

Product Summary Activity Entrepreneur 112

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 8, 2023

If you have a software development background like mine, I’m sure you often get questions about when to outsource, versus building the solution in-house. Despite some recent advances, there are still some cultures which have less regard for patents and other intellectual property. Keep intellectual property keys in-house.

Software Review 114

Software Review Technical Review Outsource Development Outsource 114

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2020

Many experts are certain that successful entrepreneurs are the ones with the most inspiration (passion and dream), while others will assert that it’s about more perspiration (working harder). Here are five key ones to celebrate: Enjoy the feedback from every satisfied customer. Increasing customer focus and loyalty.

Satisfaction 174

Satisfaction Custom Customer Outsource 174

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 17, 2020

Offer free solutions to bring in more customers. Don’t get caught in the myth that you shouldn’t worry about monetization until after you have a large customer base. Viral marketing costs real money, and your support staff and hosting systems cost even more. Building a successful business is all about execution.

Startup 174

Startup Writing Entrepreneur Ideas 174

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 22, 2019

Sarah Paiji had the idea to launch the eco-friendly refillable cleaning supply retailer Blueland after hearing about the abundance of microplastics in the water she was using to dilute her child’s baby formula. “E verything is proprietary everything is backed by patents,” she says.

Design 161

Design Patents Los Angeles Ideas 161

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 17, 2021

Maybe more importantly, your long-term survivability is tied to intellectual property, like trade secrets and patents, as well as other less tangible items like your customer base, your experience, and your skills. Planning is about preparing for the future, not predicting it. Marketing and advertising are business realties.

Entrepreneur 138

Entrepreneur Activity Guide Patents 138

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 7, 2020

Every entrepreneur and startup loves you, but too many forget that every potential customer is not like you. Unfortunately many of their suggestions may actually increase the solution complexity for the larger segment of mainstream customers who come later and you really need for success. Usability is often an afterthought.

Startup 141

Startup Custom Customer Design 141

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2019

Every investor knows how vulnerable a new startup is to competitors, so investors always ask about your sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. How an entrepreneur answers this question speaks volumes about their knowledge of business realities, customers, confidence, and their ability to handle investor funding.

Competition 120

Competition Patents Resource Invest 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 19, 2023

Every entrepreneur has an idea for transforming a market with innovative new technology, or transforming society with a new process. I found his observations, like the following, to be inspirational for those of us chasing an entrepreneurial dream: It’s all about the people. Look for customer-focused value creation.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Competition 101

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2020

You will find it highlighted, for example, in most articles about Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk even today. It clearly takes focus to create and file a patent, but it will give you a tremendous advantage over “me too” competitors. Demonstrate real knowledge of your market and competitors.

Entrepreneur 126

Entrepreneur Startup Patents Resource 126

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 17, 2015

Market change happens too frequently these days, and organizations need to quickly change course just to survive. Willingness in analysis, vision, and numbers to think about the future. The BHAG always poses three questions in parallel: What are you deeply passionate about? Initiating and pacing the implementation process.

Custom 102

Custom Customer Organization Course 102

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2011

Every entrepreneur should spend plenty of time thinking about competitors, and how they relate to your business, but you need to be very careful what you say out loud about them to your team, your investors, and your customers. Here are some common pitfalls or traps to avoid: Above all, don’t say you have no competitors.

Startup 102

Startup Competition Patents Training 102