Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2021

I see entrepreneurs every day who are trying to change the world with a new idea, and startups that are trying to survive their hyper-growth phase by changing processes to meet demand. Here are ten of the key questions that apply equally well to the world of startups and entrepreneurs, as they do to large organizations.

Startup 155

Startup Resource Metrics Technical Review 155

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans take too much time, are inaccurate, and rarely add value. The size of the document should be based on your style, but 10-20 pages or slides are usually more than adequate to outline even a complex business.

Technical Review 126

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 126

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2023

Most technical entrepreneurs I know demand the discipline of a product specification or plan, and then assume that their great product will drive a great business. Is it any wonder why so few entrepreneurs ever find the professional investors they seek? Yet I’m still often approached by aspiring entrepreneurs who have neither.

Product 112

Product Summary Activity Entrepreneur 112

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2014

Most technical entrepreneurs I know demand the discipline of a product specification or plan, and then assume that their great product will drive a great business. Is it any wonder why so few entrepreneurs ever find the professional investors they seek? Yet I’m still often approached by aspiring entrepreneurs who have neither.

Product 101

Product Entrepreneur Summary Activity 101

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2022

Make sure everyone comes with an entrepreneur mindset for real innovation. In my experience, team members with an entrepreneur mindset are rare in mature companies, due to a growing focus on low risk fixed processes, narrow job roles with specialized expertise, and long-term tenure. Entrepreneurs crave more ownership.

Incubator 143

Incubator Seed Funding Metrics Customer 143

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 18, 2020

Successful entrepreneurs are the ones who think the most creatively, not only in their initial product or service, but more importantly all through the stages of growth from startup to maturity. Entrepreneurs have to be careful not to look too hard for evidence that confirms their passion and positive perspective. Think about that one.

Metrics 157

Metrics Demand Statistics Sales 157

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2022

Resurgence begins when entrepreneurs and top executives stop trusting only themselves, and build a coalition with customers to see what is and isn’t working. Real change demands new goals based on new market realities. Entrepreneurs and team members are quick to forget why change was needed in the first place.

Course 127

Course IBM IBM Social Media 127

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 2, 2011

Here are five of the most common examples: Failure to document a founder agreement at the beginning. Later, when your venture is trying to close on financing, or even going public, that forgotten partner surfaces, demanding their original share. Entrepreneurs often put off the hassle and the cost of filing a patent until first funding.

Entrepreneur 98

Entrepreneur Patents Invest Startup 98

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 22, 2011

I suspect the real challenge is not the semantic web technology , but new attractive business models from smart entrepreneurs. Real time on-demand collaboration. U sers can now interact in real time on documents, collaboration, including making changes. It’s already a couple of years behind schedule from my perspective.

Web 95

Web Entrepreneur Doc Examples 95

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 31, 2023

For example, it has long been widely accepted that one of the primary causes for entrepreneur failure in new startups is that many give up too soon. Successful people are able to find enough personal time off to balance personal needs against the constant barrage of work demands. Find what works for you.

Startup 121

Startup Satisfaction Technical Review Ideas 121

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2013

At a small company, if you're constantly demanding more support, you risk turning your net impact into overhead-creep rather than value creation. On the other side of the ledger, big company executives tend to be demand-driven by initiatives handed down from the top. Well defined and well documented processes don’t exist to guide you.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Training Technical Review 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2015

The solution is to do the right job up front on requirements, document and approve specifications, and have the toughest person you know do the project management. Here are five basic rules to live by: Document the requirements. In all documents, clearly define who must sign off on content and provide business-side feedback.

Technical Review 104

Technical Review Product Software Review High Tech 104

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2022

In the old days, every entrepreneur planned on taking their startup public, and making it big. Smart entrepreneurs are now starting to look at this option again, as well as the challenges of running a public company. Public companies of any size must comply immediately with the full reporting requirements of the SEC.

Startup 98

Startup Report IBM IBM 98

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 28, 2012

The naïve entrepreneur thinks he can relax, after he finally cashes the check from a professional investor, but in reality that’s when the work and the pressure starts. His first reality reset is that now, maybe for the first time, he really has a boss, or several bosses, and often very demanding ones at that.

Entrepreneur 96

Entrepreneur Venture Capital Startup Class 96

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2013

The solution is to do the right job up front on requirements, document and approve specifications, and have the toughest person you know do the project management. Here are five basic rules to live by: Document the requirements. In all documents, clearly define who must sign off on content and provide business-side feedback.

Technical Review 110

Technical Review Startup Software Review High Tech 110

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 31, 2010

The naïve entrepreneur thinks he can relax, after he finally cashes the check from a professional investor, but in reality that’s when the work and the pressure starts. His first reality reset is that now, maybe for the first time, he really has a boss, or several bosses, and often very demanding ones at that.

Entrepreneur 92

Entrepreneur Venture Capital Startup Class 92

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2018

Now is the time to be an entrepreneur and create a business from your passion. Yet, as an angel investor myself, I can attest that many potential entrepreneurs try to take shortcuts, or ignore the realities of business. Prepare a pitch deck to document and share your plan. Build a quality team to complement your own skills.

Funding 73

Funding Social Media Slides Platform 73

InfoChachkie

MARCH 9, 2016

Entrepreneurs see the world like a cash booth from a 1950’s game show. Once you begin seeing the world with the eyes of an entrepreneur, you realize that money-making opportunities are all around you. the smartass entrepreneur replied, “It’s called business. A version of this article previously appeared Forbes.

Startup 100

Startup Ideas Santa Barbara Entrepreneur 100

InfoChachkie

MARCH 7, 2016

Entrepreneurs see the world like a cash booth from a 1950’s game show. Once you begin seeing the world with the eyes of an entrepreneur, you realize that money-making opportunities are all around you. the smartass entrepreneur replied, “It’s called business. A version of this article previously appeared Forbes.

Startup 100

Startup Ideas Santa Barbara Entrepreneur 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 20, 2013

These actions must be the hard part, since entrepreneurs always seem to come to me with ideas, and ask me for help on the actions. In fact, the actions required to start and run a business are well documented, the subject of many books, and taught in college courses across the land. Every entrepreneur loves a challenge.

Ideas 110

Ideas Organization Entrepreneur Customer 110

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2014

As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans are a waste of time. They cite sources like the BusinessWeek story, “ Real Entrepreneurs Don’t Write Business Plans ” and this Forbes article. You need an investor, and want a document to mass-mail to everyone.

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 109

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 20, 2018

Every entrepreneur wants to hear “yes” during the fund-raising process but I would argue that being too risk averse and not pushing hard enough and be willing to hear a “no” is what holds back many people from “yes.” Possibly offend and entrepreneur leading to reputation risk amongst other entrepreneurs.

Funding 189

Funding Software Review Entrepreneur Venture Capital 189

socalTECH

MARCH 4, 2010

Recently, Santa Monica-based Docstoc (www.docstoc.com) launched a new marketplace on its site, for anyone interested in selling professional documents. Jason Nazar: DocStore is a premium marketplace to buy and sell professional documents. It's the eBay of professional documents. We're now at the end of year 3 of the company.

Technical Review 171

Technical Review Rustic Canyon Screening Startup 171

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2013

Here are five of the most common examples: Failure to document a Founder agreement at the beginning. Later, when your venture is trying to close on financing, or even going public, that forgotten partner surfaces, demanding their original share. Entrepreneurs often put off the hassle and the cost of filing a patent until first funding.

Startup 94

Startup Patents Legalzoom Invest 94

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 25, 2014

I see entrepreneurs every day who are trying to change the world with a new idea, and startups that are trying to survive their hyper-growth phase by changing processes to meet demand. Here are ten of the key questions that apply equally well to the world of startups and entrepreneurs, as they do to large organizations.

Startup 108

Startup Resource Metrics Technical Review 108

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2019

Resurgence begins when entrepreneurs and top executives stop trusting only themselves, and build a coalition with customers to see what is and isn’t working. Real change demands new goals based on new market realities. Entrepreneurs and team members are quick to forget why change was needed in the first place.

Course 85

Course IBM IBM Social Media 85

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2016

Good entrepreneurs are all about managing change, but too many forget that they have to change themselves as their dream evolves from a startup to a scalable business. When the business starts to scale, you need documented processes and people with the right skills and training who can do the right work without you.

Social Network 59

Social Network Startup Demand Entrepreneur 59

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 2, 2016

I’m not suggesting that any startup needs to demand perfection, but I do recommend that all learn and follow common business practices from the beginning. I’m not suggesting that formal legal documents are always required, but agreements without some paper or email trail are easily forgotten or misconstrued.

Startup 62

Startup Patents Entrepreneur Writing 62

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. I suggest you use social media, blogging, crowdfunding, or documented research to quantify a real demand from people who can afford it, and don’t have a better alternative already out there.

Ideas 94

Ideas Slides Technical Review Patents 94

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2019

In the old days, every entrepreneur dreamed of easily taking their startup public, and making it big. Smart entrepreneurs are just now starting to look at this option again, due to its unpredictability and the challenges of running a public company. Public companies are always at risk for takeovers.

Startup 84

Startup Technical Review Report IBM 84

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 26, 2019

Every entrepreneur and business person I know wishes he had more time for coaching all the members of his team. Every successful entrepreneur needs to spend more time developing people, as the business grows. In fact, studies have shown that the long-term value of coaching has a return of at least 2x to more than 100x times the cost.

Coach 91

Coach Course Mentor Examples 91

InfoChachkie

JULY 25, 2011

He suddenly awoke and manically began documenting the first few stanzas of Kubla Kahn , which he had “dreamed”, fully formed. They gnaw at successful entrepreneurs like an itch they cannot scratch, as Messrs. Below are examples of two unrelenting startup earbugs that drove experienced entrepreneurs into action.

Ideas 260

Ideas Startup Entrepreneur Demand 260

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 10, 2012

Here are five of the most common examples: Failure to document a Founder agreement at the beginning. Later, when your venture is trying to close on financing, or even going public, that forgotten partner surfaces, demanding their original share. Entrepreneurs often put off the hassle and the cost of filing a patent until first funding.

Startup 99

Startup Patents Legalzoom Invest 99

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2013

I see entrepreneurs every day who are trying to change the world with a new idea, and startups that are trying to survive their hyper-growth phase by changing processes to meet demand. Here are ten of the key questions that apply equally well to the world of startups and entrepreneurs, as they do to large organizations.

Startup 101

Startup Resource Metrics Technical Review 101

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2018

As a long-time advisor to entrepreneurs and business owners, I rarely find someone who doesn’t proclaim that the business world is changing rapidly, with new technology, new customer expectations, and new cultures. They have to be energized and able to adapt as the market and competitors demand.

Technical Review 84

Technical Review Customer Custom Startup 84

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2013

Successful entrepreneurs are the ones who think the most creatively, not only in their initial product or service, but more importantly all through the stages of growth from startup to maturity. Entrepreneurs have to be careful not to look too hard for evidence that confirms their passion and positive perspective. Think about that one.

Metrics 110

Metrics Entrepreneur Demand Statistics 110

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 19, 2012

These actions must be the hard part, since entrepreneurs always seem to come to me with ideas, and ask me for help on the actions. In fact, the actions required to start and run a business are well documented, the subject of many books, and taught in college courses across the land. Every entrepreneur loves a challenge.

Startup 96

Startup Ideas Organization Customer 96