Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2011

2 preamble issues having read the comments on TC today: 1: I know that the prices of startup companies is much great in Silicon Valley than in smaller towns / less tech focused areas in the US and the US prices higher than many foreign markets. You can be pissed off, but I don’t set prices. That’s stupid.

Startup 336

Startup Pricing Technical Review Marketing 336

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2022

By definition, second-stage ventures generally have 10 to 99 employees and/or $750,000 to $50 million in revenue, and see that as just the beginning. Second-stage growth usually requires a formal sales model, an experienced and disciplined sales team, and a well-defined process to meet your new goals and demands.

Sales 147

Sales Metrics Guide Startup 147

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 10, 2019

Image via Pixabay After a frustrating meeting with a small business client recently who didn’t “have time” for social media, I was surprised to find evidence on the Internet that up to one quarter of small business owners are still hesitant to invest time, money, and effort into a social media strategy. Do your homework before you begin.

Social Media 99

Social Media Media Tool Startup 99

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 3, 2010

Because it is a “series&# I plan to get into some of the deeper complexities of funds such as “cross over funds&# and “why VC’s hate to price their own deals&# at a later stage. First, if the VC does 15-20 of these under one partner then it is certain he can’t spend any time with these investments.

Venture Capital 265

Venture Capital Seed Funding Pricing Invest 265

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

Many people bandy about the definitions of “disruptive technology&# or “the innovator’s dilemma&# without ever having read the book and almost universally misunderstand the concepts. This is important because the customers they serve (the red line) demand a product that meets their complex requirements.

Startup 376

Startup Framework Marketing Customer 376

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

This financial leader could well have come through the finance org at another startup or at a larger company but they often also can come from strategy consulting (Bain, BCG or McKinsey) or through investment banking (Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, etc.). and we were met with weak demand, slow growth and high costs.

Startup 286

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 286

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 31, 2011

As I discussed in Matching Algorithm , I end up talking to a lot of startups who want to become the eHarmony of careers, eHarmony of clothes, eHarmony of jobs, eHarmony of tutoring, eHarmony of services, eHarmony of investments, etc. By doing so, you definitely constrain the problem, but it doesn’t strictly go away.

eHarmony 204

eHarmony Marketing Startup Zag 204

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 31, 2011

As I discussed in Matching Algorithm , I end up talking to a lot of startups who want to become the eHarmony of careers, eHarmony of clothes, eHarmony of jobs, eHarmony of tutoring, eHarmony of services, eHarmony of investments, etc. By doing so, you definitely constrain the problem, but it doesn’t strictly go away.

eHarmony 196

eHarmony Marketing Startup Zag 196

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2017

Many are reluctant to really “market” themselves, and have trouble differentiating their offerings to clients, except by price. If your business card and website come across as just another advisor, consultant, or accountant, then don’t be surprised if price is the only focus. Set pricing to assure both revenue and profit.

Social Media 56

Social Media Pricing Technical Review Demand 56

socalTECH

MAY 30, 2019

I think, to be a great entrepreneur, you have to look at what is missing in the category that you will be playing in the industry, and figure what you can deploy with a little bit of strategy and technology to bring a better service and price. By definition, they liked you and thought they were a good fit for you before their applied.

Content 193

Content Social Network Coach Help 193

socalTECH

JUNE 25, 2013

We''ve been bootstrapped since we launched, and already got to half a million in revenues on a total initial investment of $13,000. round changes things for us, and will let us invest in infrastructure, build our team, invest in media, and also invest in technology to better leverage our spend on media. Closing this $1.1M

Services 215

Services Technical Review Startup Pricing 215

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

In essence, as a contractor, you are a consultant who is competing regularly for new work, and you constantly have to differentiate your offering from other candidates, including price. Pick your niche, and continually invest in improving your expertise and keeping up with trends. Walk away from a bad role or customer.

Startup 98

Startup Outsource Development Competition Social Media 98

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2019

By definition, second-stage ventures generally have 10 to 99 employees and/or $750,000 to $50 million in revenue, and see that as just the beginning. Second-stage growth usually requires a formal sales model, an experienced and disciplined sales team, and a well-defined process to meet your new goals and demands.

Startup 97

Startup Sales Metrics Guide 97

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 17, 2012

Consider the situation in which the entrepreneur wants to accept a financially life-changing offer to sell her company which is vetoed by the investor because the price does not meet its minimal investment return criteria. You may gain an investment in the short term with disingenuous responses.

Entrepreneur 253

Entrepreneur Google Invest RSS 253

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 4, 2019

These days, a fun shopping experience, or no-question returns, often tips the scales over extra product features or a lower price. One of the keys to a successful customer-centric strategy is understanding and measuring your customers lifetime value (CLV), since customers are definitely not all the same.

Customer 85

Customer Custom Product Metrics 85

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 29, 2012

Consider the situation in which the entrepreneur wants to accept a financially life-changing offer to sell her company which is vetoed by the investor because the price does not meet its minimal investment return criteria. You may gain an investment in the short term with disingenuous responses.

Entrepreneur 145

Entrepreneur Google Invest RSS 145

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

By definition, second-stage ventures generally have 10 to 99 employees and/or $750,000 to $50 million in revenue, and see that as just the beginning. Second-stage growth usually requires a formal sales model, an experienced and disciplined sales team, and a well-defined process to meet your new goals and demands.

Startup 108

Startup Sales Metrics Entrepreneur 108

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 28, 2010

Rustic Canyon is an LA-based, but geography-agnostic VC that is currently investing from a $200 million fund. They were originally founded inside of Times Mirror and had a huge string of major investment success before spinning out as a fully independent fund. The investment will be used for product development initiatives.

Venture Capital 270

Venture Capital Capital Rustic Canyon Mobile 270

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

By definition, second-stage ventures generally have 10 to 99 employees and/or $750,000 to $50 million in revenue, and see that as just the beginning. Second-stage growth usually requires a formal sales model, an experienced and disciplined sales team, and a well-defined process to meet your new goals and demands.

Startup 56

Startup Sales Metrics Guide 56

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2013

By definition, second-stage ventures generally have 10 to 99 employees and/or $750,000 to $50 million in revenue, and see that as just the beginning. Second-stage growth usually requires a formal sales model, an experienced and disciplined sales team, and a well-defined process to meet your new goals and demands.

Sales 96

Sales Metrics Startup Entrepreneur 96

Tech Zulu Event

SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

This Panel is filled with investing super stars who will be going over must have content for all the startups and entrepreneurs out there. Investment trends in startups that are about or related to social media. Definitely tune in Wednesday Sept. Definitely tune in Wednesday Sept. Be sure to tune in at 5:30pm PT.

Social Media 71

Social Media Technical Review Mixergy Tech Coast Angels 71

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 12, 2023

They fail to realize that the considerations are quite different for each, which can make or break their investment efforts, and ultimately their startup. Let’s consider some basic definitions. VCs tend to demand more control of your spending and strategic decisions, with required board seats and lower valuations.

Startup 98

Startup Venture Capital Funding Invest 98

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

By definition each of those VCs (unless they are a micro VC – and one who doesn’t mind 5% ownership) will view you as a sort of “option&# where they might get to fund the next round if you do well. So why else would they invest if not as an option to re-up in the next round? But it happens.

Venture Capital 314

Venture Capital Startup Invest Pricing 314

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 13, 2020

They fail to realize that the considerations are quite different for each, which can make or break their investment efforts, and ultimately their startup. Let’s consider some basic definitions. VCs tend to demand more control of your spending and strategic decisions, with required board seats and lower valuations.

Venture Capital 125

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Startup Invest 125

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 23, 2010

You’ve invested $1 million in building the perfect application the meet a large market need. and you’re ready for your big round of VC investment to come in. The price points are not as high as your beautiful Excel spreadsheet had forecasted when you raised your seed capital. You need to stimulate demand.

Startup 293

Startup Sales Marketing Product 293

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 2, 2014

They fail to realize that the considerations are quite different for each, which can make or break their investment efforts, and ultimately their startup. Let’s consider some basic definitions. VCs tend to demand more control of your spending and strategic decisions, with required board seats and lower valuations.

Venture Capital 106

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Angel Startup 106

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 16, 2012

Partners make investment decisions. ” In VC terms that means the key questions you need to answer are, is this investor: Geographically focused and have they invested in my geography before? Already invested in one of my key competitors? Do they have money to invest? Meet in person. They’re buying you.

Develop 366

Develop Development Funding Venture Capital 366

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2016

They fail to realize that the considerations are quite different for each, which can make or break their investment efforts, and ultimately their startup. Let’s consider some basic definitions. VCs tend to demand more control of your spending and strategic decisions, with required board seats and lower valuations.

Startup 59

Startup Help Venture Capital Entrepreneur 59

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 30, 2010

My original thinking from Oct ’09 was, while I didn’t (and still don’t) have a crystal ball I worried that: consumers were over-stretched with debt (and make up 77% of the economy), unemployment would continue to rise, which in turn would drive the stock market south and cut the rate of M&A activity and VC investment even further.

Entrepreneur 298

Entrepreneur Venture Capital Technical Review Startup 298