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

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

SoCal CTO

APRIL 2, 2013

They look at the following high level definition of Lean: and they interpret that as write up an executive summary with your ideas and hand it to developers to build. Have you conducted Problem, Solution and Feature Interviews with customers? Don't be fooled by a Common Misunderstanding in Agile Software Development.

CTO Coach 219

CTO Coach Metrics Framework Software Development 219

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. Features, availability, and brand are just the price of entry.

Competition 142

Competition Software Review Social Media Customer 142

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 15, 2013

This is my third post in a series on Enterprise Software. In part one I covered the need for early-stage enterprise software companies to build up professional services staff to ensure successful implementation projects. For starters as a young enterprise software company you need to think about the customer segments you serve.

Customer 297

Customer Custom Pricing Startup 297

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 19, 2012

And in the case of defining mobile/web/software, there is even more variability in terms of form and format. This should be an iterative process with advisors and customers providing feedback on the product. Customer Development Notes I'm assuming founders are having customer development conversations.

Develop 354

Develop Development Technical Review CTO Coach 354

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 5, 2022

They are more sensitive to customer needs and see peer collaboration as the most effective decision process. Modern Internet communication and video meeting software have given new scope and immediacy to communal work efforts and customer feedback. Office jobs and communication technology have evolved.

Outsource 133

Outsource Training Organization Social Media 133

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 23, 2013

I’ve been writing a series on a simple methodology that we used at my first enterprise software company. Simply, this is identifying a customer need that has economic value to them if they can solve it. This solves the customer question, “Why Buy Anything?”. There are many out there and many books have been written on the topic.

Sales 328

Sales Customer Custom Examples 328

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2015

So that we’re speaking the same language I would define “exclusive” as a period in which your company is prohibited from doing business with certain customers or business partners, which is why many incorrectly assume this is necessarily bad. Why Exclusivity Matters to Your Customers or Business Development Partners.

Outsource Development 150

Outsource Development Startup Customer Custom 150

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 17, 2013

In my first enterprise software company we developed a methodology for sales that we called PUCCKA. Customers sometimes buy things spontaneously without thinking through what their actual need is. The goal is to get the customer speaking about their organization. These references make for great discussions with customers.

Sales 367

Sales Slides Startup Customer 367

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

There is nothing more pure than building a product, putting it out in the world and seeing paying customers using your product and in some cases loving it. He came to work in our offices at Upfront Ventures as an EIR and immediately began building software to improve how storage was picked up, photographed, scanned and routed to a warehouse.

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 286

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 17, 2019

But like the company Kyriba, where we recently sold our position at above $1 billion, it took time until the revenue exceeded $100 million recurring and then the industry really competed to back this amazing company since it had scale, defensible technology and long-term, committed customers. Over the past 2.5 Why does that matter?

Venture Capital 223

Venture Capital IP Startup Google 223

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 19, 2015

Almost every online business I know (eCommerce, online software, mobile games) invests heavily in “customer acquisition” This includes investments often not properly measured (SEO, PR, Social) as well as costs that people measure more precisely (advertising, SEM, FB CPA/CPI ads). But think of this. But think of this.

SEM 150

SEM Content Platform Acquisition 150

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 1, 2015

“the ecommerce company gained fauxmentum by raising artificially high amounts of venture capital and spent lavishly on customer acquisition despite long payback periods and questionable LTV” __. In the ecommerce arena I see some great companies spending heavily on customer acquisition. __. faux·men·tum.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Customer Custom 150

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. Over time you start to figure out who you customers are and how to sell to them or how to get them to adopt your products if you’re a consumer-oriented startup.

Startup 325

Startup Sales Technical Review Software Review 325

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 25, 2011

Service as a bridge to a product business - One of the best ways for young startups to finance their business without any dilution is what I call “customer financing,&# which is mostly only possible in businesses that target businesses rather than consumers. “How much is that software really worth? Who else is using it?

Services 332

Services Venture Capital IP Startup 332

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2013

It’s best to think of your VC partnership as a customer. You would never sell to one department and then trust them to manage all of the relationships with other departments who have to use your software. In summary, VC partnerships are like any organization.

Venture Capital 309

Venture Capital Summary Organization Entrepreneur 309

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 23, 2013

No summary of what we did, no easy way for me to recommend my trainer to my friends, and no way for me to easily book the next appointment. Sergey’s diverse experience as an entrepreneur, technology consultant and software executive qualifies him to lead amSTATZ’s technology development. We have 115 paying customers right now.

Social Network 92

Social Network Networking Training Summary 92

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 21, 2019

For years software development worked on a “waterfall model” in which you did research, design, build, test, deploy and then watch how users reacted to your product. Often these projects took 12–18 months so by the time companies shipped product they often found out that the product didn’t meet customer needs.

Startup 234

Startup Slides Venture Capital Course 234

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 27, 2011

Or if you’re pinched on time the summary is below and the time coding can help you watch a brief snippet on topics that interest you. 41:00 Transitioning from software to writing. 57: 00 How do you rectify company mission and customer demand. 1:05:35 Middle class job of the next generation: software development!

Social Media 301

Social Media Startup Metrics Media 301

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2013

Just because you or your friends think it is a great idea or great technology, that doesn’t mean that a large number of customers will buy it. Draft a business plan summary. These would include people and money first, and maybe software or manufacturing later to produce and deliver the solution. Marty Zwilling.

Ideas 106

Ideas Startup Summary CalTech 106

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2013

I was with IBM in the early PC days when Bill worked with us to provide PC DOS and other software. For entrepreneurs, effective networking is required to find investors, partners, and customers. Customer retention. More customers are lost to apathy after the sale than poor service or quality. Investor negotiations.

Ideas 110

Ideas Entrepreneur Startup Technical Review 110

InfoChachkie

JUNE 2, 2011

However, over the past several years, Central Desktop’s collaboration software has increased in functionality such that it is now a credible competitor to Microsoft’s SharePoint. You can watch the video below or watch it on YouTube by clicking here : What follows is a summary which paraphrases the interviewee’s responses.

Newsletter 213

Newsletter Conference Marketing Advertising 213

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2014

For example, I once worked for a small software company selling a sophisticated enterprise workflow solution. All this was done without damaging anyone’s credibility, or stealing customers. Here is a summary of each: Complementary strengths allows extended market penetration. Ability to up-sell customers with related products.

Startup 103

Startup Outsource Development Examples Customer 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2012

Just because you or your friends think it is a great idea or great technology, that doesn’t mean that a large number of customers will buy it. Draft a business plan summary. These would include people and money first, and maybe software or manufacturing later to produce and deliver the solution. Marty Zwilling.

Ideas 97

Ideas Summary Startup CalTech 97

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2019

I remember first seeing a good summary of these risk-reduction myths a while back in a classic book, “ How to Start a Business & Ignite Your Life ,” by Ernesto Sirolli, PhD. Their lack of trust and sharing will be noted by employees, vendors, and customers, and the business will suffer. Partner with experts who share the risk.

Software Review 98

Software Review Ideas Outsource Development Entrepreneur 98

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 23, 2011

I took the opportunity this past week to publish summary notes of some of the VCs and entrepreneurs I had interviewed on This Week in VC. TWIVC Summary – Richard de Silva. The idea was right but the timing was early and required a pivot into being a software company. ESPN, Forbes, AOL were customers. Thank you. (if

Capital 265

Capital Venture Capital Veoh Startup 265

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 3, 2010

Let’s assume you run a Customer Support software company. Do you simply begin by asking, “I’d love to understand what your objectives are in customer support? You need to identify a customer problem and talk about how your solution meets the needs of that problem. Where are your current pains?&#.

Sales 314

Sales Startup Venture Capital Customer 314

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2011

Or, as always, summary notes available below. But, in fact, I would rather have an executive summary than a pitch deck. And I would rather, even before the executive summary, have something to play with (a demo)…” It falls in the category of show don’t tell. If you are outside internet software we are not going to invest.

Venture Capital 288

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Software Review 288

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

Exec Summary: Most companies (98+%) in the world (even tech startups) should be very profit focused. If you had huge customer growth but just didn’t focus on revenue that’s a different story. Do 20% of the customers make 80% of the revenue or do the top 3 customers represent 80% of the revenue.

Startup 418

Startup Venture Capital Sales Technical Review 418

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 7, 2011

Just because you or your friends think it is a great idea or great technology, that doesn’t mean that a large number of customers will buy it. Draft a business plan summary. These would include people and money first, and maybe software or manufacturing later to produce and deliver the solution. Marty Zwilling.

Ideas 104

Ideas Entrepreneur Summary Startup 104

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2018

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.

Social Media 55

Social Media SEM Startup Advertising 55

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 2, 2014

There’s an old joke in software development, “How much time does it take to design software?” If you’ve been involved with a number of software projects you already have an intuitive sense for this. In summary – I have been involved with software development for 25 years.

Software 344

Software Startup Design Course 344

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 25, 2014

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 recommends today: Search-engine marketing. Display advertising. Email marketing.

Startup 99

Startup Social Media SEM Advertising 99

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 22, 2010

My philosophy emanated from my days of programming and later designing corporate software in the early 1990′s. In designing GUI interfaces for people coming from the green-screen world we built applications that would be great for desktop publishing, not customer service reps. In summary, 2 quick rules: Do usability testing.

Design 325

Design Startup Web 2.0 Tips 325

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2012

I come from a high-tech software background, and only a few years ago, it would cost at least a million dollars ($1M) for a team of professionals to produce any commercial software product. Now, with open source software components, and low-cost development tools, the same job can be done by one good hacker for a few thousand dollars.

Startup 102

Startup Search Engine Optimization SEM Social Network 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 23, 2012

For example, if your startup is building a high-tech software product, a dream team of advisors would be a former CEO or high-level exec in another software company, a former software marketing executive, and a former financial executive.

Startup 95

Startup Technical Review Software Review High Tech 95