Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

As an investor in startups, I most often see entrepreneurs who are technologists, or at least have a real passion for a specific product. Many entrepreneurs try to do the whole job alone, or surround themselves with “yes” people, or count on family and friends to back them. Using metrics to measure results and commitments.

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Startup Custom Customer Technical Review 113

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 28, 2020

As a new business advisor, I hear facts all the time about how hard an entrepreneur is working, but often have a hard time getting them to quantify results. Even you as the entrepreneur, who may not be getting paid at all, are tricked into thinking that if you had more hours, you could get better results.

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Metrics Entrepreneur Satisfaction Study 124

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2021

Almost every entrepreneur and new business owner I mentor is certain that his/her idea has a very high probability of success, and all find it hard to believe that ninety percent of startups ultimately fail. For example, I believe Bill Gates would have failed without his partners Steve Ballmer and Paul Allen.

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Technical Review Case Study Mentor Software Review 131

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2021

Based on my experience advising new entrepreneurs as well as more mature businesses, I recommend the following strategies for building business momentum, while still optimizing the limited resources of every small business: Find more customers that like what you do best. Focus first on finding more of the right customers.

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Technical Review Technical Advisors Startup Mentor 160

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2020

More importantly, I look for entrepreneurs and owners like you who are not afraid to hold themselves accountable for the success of the business. Every investor can recite examples of passionate entrepreneurs who seek funding for a worthy cause, like feeding the hungry, without a real business case for who will pay.

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Startup Examples Coach Metrics 113

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 27, 2019

As a mentor to entrepreneurs, I often get asked for the magic that has made Amazon the world's most valuable brand , from a total unknown only twenty years ago. They present a convincing story that every entrepreneur has the same potential, but most get sidetracked and bogged down by their technology, competitors, and internal organization.

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Marketing Technical Review Custom Customer 123

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 21, 2014

I’d like to do a few posts on what life looks like on the way up and perhaps how to keep your head on straight and avoid drinking your own Kool Aid because as I often advise entrepreneurs on irrational exuberance, “ In a strong wind even turkeys can fly.” Create company measures for success that go beyond financial metrics.

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Marketing Case Study Metrics Sales 354

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2022

For example, I’m an introverted product guy who doesn’t care so much about building the personnel relationships needed to keep a motivated team. A strong vision and deep insight may get your business off the ground, but long-term success requires constant data analysis, metrics, and attention to your customer feedback.

Mentor 133

Mentor Startup Custom Customer 133

SoCal CTO

MARCH 11, 2013

If you do build the MVP and show it to them, they will ask you about your metrics. They really want metrics, not a product. For example, the iPod won not because of better features and functions. The real question you should be asking is "When I've built this product and show you the following metrics, would you invest?"

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Metrics Venture Capital News Product 264

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2011

Many entrepreneurs are too focused on their dream to take notice of health warning signs, which leads them to ignore business health signs as well. Entrepreneurs can be so focused that they ignore the family, resulting in an unhealthy situation for everyone. These will help you unleash the creative side. Work and family balance.

Entrepreneur 93

Entrepreneur Startup Metrics Demand 93

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

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.

Social Network 59

Social Network Startup Demand Entrepreneur 59

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 Custom Customer Startup 84

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2013

Many entrepreneurs are too focused on their dream to take notice of health warning signs, which leads them to ignore business health signs as well. Entrepreneurs can be so focused that they ignore the family, resulting in an unhealthy situation for everyone. entrepreneur startup life balance employee health business'

Startup 93

Startup Tips Entrepreneur Metrics 93

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 27, 2011

” I mention journalists here because they perpetuate the myth that focusing on profits is ALWAYS the right answer and then I hear many entrepreneurs (and certainly many “normals”) repeating the same mantra. I have had this discussion with many a first-time entrepreneur. For example, look at the following graph.

Startup 418

Startup Venture Capital Sales Technical Review 418

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 25, 2016

The bar is being raised, so every entrepreneur needs new initiatives just to stay in the ballgame. Some entrepreneurs are so focused on their technology, they assume their customers think the same way. Promote by example a superior customer experience mindset. Personally listen and interact with customers regularly.

Custom 55

Custom Customer Startup Coach 55

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 2, 2013

Social media demands two-way communication, rather than outbound only. Define relevant metrics and measure. That means first take some baseline measurements of, for example, lead arrival rate today, and costs associated with your current media marketing. entrepreneur get started small business social media'

Social Media 106

Social Media Media Startup Social Network 106

socalTECH

JULY 10, 2019

Food is the perfect example. What we learned, is there is so much more demand from existing retailers and platforms that sell directly to consumers, and discovery platforms like Foursquare, who wanted to user our IP as a layer, versus a standalone product. Finally, what's been your biggest lesson as an entrepreneur so far?

Pricing 113

Pricing Startup North Hollywood Platform 113

Tech Zulu Event

MAY 10, 2011

The venue was lined with vibrant and inviting decor, a spacious loft style presentation room, and plenty of mini-workstations for the motivated and social entrepreneur; a great setting for the presentation at hand. Metrics-Guided. The casual but informative evening started off with a buzz, with plenty of smiling faces and greetings.

Startup 86

Startup Santa Monica Los Angeles Custom Development 86

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

In our industry we applaud the efforts for entrepreneurs to have tried and we know that today’s failure can bring the experience for tomorrow’s success. I like to use the example of a company I backed called MakeSpace because it’s such an easy an obvious market to understand. MakeSpace provides physical storage.

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

Social media demands two-way communication, rather than outbound only. Define relevant metrics and measure. That means first take some baseline measurements of, for example, lead arrival rate today, and costs associated with your current media marketing. Don’t mix your personal and business profiles or messages.

Social Media 115

Social Media Media Startup Social Network 115

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 5, 2011

I have conversations with entrepreneurs and other VCs on a daily basis about fund raising, the prices of deals, how much companies should raise, etc. For example: If you were to invest $41 million into a company (and one could assume that you owned between 33-50%) then the company is worth $82-123 million at funding. That’s fine.

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Startup Pricing Technical Review Marketing 336

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 20, 2010

Many entrepreneurs are too focused on their dream to take notice of health warning signs, which leads them to ignore business health signs as well. Entrepreneurs can be so focused that they ignore the family, resulting in an unhealthy situation for everyone. Tags: entrepreneur startup health business. Work and family balance.

Entrepreneur 53

Entrepreneur Metrics Demand Course 53

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2011

Social media demands two-way communication, rather than outbound only. Define relevant metrics and measure. That means first take some baseline measurements of, for example, lead arrival rate today, and costs associated with your current media marketing. Don’t mix your personal and business profiles or messages.

Social Media 104

Social Media Media Marketing Social Network 104

InfoChachkie

MARCH 2, 2010

Many collectors, whose primary goal was to complete their collections, were content to have an Excellent or even a Very Good card, which ensured broader demand for lesser grade cards. The advent of investors and grading services drove up the demand for near-perfect cards while suppressing the value of all other cards.

Pricing 138

Pricing Advertising Marketing Startup 138

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 27, 2013

I think that the market was, however, hotter two years ago, when companies were buying more aggressively, and there was lots of pent-up demand. For a similar company, with the same metrics and stage, valuations had been tiny. E-commerce is a great example. We were involved in the Gradient X deal, and that was a nice one.

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Southern California SoCal Commerce Invest 124