Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 5, 2010

Social Networks: Past, Present & Future. The Past (1985-2002). Brands didn’t advertise their web pages they advertised “AOL Keywords.&# If you were a newly minted, venture-backed consumer Internet company you had to have a deal with AOL to reach your customers. This version is the shorter, ADHD version.

Social Network 297

Social Network Networking Web 2.0 Web 297

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 1, 2009

As organizations we have become more open and I believe this is great for businesses and their customers. We spent time out in the marketplace talking with customers, looking at their solutions, comparing ourselves with our competition and then squirreling ourselves away in our offices designing our next set of features.

Organization 280

Organization Customer Custom Tips 280

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

Fast forward to almost exactly one year later, and a lot has changed for the payments and software startup. Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) led both the Series D and E rounds for the company, which says it has seen 100% growth year over year and a tripling in revenue over the past 18 months.

Technical Review 296

Technical Review Software Review Invest Acquisition 296

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 1, 2014

The second is that the retailers were constrained by their high costs of local real estate and service staff relative to the costs of centralized warehouses where goods could be stacked high, sorted by robots, managed by RFIDs and then shipped via overnight to eager, cost-conscious customers across the US. 10x the experience.

Technical Review 380

Technical Review Software Review CTO Hire Startup 380

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 5, 2010

The Past (1985-2002). If you were a newly minted, venture-backed consumer Internet company you had to have a deal with AOL to reach your customers. Was it massively better software, better companies, better markets? Social Networks: Past, Present & Future. ask microsoft, aol/time warner & google]. The Present Era.

Social Network 318

Social Network Networking Web 2.0 Startup 318

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 5, 2020

Companies that have leveraged technology to make the procurement and delivery of food more accessible to more people have been seeing a big surge of business this year, as millions of consumers are encouraged (or outright mandated, due to Covid-19) to socially distance or want to avoid the crowds of physical shopping and eating excursions.

Technical Review 343

Technical Review Startup Marketing San Diego 343

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. Only one-third make it past their tenth anniversary. Commit to a major customer.

Startup 136

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 136

socalTECH

DECEMBER 3, 2012

NEOGOV , which has quietly built an enterprise software company supplying human resources software to the government and public sector. Currently, we have over a thousand customers, with customers ranging from anywhere from 100 employees to clients with more than a 100,000. In the past, we had been a one product company.

Software Review 243

Software Review SaaS Startup Technical Review 243

Berkonomics

MARCH 23, 2023

We use QR codes to simplify the process. We will enable segmentation of the population to produce customized messages and actions. None of this could be mined successfully in the past generation of technology. 62% look at online peer reviews. We move boarding passes, coupons and more off paper and into the digital world.

Mobile 156

Mobile Commerce Software Review Yammer 156

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 20, 2015

If Smucker’s can annually generate hundreds of millions in sales for a variety of food products, there is little risk that a mediocre company or product name will preclude you from achieving similar success. Instead, expeditiously pick a reasonable moniker and then get back to work delivering value to your customers.

Customer 100

Customer Custom Technical Review Software Review 100

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

Nearly every successful tech startup I’ve observed over the past 20 years has gone through a similar growth pattern: Innovate, systematize then scale operations. Innovate In the early years of a startup there is a lot of kinetic energy of enthusiastic innovators looking to launch a product that changes how an industry works.

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 286

Tech.Co

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

However, 10 years after the software was first released, the kanban-based system is getting a major overhaul. The software now offers Timeline, Table, Dashboard, and Calendar views. You can also use the Dashboard to create custom reports on productivity, which can be essential in reporting to senior leadership.

Software Review 149

Software Review Guide Technical Review Class 149

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2017

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. Consider licensing your product or intellectual property, and “white labeling.”

Develop 70

Develop Development Product Startup 70

InfoChachkie

DECEMBER 2, 2009

As noted in Pour and Stir Part I , the key to the successful execution of this strategy is managing the following equation: The cost to acquire a customer < lifetime value of a customer. Decreasing Your Customer Acquisition Costs. This is equivalent to being handed a free customer for every ten customers you acquire.

Customer 164

Customer Custom Advertising SEM 164

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2021

Traditional business intelligence (and data mining) software does a very good job of showing you where you’ve been. The challenge is to increase response rates and propagate a single view of the customer, by integrating customer data from multiple Web and social media interactions. Customer retention with churn modeling.

Startup 99

Startup Social Media Study Guide 99

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2019

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. Only one-third make it past their tenth anniversary. Commit to a major customer.

Startup 128

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 128

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 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. Consider licensing your product or intellectual property, and “white labeling.”

Tips 104

Tips Startup Technical Review Equity 104

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 13, 2012

But only from customers. That’s because you are not their customer. Tech Companies & Calls: I once read a quote on Twitter that said, If you use a tech service for free then product is you. Tech Companies & Calls: I once read a quote on Twitter that said, If you use a tech service for free then product is you.

Mobile 311

Mobile Technical Review Google Screening 311

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 26, 2016

There has been a lot of public debate over the past several weeks about whether it’s a good thing to be “gross margin positive” or not and commentary always reminds me that some people at startups don’t quite understand financial metrics or even how to think about which ones are healthy. Customer acquisition cost. End of story.

Metrics 150

Metrics Startup SaaS Course 150

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 30, 2011

The part of the movement that resonates the most with me (in my words) is that entrepreneurs should keep their capital expenditures really low while they’re experimenting with their product and determining whether there is a large market for what they do. Rinse & repeat. It takes options off of the table. You have a hunch.

Development Team Review 374

Development Team Review Technical Review Startup Resource 374

socalTECH

MAY 11, 2010

Our customers tend to be mostly moms, but also some dads who support their families, uncles, aunts, and their friends, but primarily moms. We help them identify products that are safe and health for them and their families, from organic baby food, to household items. They had a store, but weren't selling much.

Software Review 200

Software Review Commerce Startup Sites 200

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 12, 2018

If you don’t know, Ring offers home security products that started with a video doorbell, then video floodlights, outdoor stickup cams and now in-home security features that innovate in-home security alongside outside protection. We were CONVINCED Dropcam (then Nest) wouldn’t mobilize a competing product quickly if it did sell?

Startup 247

Startup Pricing Product Marketing 247

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 6, 2014

The functions of an early-stage board are pretty obvious and well understood: Providing introductions to customers, biz dev partners, recruits, the press, other investors, etc. Reviewing financial & operational performance. how to market our products and company. Offering a sparring-partner function on strategic decisions.

Startup 325

Startup Sales Technical Review Software Review 325

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 23, 2012

They are frustrated by the past decade of subpar returns for the sector. Looking ahead at the next decade I am excited by what I believe will be viewed as one of the best and most rational investment periods for venture capital due to seven discrete factors: 1. This has led to the creation of incubators, accelerators and seed funds.

Venture Capital 347

Venture Capital Capital Technical Review Startup 347

socalTECH

OCTOBER 2, 2012

We are focused on the investment in and acquisition of software firms that are generating $2.5M These companies have built a leadership position in the market they serve, and they meet a mission critical need of their customer base. Jeb Spencer: We consider ourselves a private equity firm.

Acquisition 168

Acquisition Software Review Technical Review Equity 168

InfoChachkie

NOVEMBER 23, 2015

Tech Diligence - Consider The Source. Rather, we value entrepreneurs' time and thus our diligence generally includes introducing them to potential customers and partners. Our approach is often additive to all parties, resulting in ongoing, productive relationships. Similar to VoiceXML, the standard for the past 5-yrs.

Venture Capital 100

Venture Capital Technical Review Software Review Southern California 100

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Traditional business intelligence (and data mining) software does a very good job of showing you where you’ve been. The challenge is to increase response rates and propagate a single view of the customer, by integrating customer data from multiple Web and social media interactions. Customer retention with churn modeling.

Social Media 70

Social Media Study Guide Examples 70

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2019

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. Consider licensing your product or intellectual property, and “white labeling.”

Startup 87

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 87

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 1, 2014

Traditional business intelligence (and data mining) software does a very good job of showing you where you’ve been. The challenge is to increase response rates and propagate a single view of the customer, by integrating customer data from multiple Web and social media interactions. Customer retention with churn modeling.

Entrepreneur 103

Entrepreneur Social Media Study Guide 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2018

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. Only one-third make it past their tenth anniversary. Commit to a major customer.

Startup 53

Startup Technical Review Equity Incubator 53

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 9, 2014

All the while, you have product to maintain and a team to manage, but the very thought of hiring a VP or consulting firm makes you cringe. Due Diligence. Past a simple marketplace, SkillBridge has yielded worthwhile results for career changers and those seeking flexible work lifestyles. Marketing & Branding.

Outsource Development 105

Outsource Development Software Review Technical Review Outsource 105

socalTECH

JULY 12, 2013

Many companies would love to be able to get the benefits of cloud--easy configurability, low cost, scaling, and more--but, due to various reasons, can''t take advantage of public cloud services like Amazon. We are also pushing out updates all the time to our customers. That''s very powerful, if you think about.

CIO 207

CIO Southern California Technical Review Software Review 207

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2018

If Bird has thousands of scooters in a neighborhood (and if it can acquire these scooters at cheaper prices due to scale advantages) then it’s significantly more difficult for new entrants to launch without serious capital and it’s hard to get serious capital from investors who perceive you’re late to the game. Brand matters. Why scooters?

Santa Monica 256

Santa Monica Funding Startup Course 256

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2015

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. Consider licensing your product or intellectual property, and “white labeling.”

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Technical Review Equity 105

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2011

“…if you look at a lot of the early stage investors, whether it be Union Square Ventures or First Round or Jeff Clavier at Softtech or Dave McClure – we want to try the product, we want to experience the product, we want to get a sense of how the entrepreneur is thinking about it. You still need the presentation to back that up.

Venture Capital 288

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Software Review 288

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 20, 2016

If your team has a depth of expertise in software, that won’t help you get funding for a new hardware solution. Even if your product is a technological marvel, I look for balanced strength on the team in finance, marketing and operations. When pitching to investors, weave in real-life stories of your best past creative solutions.

Startup 60

Startup Entrepreneur Software Review Technical Review 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2014

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. Consider licensing your product or intellectual property, and “white labeling.”

Entrepreneur 113

Entrepreneur Funding Startup Technical Review 113