Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2018

As an active angel investor, I’m accustomed to hearing entrepreneurs pitch their expectation to quickly create a new dominant brand, based on their disruptive technology. Tools allow marketing in a much more targeted way. In the past, marketing budgets were focused on high-traffic channels, with minimum focus on demographics.

Marketing 57

Marketing Startup Entrepreneur Social Media 57

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2014

Sometimes entrepreneurs are so focused on making change happen for others, that they forget that continually changing themselves and their company is equally important. Here is a summary of recommendations from both of us, based on my own business mentoring insights: Re-launch using your enhanced core competency.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Technical Review Mentor Summary 105

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 24, 2012

I cannot tell you how many times I have seen executive summaries of business plans in which the entrepreneur seeks $5,000,000 to build the business. First, few startups can use that much money today with all of the virtual services available and increasingly inexpensive methods of development, prototyping and marketing.

Resource 180

Resource Invest Summary Startup 180

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 23, 2021

Examples include the Conscious Capitalism® movement, founded by John Mackey of Whole Foods, the B Team , founded by serial entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, and the Benefit Corporation (B Corp) form of business now available in 35 states. Today’s ultracompetitive global environment demands that you make alliances early.

Education 151

Education Customer Custom Sales 151

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 30, 2022

I believe these same mindsets are equally applicable to the entrepreneurs I mentor, and all of you small business leaders, so I offer you my summary of the authors’ conclusions, paraphrased here, with my own insights: Be bold in vision, strategy, and resource allocation. Get organization alignment through culture and talent.

Template 109

Template Demand Social Media Summary 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2014

Despite their own focus on changing the world, they often forget that they too have to change rapidly and often as the market evolves. This is the ability to appropriately analyze problems, assess risks, and take responsibility for problem-dictated and market-dictated changes, while still sustaining the day-to-day business activities.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Startup Training Statistics 110

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2016

As a startup advisor and investor, I find that more and more entrepreneurs avoid using the term “profit” in pitching their new venture. Thus I was pleased and a bit surprised to see a new book, “ The Purpose Is Profit ,” by Ed “Skip” McLaughlin, an entrepreneur who has both succeeded and failed in starting multiple businesses.

Entrepreneur 58

Entrepreneur Ideas Pricing Customer 58

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2019

As an advisor to business owners, and an occasional angel investor, my job is to separate the actual challenges from the common misconceptions that distract many promising entrepreneurs while building the leadership team required for your solution, marketing, and finance success. Partner with experts who share the risk.

Software Review 98

Software Review Ideas Outsource Development Entrepreneur 98

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 28, 2018

Of course the VC is looking to have specificity in how you plan to spend the money you’re going to raise and plans that show a pie chart that says, “25% on marketing, 30% on technology and R&D, 20% on infrastructure, 25% on G&A” do not get funded. Every VC wants to fund a deal that seems to have too much demand.

Venture Capital 247

Venture Capital Capital Funding Demand 247

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 16, 2019

If every entrepreneur could predict the future, starting the right new business would be easy. First, a quick summary of the major U.S. That means that starting soon, our doctors, hospitals, eldercare, hospice and even death care systems are going to face unprecedented demand. Autos for drivers: Waning market demand.

Demand 83

Demand Startup Course Summary 83

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 8, 2022

Success in any business these days requires a constant flow of new and innovative solutions, to keep up with changes in the market, competition, and to attract new customers. Here is my summary of the ten top creativity mistakes we both still see too often: Criticize any new idea or employee suggestion.

Ideas 111

Ideas Framework Summary Organization 111

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2018

My friend Michael Broukhim, founder & co-CEO of FabFitFun and I recently had a catch-up meeting for 3-miles on the Santa Monica “Bird Trail” No company has ever elicited so many questions by friends, colleagues, entrepreneurs, fellow VCs and journalists as has Bird, the company that pioneered the electronic scooter as a service market.

Santa Monica 256

Santa Monica Funding Startup Course 256

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2018

The most important advice I could give you before you set out in fund raising mode is to understand that fund-raising a sales & marketing process and needs to be managed. People who believe the former believe that you should see the market demand before too many people know you’re “in market.”

Venture Capital 332

Venture Capital Funding Startup Sales 332

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

Despite their own focus on changing the world, they often forget that they too have to change rapidly and often as the market evolves. This is the ability to appropriately analyze problems, assess risks, and take responsibility for problem-dictated and market-dictated changes, while still sustaining the day-to-day business activities.

Startup 94

Startup Marketing Training Statistics 94

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2016

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. Serious investors, on the other hand, look for a professional business plan or summary first, and hardly ever look at the product plan.

Product 55

Product Startup Summary Entrepreneur 55

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2019

Examples include the Conscious Capitalism® movement, founded by John Mackey of Whole Foods, the B Team , founded by serial entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, and the Benefit Corporation (B Corp) form of business now available in 33 states. Today’s ultracompetitive global environment demands that you make alliances early.

Startup 97

Startup Education Customer Custom 97

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2017

If every entrepreneur could predict the future, starting the right new business would be easy. First, a quick summary of the major U.S. That means that starting soon, our doctors, hospitals, eldercare, hospice and even death care systems are going to face unprecedented demand. Autos for drivers: Waning market demand.

Startup 57

Startup Demand Course Summary 57

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2014

Startups using celebrities is such a hot topic these days that Gary Vaynerchuck , noted author and entrepreneur, has coined a new term “star-ups” for the phenomenon. Following is a summary of the challenges that Susan and other “experts” have outlined: Finding a match between your offering and a celebrity. Funding the relationship.

Help 96

Help Startup Entrepreneur Summary 96

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

Success in any business these days requires a constant flow of new and innovative solutions, to keep up with changes in the market, competition, and to attract new customers. Here is my summary of the ten top creativity mistakes we both still see too often: Criticize any new idea or employee suggestion.

Ideas 94

Ideas Framework Summary Organization 94

InfoChachkie

JUNE 23, 2011

Value Prop Twitter Style : DataPop simplifies the lives of marketers and gives them the tools they need to build ads that people love to click on. What follows is a summary which paraphrases Jason’s responses. The catalyst was that we saw the demand and it was confirmed by some of the leading advertisers in the marketplace.

Yahoo 210

Yahoo Startup Advertising Summary 210

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. Exec Summary: Most companies (98+%) in the world (even tech startups) should be very profit focused.

Startup 418

Startup Venture Capital Sales Technical Review 418

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 30, 2013

Examples include the Conscious Capitalism® movement, led by John Mackey of Whole Foods, The B Team , led by serial entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, and the Benefit Corporation (B Corp) form of business now available in 14 states. Today’s ultracompetitive global environment demands that you make alliances early. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 117

Startup Education Customer Custom 117

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 16, 2010

Ever had a meeting with a CEO who was really short with you, demanded the answer quickly and was fidgety while you spoke? For extroverted people I recommend that entrepreneurs have an “executive summary&# slide up front that cuts to the chase. OK, I understand your market is big. Most entrepreneurs are.

Slides 358

Slides Venture Capital Startup Summary 358

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 28, 2012

Startups using celebrities is such a hot topic these days that Gary Vaynerchuck , noted author and entrepreneur, has coined a new term “star-ups” for the phenomenon. Following is a summary of the challenges that Susan and other “experts” have outlined: Finding a match between your offering and a celebrity. Funding the relationship.

Startup 85

Startup Entrepreneur Examples Summary 85

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

As is often said if you don’t get at least a few fellow VCs (and entrepreneurs) scratching their heads you may not be funding ideas with enough upside. They point out perceived market risks, they might question the management team’s experience, they might worry about regulatory risk or incumbent competitive powers.

Funding 362

Funding Technical Review Ideas Startup 362

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2011

Startups using celebrities is such a hot topic these days that Gary Vaynerchuck , noted author and entrepreneur, has coined a new term “star-ups” for the phenomenon. Following is a summary of the challenges that Susan and other “experts” have outlined: Finding a match between your offering and a celebrity. Funding the relationship.

Startup 92

Startup Summary Examples Entrepreneur 92

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 22, 2010

Due to competitive markets we ended up with a pretty good term sheet until we needed to raise money in April 2001 and then we got completely screwed. And for some strange reason entrepreneurs didn’t share this information. I’ve started from day one trying to build total transparency into my process with entrepreneurs.

Venture Capital 405

Venture Capital Pricing Startup Funding 405

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 29, 2010

We received so much positive feedback from our This Week in Venture Capital show walking through valuation calculations & term sheets that we decided to do a Q&A show this week to address topics that entrepreneurs want to learn about. on the entrepreneur side of the table) when I raised at too high of a price. Never cold.

Venture Capital 282

Venture Capital Capital Startup Pricing 282

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 7, 2017

Despite their own focus on changing the world, they often forget that they too have to change rapidly and often as the market evolves. This is the ability to appropriately analyze problems, assess risks, and take responsibility for problem-dictated and market-dictated changes, while still sustaining the day-to-day business activities.

Startup 56

Startup Training Statistics Summary 56

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 17, 2016

Examples include the Conscious Capitalism® movement, led by John Mackey of Whole Foods, the B Team , led by serial entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, and the Benefit Corporation (B Corp) form of business now available in 30 states. Today’s ultracompetitive global environment demands that you make alliances early.

Capital 58

Capital Startup Education Customer 58

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 19, 2017

Success in any business these days requires a constant flow of new and innovative solutions, to keep up with changes in the market, competition, and to attract new customers. Here is my summary of the ten top creativity mistakes we both still see too often: Criticize any new idea or employee suggestion.

Ideas 56

Ideas Framework Summary Organization 56

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 25, 2011

A great recent example of this was a successful group of entrepreneurs who had created a company that will do $10-12 million in revenue at their system integration business (read: services business) in 2011 after having done $5 million or so in 2010 and $2-3 million in 2009. And stop effing around trying to create a product company.&#.

Services 332

Services Venture Capital IP Startup 332

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 22, 2014

SEO marketing vs. social marketing. I’ve been involved with SaaS companies with VCs who don’t understand demand generation, lead qualification, sales coverage ratios, sales forecasting or frankly when deals should be inside sales vs. outside sales. Think of web vs. mobile. Traditional software vs. SaaS.

Venture Capital 364

Venture Capital Coach Writing SaaS 364

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2012

Montgomery, which does a great job of laying out specifics, but also starts with a good summary of the intangibles, summarized as the five rules of relevancy, by Mark Zawacki: A startup needs to be relevant and stay relevant. Today’s ultracompetitive global environment demands that you make alliances early.

Startup 99

Startup Education Customer Custom 99

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Despite their own focus on changing the world, they often forget that they too have to change rapidly and often as the market evolves. This is the ability to appropriately analyze problems, assess risks, and take responsibility for problem-dictated and market-dictated changes, while still sustaining the day-to-day business activities.

Startup 93

Startup Training Statistics Summary 93

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2020

As an advisor to new hardware entrepreneurs, I often hear the myth that a business plan is no longer required to find an investor, if your idea is good enough. What you don’t realize is these famous investors only deal with entrepreneurs who sold their last company for a $100M dollars or more. You need both to survive.

Product 169

Product Summary Startup Examples 169

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

I’d like to explain as best I can my opinion on what is going on because most of what I hear from entrepreneurs is not only wrong but is reminiscent of what I heard in 1997-2000. ” “This will be great for VCs and bad for entrepreneurs.” What is the True Sentiment of VCs? ” “Sure, prices are dropping.

Startup 150

Startup Company Companies Venture Capital 150