TechEmpower

AUGUST 21, 2023

It provides findings and recommendations intended to foster a mutual understanding between business and software leaders, shedding light on the current state of your technology and your team. Our goal is to build a decent understanding of your business, your product, and your technology. Will they resent scrutiny from the outside?

Technical Review 260

Technical Review Development Team Review Software Review TechEmpower 260

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 17, 2021

For survival, entrepreneurs need to be all about accomplishing results that matter for themselves, their team, and their customers. Rule your technology, don’t let it rule you. Put order into the chaos by using technology to place all incoming information into four categories: appointments, tasks, contacts, and documents.

Framework 153

Framework Product Entrepreneur Social Media 153

Tech.Co

OCTOBER 27, 2023

In this guide, you'll learn exactly what Claude is, how it works, and all about its parent company, Anthropic. As part of the latter deal, Amazon employees and cloud customers will get early access to the technology. 16K has a context window of about 16,385 tokens. You'll also see how Claude differs from ChatGPT in key areas.

ChatGPT 139

ChatGPT Artificial Inteligence Training Startup 139

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 18, 2022

These will put your proposal in the circular file, and even future good opportunities from you may go to the bottom of my list: “Give me a call to hear about an opportunity that can’t fail.” I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.” Teasing or spamming an investor is not the way to his pocketbook.

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Startup Statistics Social Media 109

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 25, 2021

You may think this is only important to your marketing and sales people, but in reality it doesn’t matter how great your product or technology might be, you won’t succeed if you don’t understand your target customer decision process. Every aspect of your business must be about sales. Even the best technology won’t sell itself.

Custom 136

Custom Customer Sales Social Media 136

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 14, 2023

Ready to scale is when you have a proven product and a proven business model, about to expand to new geographies and markets. Start early looking at production automation, proven process technologies, and minimum staff approaches, before you begin scaling. Automate to the max. Attract and relish investor funding.

Tips 135

Tips Invest Startup Outsource 135

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 31, 2022

People who haven’t thought about a Plan B often don’t survive the shock. 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. Another disruptive technology trumps yours.

Startup 98

Startup Entrepreneur Competition Mentor 98

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 24, 2020

Max Q is a new weekly newsletter all about space. SpaceX is serious about iteration – its strategy of building (and failing – and learning from its failures) fast is in full effect for its Starship development program. And if you have to ask about the price, you probably can’t afford it.

SpaceX 153

SpaceX Sample Study Newsletter 153

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 20, 2010

Often I’m asked by startup CEO’s about how to best build an engineering team. Because more technology people probably read startup blogs I’m guessing this post will come under more scrutiny. Still, I believe I’m offering an accurate representation of the ideal configuration of the main technology leaders.

CTO Hire 400

CTO Hire Fractional VPE Startup Outsource Development 400

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 6, 2023

Technologies are not solutions, but understanding a technology, in the context of a customer need, will result in more competitive and long-lasting solutions. The process of documenting what you think you know in a business plan, for the team and for investors, solidifies your own understanding of your new business.

Social Media 120

Social Media Startup Entrepreneur Education 120

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 14, 2018

Here’s Why You Should Just Send the Deck I know you have your document sending tool to send your fund-raising deck to VCs and track who read your deck, which pages they read and how much time they spend on each page. I Know Everybody Told You to Send Your Fund-Raising Decks as a Link. after all you aren’t presenting this at TED.

Funding 239

Funding Venture Capital IP Email 239

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2021

Words alone, like “improved efficiency”, “paradigm shift,” and “breakthrough technology” won’t convince people to follow you. For example, early adopters may be easily sold, but new technology product success really hinges on adoption by certain demographics, perhaps more influenced by celebrities or mommy bloggers.

Startup 155

Startup Resource Metrics Technical Review 155

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Sean is also author of Startup Field Guide, Mistakes To Avoid, Tips to Get Ahead , documenting what he's learned over his time in the startup world. I'm always meeting founders developing new products, technologies or getting ready to launch a company whether it's at the San Diego Tech Founders or San Diego Tech Coffee meet ups.

Tips 209

Tips Startup San Diego Southern California 209

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

Unfortunately, in my experience as an angel investor, about ninety percent of new business efforts fall short , leading me to believe that many of you may be better off staying where you are. Document and communicate a solid business plan. Select your destination to land after the start. You make decisions from data, or from the gut.

Startup 94

Startup Ideas Metrics Entrepreneur 94

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 6, 2020

People who haven’t thought about a Plan B often don’t survive the shock. 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. Another disruptive technology trumps yours.

Startup 133

Startup Entrepreneur Competition Mentor 133

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 29, 2012

Glendale-based LegalZoom , the online legal documents site which was co-founded by Brian Lee and lawyer Robert Shapiro, is reportedly about to file for its IPO, according to a report today. Reuters, citing sources close to the firm, said the filing is expected in coming weeks.

Legalzoom 154

Legalzoom Report Glendale Southern California 154

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 3, 2012

Seth Epstein, Founder and CEO SocialStay , former Founder and CEO of FUEL (acquired by Razorfish) and Emmy Award winner for his work on the X-Games, recently spoke at UC Santa Barbara as part of the Technology Management Program’s Distinguished Lecture Series. Seth is a design-oriented entrepreneur, with little desire to document details.

Ideas 266

Ideas Guide Startup Santa Barbara 266

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 11, 2011

Jason Nazar is CEO of Santa Monica-based Docstoc (www.docstoc.com), the online document sharing site, and a fixture at Los Angeles technology events. Jason Nazar: There are many different stages of entrepreneurs, but in the very beginning stages, stop thinking about it, planning, and talking about it, and start doing it.

Twiistup 258

Twiistup Startup Rustic Canyon Santa Monica 258

socalTECH

DECEMBER 30, 2019

Every year, at the end of the year, we share some reflections on the past year from our readers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, sponsors, and others in the local technology community. What new technology area, startup, service, or app did you find most interesting or useful this year, and why?

Dollar Shave Club 100

Dollar Shave Club Activity Organization News 100

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2022

Yet every entrepreneur I meet wants to talk about the idea, and rarely mentions the team. Young high-tech startups are at constant risk of forgetting that they actually need to sell the wonderful technology they invented. That’s why investors say they invest in people (bet on the jockey, not the horse), rather than the idea.

Technical Advisors 123

Technical Advisors Startup Outsource Development High Tech 123

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 31, 2023

The technology and tools in this discipline have improved dramatically over the years, so be sure you stay current and knowledgeable over time. We all know a few professional office mates who never show up on time or waste your first hour talking about non-work events or general complaints. Ideas without results kill many businesses.

Startup 121

Startup Satisfaction Technical Review Ideas 121

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 21, 2020

These will put your proposal in the circular file, and even future good opportunities from you may go to the bottom of my list: “Give me a call to hear about an opportunity that can’t fail.” I don’t have a business plan, but the technology is disruptive.” Teasing or spamming an investor is not the way to his pocketbook.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Statistics Startup Social Media 124

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 21, 2017

Thus when I read “ A Random Walk Down Wall Street ” in my early 20’s it reinforced my belief about how people are fooled by data. Given enough performance over time any number of random people will be proven “right” about a market and if you look back in time you can believe that they had a method to their outcomes.

Venture Capital 182

Venture Capital Statistics Writing Report 182

socalTECH

APRIL 30, 2018

For this morning's interview, we caught up with Elizabeth Cholawsky , the new CEO of Santa Barbara-based HG Data (www.hgdata.com), which develops software which helps marketers and salespeople understand the "technology stack" of their potential customers and prospects. For those who aren't familiar with HG Data, what does the company do?

Santa Barbara 113

Santa Barbara High Tech Outsource Development Startup 113

Tech Zulu Event

JANUARY 2, 2014

As technology advances, many things are going digital and some are only offered as an online component. Emails, documents, and even tax forms are handled online, making it difficult for families to retrieve them, or even know they existed in the first place. Tell us a little about yourself. MN: In a sense, yes.

Startup 79

Startup Design Los Angeles Technology 79

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 19, 2020

Ready to scale is when you have a proven product and a proven business model, about to expand to new geographies and markets. Start early looking at production automation, proven process technologies, and minimum staff approaches, before you begin scaling. Automate to the max. Attract and relish investor funding.

Startup 154

Startup Outsource Ideas Research 154

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 29, 2022

For both software and hardware technology, multiple iterations are usually required to achieve production quality and performance. A three-dimensional prototype is always better than just a documented specification when negotiating contracts for manufacturing, support, and marketing. Proceed with your wits about you.

Outsource Development 110

Outsource Development Ideas Tool Outsource 110

SoCal CTO

APRIL 28, 2014

If there’s some issue they didn’t think about are they going to be beat up about it? What happens when you have a really good developer is that a gap exists where you may not ask the right questions to specify the right system, consider appropriate 3rd party technologies, etc. Have they considered everything?

Develop 280

Develop Development CTO Coach CTO Hire 280

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2023

Because the product plan is aimed internally, it can assume the reader has the relevant technology and jargon background. Technology, architecture, and feature descriptions. Now let’s talk about the basic components of a business plan. A product plan is never a substitute for a business plan.

Product 112

Product Summary Activity Entrepreneur 112

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2023

You need to find the skills or experience you don’t have in business, technology, or money. The value in a startup is all about tangible results, so I see no equity value in the idea alone. Keep your wits about you to make sure that dilution is done equitably and evenly. Now comes the reality check. But don’t get greedy.

Equity 99

Equity Patents CTO Hire Startup 99

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 24, 2018

As a long-time advisor to aspiring entrepreneurs, and a technology fan myself, I still meet dozens of techies with great solutions who assume they don’t need marketing to change the world. She points out changes and new approaches, based on her thirty-year career in technology advertising.

Marketing 97

Marketing Startup Examples Technology 97

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2021

It’s important to define your growth strategy, document it, communicate it to your team, and align metrics and employee rewards to target goals. For example, Mark McClain, cofounder and CEO of SailPoint Technologies , created an employee growth culture resulting in growth of forty percent a year, with more than $100 million in revenues.

Technical Review 160

Technical Review Technical Advisors Startup Mentor 160

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 29, 2018

But only recently did I read a clear document on the risks and rewards of patent strategy. And that’s just about free. as if that would be a guarantee of value, especially for companies in the technology field. Yet, we investors often ask about patent protection before the product or idea is even tested in the market.

Patents 168

Patents Startup Ideas Research 168

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 3, 2009

It has also brought about my favorite new term – Ramen Profitable. So, definition: when I talk about a business plan I’m not talking about a 40-page Word document outlining your market approach. I’m talking about your financial spreadsheet. I care about your assumptions going in.

Web 2.0 334

Web 2.0 Venture Capital Web Technical Review 334

Berkonomics

JANUARY 31, 2019

Certainly, the buyer’s asset purchase documents included a non-compete clause, usually valid for two years from the date of the closing. Email readers, continue here…] How about after the two-year limitation in your non-compete agreement? About starting over or repurchasing your business. After the non-compete expires.

Patents 120

Patents Sales Product Email 120

Berkonomics

JANUARY 31, 2019

Certainly, the buyer’s asset purchase documents included a non-compete clause, usually valid for two years from the date of the closing. Email readers, continue here…] How about after the two-year limitation in your non-compete agreement? About starting over or repurchasing your business. After the non-compete expires.

Patents 120

Patents Sales Product Email 120

SoCal CTO

FEBRUARY 13, 2013

I did a presentation this week at Coloft that looked at how Non-Technical Founders can go about getting their MVP built. Purpose of an MVP and Defining the Right MVP I've really not talked as much about this in my blog even though its hugely important. It had a passionate group of 50 people attending. WordPress is pretty easy to hack.

Technical Review 338

Technical Review CTO Hire CTO Coach Software Review 338