Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2023

Serious investors, on the other hand, look for a professional business plan or summary first, and hardly ever look at the product plan. Just for clarification, I characterize a product plan as a formal description of your product or service, with a quick business description at the end for effect. Development schedule and checkpoints.

Product 112

Product Summary Activity Entrepreneur 112

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 25, 2011

There’s a line of thinking in Silicon Valley that you should build product businesses rather than services businesses. It’s nearly impossible to get a services company financed by VCs. Why Shouldn’t Most Services Businesses Raise VC? Why Build a Services Business in the First Place?

Services 332

Services Venture Capital IP Startup 332

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2014

Today’s customers are much more in control of their buying decision, as they have more choices and more information than ever before. Bloom’s recent book, “ The New Experts: Win Today''s Newly Empowered Customers.” Great startups manage to continually improve the relationship through outstanding follow-on support and service.

Customer 98

Customer Custom Entrepreneur Startup 98

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 19, 2011

Or read the quick, informative summary below the image! He is very hands-on and helpful – especially for any company looking into customer acquisition. Here’s a summary of our interview. Later they became big business in Financial services lead-gen. He wanted to see all the data himself. we both love Jason).

Acquisition 304

Acquisition Startup Customer Custom 304

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 30, 2015

Today’s customers are much more in control of their buying decision, as they have more choices and more information than ever before. Bloom’s classic book, “ The New Experts: Win Today's Newly Empowered Customers.” Great startups manage to continually improve the relationship through outstanding follow-on support and service.

Customer 101

Customer Custom Startup Course 101

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

Investors, on the other hand, typically don’t even look very hard at the product or service, but prefer to evaluate first the entrepreneur, and secondly the business plan. A deep product or service has a robust set of features. A complete solution provides a great experience that includes service, support, and a string of enhancements.

Ideas 155

Ideas Startup Summary Examples 155

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2023

With one of the many new tools , and a dose of sweat equity, you can create a website for almost nothing -- and you are on your way to success with ecommerce, your latest invention or personal services. Barter services for access to required resources. Keep expenses down, but keep customer visibility and sensitivity as a top priority.

Equity 139

Equity Social Media Startup Summary 139

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

Today’s customers are much more in control of their buying decision, as they have more choices and more information than ever before. Bloom’s classic book, “ The New Experts: Win Today's Newly Empowered Customers.” Great startups manage to continually improve the relationship through outstanding follow-on support and service.

Customer 52

Customer Custom Startup Course 52

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 31, 2020

Serious investors, on the other hand, look for a professional business plan or summary first, and hardly ever look at the product plan. Just for clarification, I characterize a product plan as a formal description of your product or service, with a quick business description at the end for effect. Development schedule and checkpoints.

Entrepreneur 124

Entrepreneur Startup Summary Product 124

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 24, 2016

Investors, on the other hand, typically don’t even look very hard at the product or service, but prefer to evaluate first the entrepreneur, and secondly the business plan. A deep product or service has a robust set of features. A complete solution provides a great experience that includes service, support, and a string of enhancements.

Customer 60

Customer Custom Ideas Summary 60

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 23, 2021

It also starts with a good summary of the intangibles, summarized as the five rules of relevancy, by Mark Zawacki: A startup needs to be relevant and stay relevant. Relevancy for an early-stage company is the discovery and understanding of the real addressable market for a product or service. A startup must gain balanced traction.

Education 151

Education Customer Custom Sales 151

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2023

I saw a good summary of the most effective ways to source prospective investors in a classic book, “ The Art of Startup Fundraising ,” by Alejandro Cremades, who has been there and done that, both as an entrepreneur and an investor. Identify customer executives who need your solution. Reach out to your biggest fans for investor leads.

Statistics 98

Statistics Entrepreneur Funding Social Media 98

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2023

Factor in basic infrastructure quality and services. The cost of doing business in any market is heavily dependent on local transportation, energy, technology, and financial services. These components can totally change your customer value proposition, or the business model that you have honed.

Outsource Development 110

Outsource Development Social Media Entrepreneur Summary 110

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2021

The specifics of these shortcomings are hard to nail down, but I was impressed with the good summary provided in a new book, “ Make It, Don’t Fake It ,” by Sabrina Horn. For example, a few years ago Wells Fargo seriously damaged its brand trying to grow the business by creating accounts without proper customer consent.

Examples 170

Examples Customer Custom Social Media 170

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2022

Today more than ever, the evidence is clear that business people need to find and communicate a purpose that goes beyond making a profit, in order to ensure customer engagement, as well as your own, and drive results in the marketplace. As you grow, so will your team and customers. Driven to reduce personal hardship and suffering.

Technical Review 143

Technical Review Coach Mentor Customer 143

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2023

Leading change is even harder, trying to balance the demands of the customers against the needs and expectations of employees. Here is my summary of her insights, with my thoughts added: Strive to make things better by serving others. You can change products and services, but service and quality to customers must endure.

Satisfaction 130

Satisfaction IBM IBM Summary 130

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2011

Entrepreneurs always work hard to create an innovative product or service, but often count on standard seller marketing for sales. But the reality is that sellers are no longer in charge of the customer buying process. The best way to do this is with real customer interviews. Don’t start from how you want to sell.

Customer 96

Customer Custom Search Engine Optimization Summary 96

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 22, 2020

I saw a good summary of the most effective ways to source prospective investors in a classic book, “ The Art of Startup Fundraising ,” by Alejandro Cremades, who has been there and done that, both as an entrepreneur and an investor. Identify customer executives who need your solution. Reach out to your biggest fans for investor leads.

Funding 173

Funding Tips Startup Statistics 173

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2020

With one of the many new tools , and a dose of sweat equity, you can create a website for almost nothing -- and you are on your way to success with ecommerce, your latest invention or personal services. Barter services for access to required resources. Keep expenses down, but keep customer visibility and sensitivity as a top priority.

Social Media 169

Social Media Startup Equity Summary 169

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 12, 2022

How good are you and everyone on your team at proactively scanning the environment for opportunities, emerging trends, and customer feedback? Imbue customer change focus. Provide direct customer contact to everyone, as well as training. In summary, change will happen. Increase change agility.

Startup 116

Startup Training Statistics Summary 116

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 6, 2016

Contrary to popular opinion, viral marketing has not eliminated the need for old-fashioned lead generation to bring customers to a startup. Here is my summary of the seven most successful lead-generation vehicles he and I still recommend today, despite the popularity of viral marketing: Search-engine marketing. Display advertising.

Customer 60

Customer Custom Marketing Social Media 60

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2023

A business is an entity which exchanges goods and services with people outside the business (customers) for money, social good, or something of equal value. Here is a summary of the key stages along the way: Idea and seed stage. Business owners get their satisfaction from happy customers and happy stakeholders.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Startup Ideas Satisfaction 108

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 4, 2012

Most sophisticated investors ignore them, focusing their attention on an entrepreneur's pitch and presentation materials, financial forecast and executive summary. As such, the primary goal of your executive summary is to open the door to an in-person meeting. Entrepreneurs routinely seek my advice regarding their executive summaries.

Venture Capital 211

Venture Capital Summary Technical Review Template 211

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 2, 2023

Here is my summary of key strategies that I would recommend to every mature business leader as well as startup founders: Regular personal contact with every team member. Nurture your relationship with critical and loyal customers. Most importantly of all, become very clear on what your customers need from you.

Summary 102

Summary Activity Customer Custom 102

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 21, 2021

For entrepreneurs, effective networking is required to find investors, partners, and customers. Serious investors expect founders to have their homework done before the first interaction – documented executive summary, business plan, and financial model. Customer retention. Investor negotiations. Time management.

Activity 133

Activity Startup Ideas Technical Review 133

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 16, 2023

Contrary to popular opinion, viral marketing has not eliminated the need for old-fashioned lead generation to bring customers to a startup. Here is my summary of the seven most successful lead-generation vehicles he and I still recommend today, despite the popularity of viral marketing: Search-engine marketing. Display advertising.

Marketing 114

Marketing Invest Social Media SEM 114

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 6, 2021

I found a good summary of the most common mistakes in a classic book by Kelly Clifford, “ Profit Rocket ,” written primarily to help you on the other side of the equation – skyrocket your profits. If you expect payment in 30 days, many customers will stretch this period to 45 days or even 90. In startups, cash is king.

Technical Review 151

Technical Review Startup Summary Pricing 151

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 1, 2021

Customers are looking for a differentiator today. If you haven’t changed for several years the way you do common processes, like customer satisfaction surveys, lead generation, and marketing, it’s time to look at the new remote apps and social media platforms for more effective and relevant alternatives.

Examples 128

Examples Social Media Summary Satisfaction 128

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 6, 2022

Susan has years of experience in the small business trenches, and really focuses on what it takes to succeed, with realistic caveats from my perspective, including an excellent summary of ‘words of wisdom’ messages that every entrepreneur should take to heart: Don’t chase your tail. Look for collaborative opportunities. Expect the unexpected.

Summary 147

Summary Entrepreneur Activity Resource 147

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 18, 2021

Contact key vendors and existing customers. Here is a quick summary of the priorities normally covered by the due diligence process: Evaluation of key players. This will cover the technology, the current state of development, and customer satisfaction. If the product is in customer hands, expect some customers to be interviewed.

Technical Review 152

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Summary 152

Tech.Co

MARCH 5, 2020

Without physical branches, it’s a digital-only service, with assistance and support available via live chat, as well as phone and email. With this option, customers can access a Mastercard debit card and the mobile app. 24/7 human customer service. The ability to separate savings and spending in ‘Pots’.

Summary 114

Summary Startup Report Sites 114

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 6, 2023

Conduct your own customized market research. You need to find just enough information to quantify the real need out there for your product or service. Competitor annual reports, white papers, press releases, and presentations are great sources of data and trends that you can use to support your own efforts.

Statistics 120

Statistics Research Report Newsletter 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2021

I like the summary of the competitive reality in a new book, “ Rethinking Competitive Advantage: New Rules for the Digital Age ,” by Ram Charan, who relates a wealth of current experience from global clients: Customers expect a personalized experience. Create a team culture for personalized service.

Competition 142

Competition Software Review Social Media Customer 142

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 3, 2021

Smart potential customers only visit and buy from credible and memorable websites. No name, picture, address, or business history only convinces customers that you are hiding, located in an un-trustable country, or don’t have a clue. Follow-up for customer satisfaction. Put yourself on the site. People buy from people.

Web 117

Web Search Engine Optimization eBook Advertising 117

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 15, 2013

In part one I covered the need for early-stage enterprise software companies to build up professional services staff to ensure successful implementation projects. This post is about how to work with your largest customers when you’re an early-stage software company and about how you can increase your margins by selling your roadmap.

Customer 297

Customer Custom Pricing Startup 297

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2020

Factor in basic infrastructure quality and services. The cost of doing business in any market is heavily dependent on local transportation, energy, technology, and financial services. These components can totally change your customer value proposition, or the business model that you have honed.

Marketing 134

Marketing Outsource Development Social Media Entrepreneur 134

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2019

Yet I find that only a few are able to put their passion aside for a moment, and compare their solution to the attributes that really attract a large market of new customers. Most trend watchers agree that it is time for a revolutionary new category of medicine treatment devices and customized healthcare solutions.

Startup 91

Startup Customer Custom Examples 91