Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2020

The cost of entry to the entrepreneur lifestyle is at an all-time low, but the challenge of winning and success is at an all-time high. As an angel investor, I quickly look behind the idea or solution, to gauge the mindset and the leadership capabilities of the entrepreneur. Take a hard look at SpaceX or HyperLoop.

Entrepreneur 143

Entrepreneur Social Network SpaceX Ideas 143

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2016

The cost of entry to the entrepreneur lifestyle is at an all-time low, but the challenge of winning and success is at an all-time high. As an Angel investor, I quickly look behind the idea or solution, to gauge the mindset and the leadership capabilities of the entrepreneur. People who shape the future, like Steve Jobs, do this.

Entrepreneur 103

Entrepreneur Social Network SpaceX Ideas 103

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2016

As an angel investor in early-stage startups, I’ve long noticed my peers apparent bias toward the strength and character of the founding entrepreneurs, often overriding a strong solution to a painful problem with a big opportunity. Demonstrate the ideas and behaviors of self-determination.

Mentor 55

Mentor Ideas Entrepreneur Study 55

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

Such ideas require little-to-no capital, usually last for a relatively short duration and are of nominal size. Entrepreneurs create opportunities by creating ripples, and mini-ventures are great ripple creators. Note that I am not purporting that these are particularly amazing or unique ideas. Nostalgic Graduation Poster.

Ideas 153

Ideas Startup Pricing Entrepreneur 153

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2012

Every so often a promising entrepreneur seems to freeze in the oncoming headlights and gets run over by his competition. Why is it that his idea which seemed so fundable only months ago fails to attract investors today? The idea here is following a process can actually force you to think. The team is the same.

Entrepreneur 97

Entrepreneur Ideas Research Demand 97

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2022

Thus, in my mentoring of potential technical entrepreneurs who have a real passion for their technology, I often recommend that they find a co-founder who can manage the marketing and execution elements of the new venture. Many smart people I know fall into the category of “idea” people.

Mentor 133

Mentor Startup Customer Custom 133

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 25, 2010

Every so often a promising entrepreneur seems to freeze in the oncoming headlights and gets run over by his competition. Why is it that his idea which seemed so fundable only months ago fails to dazzle investors today? The idea here is following a process can actually force you to think. The team is the same.

Entrepreneur 87

Entrepreneur Ideas Research Demand 87

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

When Fred Wilson funded Twitter I guarantee you it wasn’t obvious that it was a billion dollar idea. When the early teams: angels, lowercase capital & first round capital funded Uber they had no idea it would be one of the most revolutionary ideas of our time. Far from it. It was an early and smart bet.

Funding 362

Funding Technical Review Ideas Startup 362

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2018

The cost of entry to the entrepreneur lifestyle is at an all-time low, but the challenge of winning and success is at an all-time high. As an angel investor, I quickly look behind the idea or solution, to gauge the mindset and the leadership capabilities of the entrepreneur. People who shape the future, like Steve Jobs, do this.

Entrepreneur 86

Entrepreneur Social Network SpaceX Ideas 86

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2013

If you are in this category, first know that you are not alone, but then you need to take a look at the advice given by Patricia Sigmon in her book “ Six Steps to Creating Profit: A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Service-Based Businesses.” entrepreneur Patricia Sigmon plateau profits startup' Mix things up. But don’t worry.

Entrepreneur 93

Entrepreneur Startup Outsource Development Sales 93

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 24, 2018

Most aspiring entrepreneurs are convinced that their idea and passion are so great that failure is not a possibility. They relate quickly to one of the big successes out there today, including Facebook, Airbnb, or Snap, and can give you a dozen reasons that they are in the same category.

Startup 99

Startup Competition Examples Ideas 99

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 17, 2017

Every so often a promising entrepreneur seems to freeze in the oncoming headlights and gets run over by his competition. Why is it that his idea which seemed so fundable only months ago fails to attract investors today? The idea here is following a process can actually force you to think. The team is the same.

Tips 55

Tips Ideas Entrepreneur Research 55

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 27, 2013

Kate Drane, hardware category lead at IndieGoGo joins us and talks about IndieGoGo and crowdfunding. I started my company with four of my friends and all of us are first time business owners and entrepreneurs. The way you talk about your business, develop your brand voice, gauge demand, and connect with your audience.

Startup 74

Startup Funding Capital Help 74

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 5, 2013

Every so often a promising entrepreneur seems to freeze in the oncoming headlights and gets run over by his competition. Why is it that his idea which seemed so fundable only months ago fails to attract investors today? The idea here is following a process can actually force you to think. The team is the same.

Startup 90

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Research 90

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 26, 2011

Every so often a promising entrepreneur seems to freeze in the oncoming headlights and gets run over by his competition. Why is it that his idea which seemed so fundable only months ago fails to dazzle investors today? The idea here is following a process can actually force you to think. The team is the same.

Startup 92

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Research 92

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

He had an idea for a startup that would help consumers better book service jobs and would take on Service Magic, which he believed had a business model that could be disrupted. And I had been telling my partners for a couple of years that I thought Ethan was one of the more talented entrepreneurs I had come across in San Francisco.

CTO Coach 359

CTO Coach Google CTO Hire Yammer 359

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.” Poorly implemented this category was the definition of shelfware.

Marketing 354

Marketing Case Study Metrics Sales 354

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 6, 2013

We worked together just shy of a year and during that period of constantly seeing startups Aaron made the decision that he actually wanted to be an entrepreneur more than a VC. He and his wife hatched the idea for DogVacay and decided to go for it. I absolutely loved the idea from day one and told Aaron so. Supply and demand.

Venture Capital 344

Venture Capital Technical Review Software Review San Diego 344

SoCal Delicious

SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Ten Tech Entrepreneurs Who Are Putting LA on the Map. Tech startup accelerators dot the landscape, feeding investments into the waiting arms of the nation’s most intelligent and driven entrepreneurs. Miller was even honored as an Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” for 2011. Follow PandoDaily: Search.

Technical Review 75

Technical Review Entrepreneur Riot Games Southern California 75

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 6, 2012

If you are in this category, first know that you are not alone, but then you need to take a look at the advice given by Patricia Sigmon in her book “ Six Steps to Creating Profit: A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Service-Based Businesses.” Ask employees what they would do to grow your business, fix business issues, or cut costs.

Startup 94

Startup Outsource Development Sales Social Media 94

socalTECH

APRIL 14, 2010

Lolita was founder of ModernMom.com, which she sold to Richard Rosenblatt's Demand Media last year, and we caught up with Lolita to learn more about her newest venture. That's where the initial idea came for Gloss Network. Those are our three biggest categories as far as sponsorship and readership. What is Gloss Network?

Networking 230

Networking Social Media Startup Search Engine Optimization 230

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. It allows you many more exit opportunities.

Startup 418

Startup Venture Capital Sales Technical Review 418

socalTECH

MARCH 3, 2011

Fouad and I had this idea to allow people to interact with sound bites and audio clips. David Aronchick: The net of our jobs is really harnessing the demand. Our job is to help capture some of that demand. Maybe they have an upcoming property, maybe a sequel, and it's up to us to help leverage that demand.

Redpoint 201

Redpoint Startup Content .Net 201

socalTECH

APRIL 15, 2019

How is this different from the many other on-demand, last mile transportation companies out there? We came up with this idea, to use electric bicycles, which have a smaller profile than scooters. We were really passionate about this, and decided to go all-in, and create the next category of transportation company.

San Diego 113

San Diego Startup Study Los Angeles 113

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 28, 2011

If you are in this category, first know that you are not alone, but then you need to take a look at the advice given by Patricia Sigmon in her new book “ Six Steps to Creating Profit: A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Service-Based Businesses.” Ask employees what they would do to grow your business, fix business issues, or cut costs.

Tips 92

Tips Startup Services Outsource Development 92

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 10, 2013

Even casual friends at work are more likely to understand your requests, be convinced of the value of your ideas, and more likely to work in concert with you on projects. A fourth category is more intimately romantic relationships. entrepreneur friends Jan Yager startup workplace workship' But all good things can be overdone.

Startup 92

Startup Course Competition Social Media 92

socalTECH

JUNE 9, 2014

When our Youtube views are driven up, that drives more licensing demand for the video, with other shows interested. We have 25 ideas on ways to publish or package that content, and put it into clip shows on television or other formats. Lee Essner: I was at Idealab as an entrepreneur in residence.

Media 235

Media Content Startup IP 235

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. Many startup businesses – tech or otherwise – fail. The US market is worth more than $25 billion and Europe is the same. How much ad revenue does TripAdvisor make?

Startup 150

Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

Tech.Co

SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

The idea for Stage 32 came when Botto was attending yearly film festivals like the American Film Market (AFM) and observed a palpable frustration among many attendees that their opportunities for connection, collaboration and breakout success were so disjointed and infrequent. Educating the next generation of media talent.

Education 82

Education Entertainment Class Manhattan Beach 82

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2017

As an angel investor, I sometimes worry that all the viable unique ideas must already be taken. We all want to get out there ahead of the crowd, and invest in that truly innovative idea that seems so obvious in its appeal that you wonder why nobody ever thought of it before. For other ideas, the wave has simply passed.

Ideas 87

Ideas Sites Social Network Startup 87

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2021

Based on my experience as a business advisor, I’m convinced that most startup investors invest in the entrepreneur, as much as a solution or product. The attitude of taking nothing for granted, of disbelieving the conventional wisdom, of challenging the way things are done, is essential for a winning entrepreneur.

Startup 162

Startup Entrepreneur IBM IBM 162

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 11, 2011

He invented the category of sponsored search. He presented the idea at the TED conference in the mid 90′s and was literally boo’d while he was on stage. At the time when you did a search on Lycos, Alta Vista or similar for a category such as Cars you ended up getting 9 spam results and 1 proper website to meet your needs.

Competition 350

Competition Idealab Product CitySearch 350

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 5, 2011

I’m an entrepreneur at heart so I’m always inspired when I hear stories about innovation. It’s why my investment philosophy is called, “ the entrepreneur thesis.&#. Who’s going to help you with improving your marketing / positioning to become a clear platform category leader like Twilio?

Venture Capital 317

Venture Capital Technical Review Startup Press 317

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 27, 2016

I have to believe that I’ve met a team of extremely bright, highly competitive and deeply passionate founders who have an idea for a product that has the potential to transform a market. At the earliest stages when I invest my decision is 70% team / 30% market (5).

Marketing 150

Marketing Course Startup Organization 150

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

And I always encourage entrepreneurs to do reference checking. In any scenario it’s a good idea to understand where the VC is at in their fund. Yes, I include many micro VCs in this category. They aren’t people who are going to demand minimum ownership %’s. Here’s my guide to how to do that.

Venture Capital 314

Venture Capital Startup Invest Pricing 314

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 5, 2010

We all know Friendster was the trailblazer in this category allowing people to create personal pages and connect to other people in a LinkedIn style but without the “business&# and with a little more interactivity (let’s face it, for the longest time most users “friended&# people on LinkedIn but then never really did much else).

Social Network 318

Social Network Networking Web 2.0 Startup 318