Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

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 Entrepreneur Technical Review Patents 106

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. There are lots of resources available for the challenge of that activity, including the Internet and mentors like me. Some dreams sound great, but may not yet be viable or proven with today’s technology.

Ideas 94

Ideas Slides Technical Review Patents 94

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2014

Despite some recent advances, there are still some cultures which have less regard for patents and other intellectual property. Leading edge technology software and manufacturing require constant course corrections and iterative restarts. Customer-facing services, like call centers, should rarely be outsourced.

Outsource Development 95

Outsource Development Outsource Offshore Software Review 95

socalTECH

AUGUST 4, 2015

We caught up with Mike recently to better understand the company's technology, why there's an interest in energy storage by utilities, and more about that deployment. Can you talk about your technology? We have a lot in common in terms of those air conditioners and even the technology, but our product is different in an important way.

Southern California 100

Southern California Technical Review Demand Outsource Development 100

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2013

Of course, every company needs these, in due time. In today’s Internet world, enterprising entrepreneurs have found that they can find out and do almost anything they need, from incorporating the company to filing patents, without expensive consultants, or the cost to hiring and firing employees. Need expensive resources up front.

Startup 100

Startup Entrepreneur Technical Review Equity 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2016

Despite some recent advances, there are still some cultures which have less regard for patents and other intellectual property. Leading edge technology software and manufacturing require constant course corrections and iterative restarts. Customer-facing services, like call centers, should rarely be outsourced.

Outsource Development 53

Outsource Development Outsource Software Review Technical Review 53

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 6, 2017

In this article #StartupsEverywhere , I talked with Joe Wallace, CEO and Chief Innovation Officer of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership, and Hank McCarrick, CEO and founder of Seco Sys about sustainability, emerging eco tech, and challenges in the ecosystem. Joe Wallace, CEO and Chief Innovation Officer at CVEP.

Startup 105

Startup Technical Review Patents Services 105

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 6, 2017

In this article #StartupsEverywhere , I talked with Joe Wallace, CEO and Chief Innovation Officer of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership, and Hank McCarrick, CEO and founder of Seco Sys about sustainability, emerging eco tech, and challenges in the ecosystem. Joe Wallace, CEO and Chief Innovation Officer at CVEP.

Startup 119

Startup Technical Review Patents Services 119

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2016

They expect to see at least a prototype solution, funded from your own resources, or friends and family or a grant. Angels are most interested to help you scale the business, once you have real customer traction and ready to break out. A business needs technical, marketing, financial and many other skills.

Angel 65

Angel Startup Technical Review Social Media 65

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Of course, every company needs these, in due time. In today’s Internet world, enterprising entrepreneurs have found that they can find out and do almost anything they need, from incorporating the company to filing patents, without expensive consultants, or the cost to hiring and firing employees. Need expensive resources up front.

Technical Review 95

Technical Review Startup Equity Entrepreneur 95

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

Of course, every company needs these, in due time. In today’s Internet world, enterprising entrepreneurs have found that they can find out and do almost anything they need, from incorporating the company to filing patents, without expensive consultants, or the cost to hiring and firing employees. Need expensive resources up front.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup Equity 102

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 4, 2016

Assume you already know what your customers need and want. Just because you love a new solution doesn’t mean your customers will love it. Before spending any money, make sure you interact directly with potential customers, industry experts and investors. You need patents and trademarks as a barrier to entry.

Startup 59

Startup Training Entrepreneur Customer 59

Tech Zulu Event

MARCH 4, 2014

It’s almost been a work week since Techzulu and Gadget Review’s REACH | The Connected Future and we’re still reeling with excitement. Sandra Itkoff – Entrepeneur in Residence, UCLA Institute for Innovation and Technology Transfer. Technology Drives Carbon Reduction. Cleantech, a Misnomer.

UCLA 99

UCLA Technical Review Software Review Incubator 99

SoCal CTO

MARCH 4, 2010

I’ve worked with 30+ early-stage companies in all sorts of capacities (and spoken to many, many more), so I thought it might be worthwhile trying to classify the various ways that I’ve engaged in different technology roles in startups. It depends on the business, people, technologies, etc. Each situation is just a bit different.

Technical Review 170

Technical Review Technical Advisors CTO Coach Startup 170

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 25, 2022

In the rush of a startup, it’s tempting to start spending the money you expect any day from a rich uncle or a major new customer. Many entrepreneurs have destroyed a strategic alliance, an investor relationship, or lost a key customer by jumping in with harsh words after a bad day at home or at the office.

Startup 100

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Customer 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2023

For example, a while back a passionate entrepreneur approached me with an innovative solution for reducing world hunger, but hadn’t focused on the fact that hungry people often don’t have any money, and governments are not easy customers. Find market evidence of customers with means who are willing to pay for a solution.

Tips 80

Tips Startup Satisfaction Ideas 80

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 30, 2020

In the rush of a startup, it’s tempting to start spending the money you expect any day from a rich uncle or a major new customer. Many entrepreneurs have destroyed a strategic alliance, an investor relationship, or lost a key customer by jumping in with harsh words after a bad day at home or at the office.

Startup 125

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Customer 125

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 10, 2009

We've created a patent pending technology called Autobuild. From a customer's perspective, one thing we've consciously tried to do is to make it available to any publisher--long tail, torso, or right side. You get tremendous resources in New York, but at a small, buy-side management firm we had nothing.

Advertising 127

Advertising Startup Sales Tool 127

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

In the rush of a startup, it’s tempting to start spending the money you expect any day from a rich uncle or a major new customer. Many entrepreneurs have destroyed a strategic alliance, an investor relationship, or lost a key customer by jumping in with harsh words after a bad day at home or at the office.

Entrepreneur 109

Entrepreneur Technical Review Startup Satisfaction 109

Frank Addante

MAY 15, 2006

the Rubicon Project (Internet Advertising Technology) Status: Pre-Launch Visit the Rubicon Project Website Startup 5.0: Wireless & Voice Application Software) Exit: technology acquired Lesson: Timing is critical. Wireless & Voice Application Software) Exit: technology acquired Lesson: Timing is critical. Patent Lawsuit 6.

Advertising 40

Advertising Startup Chief Technology Officer Technical Review 40

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2018

In the rush of a startup, it’s tempting to start spending the money you expect any day from a rich uncle or a major new customer. Many entrepreneurs have destroyed a strategic alliance, an investor relationship, or lost a key customer by jumping in with harsh words after a bad day at home or at the office.

Technical Review 63

Technical Review Entrepreneur Startup Customer 63

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Too many entrepreneurs look for that one magic bullet -- an exciting new technology, perhaps, or their own determination to make the world a better place -- to override any shortcomings in their startup model. As a startup founder, you won’t have the marketing resources or brand recognition to appeal to all consumers.

Pricing 100

Pricing Technical Review Entrepreneur Startup 100

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2015

In the rush of a startup, it’s tempting to start spending the money you expect any day from a rich uncle or a major new customer. Many entrepreneurs have destroyed a strategic alliance, an investor relationship, or lost a key customer by jumping in with harsh words after a bad day at home or at the office.

Technical Review 60

Technical Review Entrepreneur Startup Satisfaction 60

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 23, 2012

The easy answer of splitting it equally among all co-founders, since there is minimal value at that point, is usually the worst possible answer, and often results in a later startup failure due to an obvious inequity. Expertise can be marketing, technical, financial, or sales. Domain expertise and connections.

Startup 101

Startup Entrepreneur Equity CTO Hire 101

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 8, 2010

The easy answer of splitting it equally among all co-founders, since there is minimal value at that point, is usually the worst possible answer, and often results in a later startup failure due to an obvious inequity. Expertise can be marketing, technical, financial, or sales. Domain expertise and connections.

Equity 91

Equity Startup CTO Hire CTO Coach 91