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. They cite sources like Profitable Venture Magazine, “ Why Business Plans are a Waste of Time ” and this Forbes article. You need money, and plan to do crowdfunding.

Technical Review 126

Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 14, 2017

For example, you probably never knew that both Facebook and YouTube started out as dating-site experiments, but pivoted to something more unique when that experiment failed due to an apparently over-crowded market. Leaders need to reward experiments, rather than demand fixed processes. Establish mentoring and coaching relationships.

Coach 57

Coach Mentor Organization Entrepreneur 57

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2018

Anyone can build a new web site, or publish a smartphone app for a few thousand dollars, but getting market penetration requires a lot more. Those who proactively seek knowledge and learn fast build knowledge pools and tap into the wisdom of mentors and industry leaders to raise their game. Take a hard look at SpaceX or HyperLoop.

Entrepreneur 86

Entrepreneur Social Network SpaceX Ideas 86

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

Use blogging, outside publication, and speaking or mentoring opportunities to establish credibility and stand out above peers. That means regularly scanning LinkedIn and job sites for roles and opportunities that you may quality for, and honing your skills and connections to be sure you are competitive.

Startup 98

Startup Outsource Development Competition Social Media 98

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

I acted as the occasional mentor, advisor and coach to Ethan. Ethan had pointed out to me that merchants were being barraged by “deal site” wanting to drive customers in the door but they didn’t have great tools to manage their customers. I think it’s a beautifully designed site and product.

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Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2016

Anyone can build a new web site, or publish a smartphone app for a few thousand dollars, but getting market penetration requires a lot more. Those who proactively seek knowledge and learn fast build knowledge pools and tap into the wisdom of mentors and industry leaders to raise their game. Take a hard look at SpaceX or HyperLoop.

Entrepreneur 103

Entrepreneur Social Network SpaceX Ideas 103

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 10, 2018

Even with all my years of experience mentoring in business, I can’t predict how you will prepare for and react to pressure situations. If your team is feeling over-whelmed by the pressures of customer demands, it may be time for an off-site fun event to get them recharged and fully motivated.

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Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Mentor 82

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 23, 2012

1) Get A Mentor. "I "I started the site when I was 19. Note: This is an installment in the Iconic Advice series. Other installments include: Jeff Bezos , Steve Jobs , Richard Branson , Walt Disney and Michael Dell. I didn't know much about business back then." " [Tweet this quote]. 4) Rational Exuberance. "The

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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. Although the major crowd funding sites today, including Kickstarter and Indiegogo , don’t technically require a business plan, they do demand essentially the same information in a project format.

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Technical Review Writing Entrepreneur Slides 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 16, 2012

The business accelerator model is YCombinator and TechStars , who select only the best applicants, have a demanding process, provide experienced coaching/mentoring, some seed funding, with a required exit in about six months. Incremental investment may follow. Lean startup. Crowd funding.

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Entrepreneur Startup Seed Funding Incubator 101

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 8, 2011

We started seeing a demand for what we were doing and from there began throwing singles parties, doing match making, and date coaching. What started as a site for women has molded into a place for both genders. However sometimes what we ignore is there’s a lot that goes into testing your product, the demand, etc.

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Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 1, 2013

Learning experience includes: on-demand online video tutorial courses, live video-conference workshops, as well as individual online consultations, live workshops, and group programs. Creators can take any course of interest on-demand by purchasing it through our website. How does it work? How many users so far so far?

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socalTECH

JULY 13, 2016

In my case, I had a mentor at the time who helped me understand how there was a parallel between the printing press and the Renaissance, and the Internet as the next step in information and communications. From NetZero, I went to Demand Media, where I was EVP of IT. What are your backgrounds?

Startup 100

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Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

I opened up with a very blunt conversation about self confidence, self doubt, family pressure, peer pressure and the demands on a CEO. And as a VC, mentor, angel investor and founder of Launchpad LA I live it as a routine of my life. I *think* he found the conversation relieving and confirming.

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Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2021

Ongoing momentum requires a move to mainstream, or even late adopters, who demand simplicity in your base function. Most ecommerce sites highlight this feature. Utilize outside expertise and mentoring. Select a single dimension to measure momentum.

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Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 13, 2015

In my years of mentoring and working with startups, I’ve seen and read about some amazing disruptions, as well as recoveries, and I’m sure each of you could add your own. People who haven’t thought about a Plan B often don’t survive the shock.

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