Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2023

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.

Marketing 119

Marketing Metrics Demand Statistics 119

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 25, 2019

Image via Pixabay One of the things I have learned the hard way over my years in business, and in advising others, is that it takes more than passion, creativity, and hard work to start and grow a business. The most successful business people, in my experience, are the ones who start early, and never stop learning better negotiating skills.

Entrepreneur 96

Entrepreneur Pricing Startup Demand 96

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2022

After many years in business, working in large companies as well as startups, I’m no longer surprised at why mature and successful companies struggle with introducing innovative new ventures as the market and environment changes. Make sure everyone comes with an entrepreneur mindset for real innovation.

Incubator 143

Incubator Seed Funding Metrics Customer 143

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2022

You will be pivoting your business in your lifetime, whether you are a new startup, or a mature company like Motorola or IBM. It happens on the front end for startups to get traction, and then again later for every company as the economy, competition, and culture changes around them. Sherry, Jr., Reinvent the vision for change.

Course 127

Course IBM IBM Social Media 127

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 13, 2014

Mid-level or even top executives who “grew up” in large companies often look with envy at startups, and dream of how easy it must be running a small organization, where you can see the whole picture and it appears you have total control. This transfers well to startups, and should give you an advantage. Never cover your a$$.

Startup 103

Startup Company Companies Training 103

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

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

DECEMBER 22, 2014

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.

Entrepreneur 113

Entrepreneur Metrics Demand Statistics 113

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.

Metrics 157

Metrics Demand Statistics Sales 157

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 2, 2016

Starting a new business is not an informal process, and should never be treated like a hobby between friends. Unfortunately, as a startup advisor and angel investor, I’ve seen too many ventures with great potential get destroyed or set back by legal and other shortcuts that should never have been allowed to happen.

Startup 62

Startup Patents Entrepreneur Writing 62

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2013

“Scope creep” (or feature creep) is an insidious disease that kills more good startups than any other, especially high-tech ones, and yet most founders (who may be the cause) never even see it happening. Here are five basic rules to live by: Document the requirements. entrepreneur startup funding product features business'

Technical Review 110

Technical Review Startup Software Review High Tech 110

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2013

Mid-level or even top executives who “grew up” in large companies often look with envy at startups, and dream of how easy it must be running a small organization, where you can see the whole picture and it appears you have total control. This transfers well to startups, and should give you an advantage. Never cover your a$$.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Training Technical Review 105

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. Phil Buckley, in “ Change With Confidence ,” provides practical answer to fifty of the biggest questions that keep change leaders up at night.

Startup 108

Startup Resource Metrics Technical Review 108

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2013

Although every startup is unique, there are certain common avoidable mistakes that can lead to legal complications which jeopardize the long-term success of the business. Here are five of the most common examples: Failure to document a Founder agreement at the beginning. Trouble with the IRS over Founders stock value.

Startup 94

Startup Patents Legalzoom Invest 94

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2015

You will be pivoting your business in your lifetime, whether you are a new startup, or a mature company like Motorola or IBM. It happens on the front end for startups to get traction, and then again later for every company as the economy, competition, and culture changes around them. Sherry, Jr., Reinvent the vision for change.

Startup 102

Startup Course IBM IBM 102

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

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

FEBRUARY 1, 2015

In the old days, every entrepreneur dreamed of easily taking their startup public, and making it big. Today the rate of startups going public (IPO – Initial Public Offering) is up from the dead zone, but is still less than half the rate of 15 years ago. Startups going public are laid open to competitors and critics.

Startup 98

Startup Technical Review Report Entrepreneur 98

InfoChachkie

MARCH 9, 2016

Entrepreneurs see the world like a cash booth from a 1950’s game show. Once the timer was started, a fan blew the money about and the contestant had a few seconds to grab all the cash they could hold onto. Once you begin seeing the world with the eyes of an entrepreneur, you realize that money-making opportunities are all around you.

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 the timer was started, a fan blew the money about and the contestant had a few seconds to grab all the cash they could hold onto. Once you begin seeing the world with the eyes of an entrepreneur, you realize that money-making opportunities are all around you.

Startup 100

Startup Ideas Santa Barbara Entrepreneur 100

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2015

But for startups with limited resources and experience, I always recommend a soft launch or toe-in-the-water approach in a local market -- and scale up later. In fact, for startups, it usually makes sense to announce your solution on social media and blogs even before you have built the first one.

Startup 63

Startup Social Media Resource Training 63

InfoChachkie

JULY 25, 2011

He suddenly awoke and manically began documenting the first few stanzas of Kubla Kahn , which he had “dreamed”, fully formed. Unfortunately, most accomplishments, especially in the startup world, require a sustained and concerted effort. They gnaw at successful entrepreneurs like an itch they cannot scratch, as Messrs.

Ideas 260

Ideas Startup Entrepreneur Demand 260

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 2, 2011

Although every startup is unique, there are certain common avoidable mistakes that can lead to legal complications which jeopardize the long-term success of the business. Here are five of the most common examples: Failure to document a founder agreement at the beginning. Trouble with the IRS over founders stock value.

Entrepreneur 98

Entrepreneur Patents Invest Startup 98

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 10, 2011

Mid-level or even top executives who “grew up” in large companies often look with envy at startups, and dream of how easy it must be running a small organization, where you can see the whole picture and it appears you have total control. This transfers well to startups, and should give you an advantage. Never cover your a$$.

Startup 105

Startup Company Companies Training 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

JULY 10, 2012

Although every startup is unique, there are certain common avoidable mistakes that can lead to legal complications which jeopardize the long-term success of the business. Here are five of the most common examples: Failure to document a Founder agreement at the beginning. Trouble with the IRS over Founders stock value.

Startup 99

Startup Patents Legalzoom Invest 99

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

In the old days, every entrepreneur dreamed of easily taking their startup public, and making it big. Today the rate of startups going public (IPO – Initial Public Offering) is up from the dead zone, but is still half the rate of 15 years ago. Startups going public are laid open to competitors and critics.

Startup 87

Startup Technical Review Report Entrepreneur 87

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

APRIL 19, 2012

Successful startups are all about turning ideas into action quickly and efficiently. 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. The future of your startup is directly tied to the quality of talent you can attract and keep. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 96

Startup Ideas Organization Customer 96

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2013

In the old days, every entrepreneur dreamed of someday taking their startup public, and making it a multi-national powerhouse. According to an Ernst & Young report , the number of startups that have gone public in the US over the past decade is down about 75% from the previous decade, to about 10% of startup exits.

Startup 97

Startup Report Entrepreneur Statistics 97

socalTECH

MAY 14, 2015

Nothing, except Miles Beckett , a serial entrepreneur who is best known for creating lonelygirl15 and online content provider EQAL. Miles told us about the new startup, plus how he ended up back in the medical world (he started out as a physician) after a stint creating online content.

Startup 100

Startup Content Technical Review Product 100

InfoChachkie

MAY 16, 2011

As an entrepreneur and startup investor, I have helped create companies which achieved two IPOs which collectively raised over $100 million, as well as two acquisitions which totaled $385 million. Fallacy: AdVentures tend to evolve once you begin speaking with pesky customers and demanding partners. 7) Hire A Consultant.

Startup 242

Startup Outsource Development Outsource Sales 242

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 23, 2010

Mid-level or even top executives who “grew up” in large companies often look with envy at startups, and dream of how easy it must be running a small organization, where you can see the whole picture and it appears you have total control. This transfers well to startups, and should give you an advantage. Never cover your a$$.

Startup 95

Startup Company Companies Training 95

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 6, 2011

“Scope creep” (or feature creep) is an insidious disease that kills more good startups than any other, especially high-tech ones, and yet most founders (who may be the cause) never even see it happening. Here are five basic rules to live by: Document the requirements. Lock down the sign-off authority. Final features approval event.

Technical Review 96

Technical Review Startup Software Review High Tech 96

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

“Scope creep” (or feature creep) is an insidious disease that kills more good startups than any other, especially high-tech ones, and yet most founders (who may be the cause) never even see it happening. Here are five basic rules to live by: Document the requirements. Lock down the sign-off authority. Final features approval event.

Technical Review 75

Technical Review Startup Software Review High Tech 75

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 is also behind the popular "Startups Uncensored" events in Los Angeles, so we also pinged him on how those events have been going. It's the eBay of professional documents.

Technical Review 171

Technical Review Rustic Canyon Screening Startup 171

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. For example, there once was a social network called Friendster , often credited with starting the social networking boom way back in 2002. It’s a big change.

Social Network 59

Social Network Startup Demand Entrepreneur 59