Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 12, 2015

It starts with a vision, but benefits quickly from a structured process of idea generation, evaluation, prototyping, customer feedback, and success metrics. Business risks are not just development risks. Creating intellectual property, including patents, is the key to long-term value and a sustainable competitive advantage.

Entrepreneur 101

Entrepreneur Startup Coach Metrics 101

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

I recommend a ten-slide pitch to start, reviewed by friends and advisors, to be expanded to a ten-to-twenty-page business plan with opportunity sizing, cost and price details, competitors, marketing and sales strategy, financial projections, and resources required. Make sure your solution is defensible and unique.

Ideas 94

Ideas Slides Technical Review Patents 94

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 2, 2015

What I love about my job is getting to see teams of super-early-stage companies develop ideas that while raw have potential to make an impact on the market. It freed up Ophir to grow out our sales organization, to work more closely with agencies, to innovate on product and to raise capital. Who is leading your patent filing program?

Outsource Development 150

Outsource Development Metrics Startup Sales 150

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Waiting until you have something to sell before bringing on a sales and operations staff. Getting a sales contract before manufacturing inventory. This could equate to two technical founders (with a minimal salary), funding two developers for a year.

Startup 89

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 89

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Waiting until you have something to sell before bringing on a sales and operations staff. Getting a sales contract before manufacturing inventory. This could equate to two technical founders (with a minimal salary), funding two developers for a year.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 108

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

If the elements of your business aren't expertly developed and aligned, even the best dream will be in jeopardy. Here is my list of those elements, which every entrepreneur needs to develop before charging into the marketplace with high hopes and (sadly) a business that will likely get lost in the throng.

Pricing 100

Pricing Technical Review Entrepreneur Startup 100

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2014

Cashflow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Waiting until you have something to sell before bringing on a sales and operations staff. Getting a sales contract before manufacturing inventory. This could equate to two technical founders (with a minimal salary), funding two developers for a year.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 105

SoCal CTO

JUNE 9, 2010

Guide to Evaluating Startup Ideas - Tony Wright dot com , May 27, 2010 A great developer I once worked with was kvetching at lunch one day. Why Lawyers Don’t Run Startups - Steve Blank , May 27, 2010 Startups need to have a great lawyer, accountant, patent attorney, etc. Through advertising or direct sales, these sites harvest intent.

Startup 248

Startup Venture Capital Conference Social Media 248

SoCal CTO

MARCH 4, 2010

The short story is that he received 400+ responses and goes through how he categorized/vetted the responses: 300 Didn’t Fit – Outside expertise/interest, pushing for immediate funding assistance, too many ideas (not focused), looking for sales agents. And a big factor is how big is the Founder Developer Gap.

Technical Review 170

Technical Review Technical Advisors CTO Coach Startup 170