Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 3, 2022

As a business consultant, I see and hear all around me people questioning their current and future career interests and growth, and wondering what they can do to make a decision and prepare. People need to believe in you, as well as your positioning and brand, for you to thrive in the business world today. Do I need new skills?”

Social Media 125

Social Media Summary Startup Mentor 125

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2020

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” For example, professional investors put great priority on your previous experience in building a business, and they expect to own a portion of the business equity and control for the funds they do provide.

Funding 174

Funding Startup Equity Examples 174

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 13, 2014

Helped merge company with Seedling – on track to do $20 million combined revenue in 2015 – will now become Chairman). Her network from her educational institutions alone has friends in all of the top tech, media & banking institutions. Startup CEO experience (Founded P.S. XO along with my good friend Soleil Moon Frye.

Venture Capital 408

Venture Capital Startup Outsource Development CitySearch 408

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 9, 2014

Above all else I’m looking for a genuine passion for what the entrepreneur is doing. But without a passion for what you do I am dubious about your chances for success. Are your investors truly passionate about what you do? I often talk about what I’m looking for when I meet with an entrepreneur. It seems obvious.

Venture Capital 373

Venture Capital Startup Course Entrepreneur 373

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 7, 2018

There is an old management saying, “measure twice, cut once” which refers to the benefit of doing some planning. The benefits you will receive from doing even some basic planning before you hit the fund raising trail are enormous. I know this is CRM 101 but I assure you most startups (and VCs) don’t do this or don’t do it well.

Funding 215

Funding Startup Venture Capital News 215

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 4, 2019

Maybe starting a new business isn’t your passion, but in these days of rapid change, where everyone is dealing with uncertainty, I believe that thinking and acting like entrepreneurs will help you get ahead in any profession. In simple terms this means taking control of your life, going after something you love to do, and taking action.

Entrepreneur 116

Entrepreneur Mentor Competition Study 116

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2013

I do believe in total transparency with your core. ” Your peer group is envious of your finally doing what they’ve always wanted to do but found it too hard to give up the golden paycheck and predictable future. The Mind of the Founder. You took the risk to start your company. “Honey? “What?

Startup 417

Startup Course Venture Capital Writing 417

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

My participation has been on the impact investing and education side, where I''ve been involved as a mentor. It''s not only an education program, but it''s also a source of funding. We do the same kind of analysis, and provide the same rigor in our investing process as a traditional venture capitalist would.

Angel 276

Angel Invest Mentor Technical Review 276

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 10, 2010

It’s the story of what’s broken with the education system in the US. They are often raised by single moms, grandparents or under-educated immigrant parents who want the same thing for their children that we do for our own. Work hard, do well in school and you can have a better life?

Class 340

Class Education Technical Review Writing 340

socalTECH

OCTOBER 14, 2019

How do you create a tool to help address unconscious bias in the workplaceand why would you create a new startup in that area? Our online solution combines both scientific methodology, as well as highly produced, entertaining, professional development content around education and awareness of unconscious bias. What is BiasSync?

Content 150

Content Training Education Outsource Development 150

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 7, 2021

As examples, I present my list of ten of the most common ways entrepreneurs can be victimized by ignorance or greed, based on questions and stories I get from entrepreneurs and associates. Most of these are easy to avoid if you do your homework up front, but can cost you dearly if you get sucked in. Phantom fund investors.

Technical Review 148

Technical Review Tips Funding Startup 148

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

I use it because I believe in the power of visual and memorable stories to sink into the consciousness. ” And I imagine he probably did do that. In a VC pitch this type of messaging will do just fine. Plus, they are spun so much bullship constantly that they don’t know whether to believe you or not.

Entrepreneur 370

Entrepreneur Startup Press Venture Capital 370

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 18, 2014

We know that to succeed in the Olympics or in the NBA requires total commitment yet somehow many think to build a huge and successful startup one can do between cocktail parties. Yet along with “authenticity” they are two of the key attributes I look for when I meet with companies I may consider funding one day.

Startup 419

Startup Entrepreneur Design Funding 419

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2011

If you want a sense of their content, an example is their “Epic Rap Battles of History” channel including Stephen Hawkins vs. Einstein , Napoleon Bonaparte vs. Napoleon Dynamite and my favorite Mr. T vs. Mr. Rogers [this last one NSFW]. I’m investing in businesses that reinvent education. Full stop.

Invest 295

Invest Carson Technical Review Education 295

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 15, 2012

The folks at Campus Explorer believe everyone deserves a fulfilling education, no matter the name or place. Their philosophy is that anyone shopping for college or continuing education can find the perfect fit, if they have access to the proper tools. Question: ”Why do I need a mentor? Not Your Dad’s Job … Even if it Is.

Mentor 164

Mentor Email RSS Education 164

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2022

Most business advisors I know will say that writing a business plan is the first step to starting your own business, but I believe that a better first step is to do a self-analysis of your real drivers, strengths, and assumptions before committing to this lifestyle. Test your physical, mental, and emotional stability for the journey.

Social Media 105

Social Media Writing Ideas Resource 105

Tech.Co

APRIL 2, 2018

For Nina Vaca , Founder, Chairman and CEO of Pinnacle Group, she attributes much of her success to the role models in her personal life, business and education, who have fueled her growth and lifted her up along the way. Being a role model is important to me because I truly believe that you cannot be what you cannot see. No, never!

Education 70

Education Startup Mentor Entrepreneur 70

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 13, 2011

It allows him the opportunity to do what he does best, finding and motivating entrepreneurs then thinking through market strategy. That was a very interesting time for me, I was in a unique position of getting a chance to witness a merger (that I still believe was a good idea) go horribly wrong.

Venture Capital 277

Venture Capital Examples Startup Invest 277

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 21, 2011

The era of cheap cloud computing plus open-source software plus digital natives unleashed upon society is creating some truly amazing products that will challenge the way we do business and the way we live our lives. You want to use it because your friends are doing it and you want to find out what it’s all about. Then you stop.

Startup 309

Startup Cloud Computing Venture Capital Marketing 309

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 15, 2019

As a long-time business advisor and angel investor, I’m a believer that “two heads are better than one” in building a new business. The reason is that good attributes apply equally well to “external” partners, as they do to internal partners, like a co-founder or CTO. Believe in similar values and goals.

Software Review 88

Software Review CTO Hire Outsource Development Startup 88

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

In case it’s not obvious it’s a play on the Nike slogan, “Just Do It.&# ) I believe that being successful as an entrepreneur requires you to get lots of things done. Good entrepreneurs have a penchant for doing vs. over-analyzing. I learned quickly that I needed to just do things. Making Things Happen.

Entrepreneur 414

Entrepreneur Technical Review Slides CTO Coach 414

InfoChachkie

NOVEMBER 3, 2014

These sites (so far) have managed to balance facilitating product discovery and purchase capabilities with users'' desires to entertain and educate themselves without feeling like they are in a marketplace. How do you see Brand and Commerce coinciding on social sites such as Pinterest? Search Meets Social = Commerce.

Entrepreneur 210

Entrepreneur Commerce Sites Social Network 210

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

Almost nobody believed and now look at it. Online education. Let’s just make sure we do it fairly.” And I believe this process is very healthy even when it doesn’t feel good. Periodically we do portfolio reviews to evaluate whether we have enough diversified risk across the fund. 6SensorLabs.

Funding 362

Funding Technical Review Ideas Startup 362

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2019

The new generations in business, and even the old ones, believe that relationships get things done, more than skills learned in school. It’s another example of win-win, for the business as well as the mentees. In my view, this type of mentoring is a missing link in our education system today between schools and businesses.

Mentor 88

Mentor Satisfaction Summary Entrepreneur 88

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 6, 2016

Do you need to be technical to be a great VC? I actually believe being public offers a long-term competitive advantage for the best run companies (and Darwin deals with those that aren’t meant to be special long-term). Our country heals – even if we have much work to do in order to make this widely distributed.

Competition 150

Competition Venture Capital Invest Organization 150

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2018

Most young people who are completing their educational degree today think they will have learned all they need for their career ahead. For example, no one learned a couple of decades ago that the biggest opportunities ahead would include social media, ecommerce, and computers on our wrists. Make the investment.

Examples 85

Examples Social Media Competition Guide 85

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 23, 2011

One of my goals in doing the show was not only to educate entrepreneurs but also to put a human face on many of the VCs in our industry as VCs can be hard to get to know. What did you do before VC and how did that lead you to VC? (1:00 Back to regular writing this week so check back in. We’re a busy bunch. Thank you. (if

Capital 265

Capital Venture Capital Veoh Startup 265

socalTECH

MAY 2, 2011

Educate us, and explain what's different about how you are handling ticket sales and how that's different from the many others out there? For example, at an event, say at the Staples Center, of the 20,000 seats they might have four or five price groups. You mention trust and guarantees, how do you handle that?

Ticketmaster 253

Ticketmaster Pricing Sales Activity 253

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 8, 2014

Cincinnati, like many startup communities in the US over the past 5 years, has revitalized important regions in its urban core, created accelerators, built co-working facilities, pooled together angel capital, attracted VCs, involved educational institutions and solicited the help of important corporations in a more cohesive ecosystem.

Startup 390

Startup Venture Capital Capital Funding 390

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 8, 2015

I’ve written before about why I believe most Hollywood online video startups don’t get the future (and why most Silicon Valley startups don’t get online video ). Here is an example. They will partner with every producer of online video software. This morning I logged into Facebook.

Company 150

Company Companies Startup Buzzfeed 150

InfoChachkie

JUNE 4, 2012

Rationale: I am busy and do not have time to accomplish all of my mission-critical tasks. In addition to paying the consultant, you must invest time to educate them. When a consultant attempts to earn your business, they will tell you that they adamantly believe in you and your venture. Grant Exclusivity.

Entrepreneur 272

Entrepreneur Outsource Ideas Technical Review 272

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 10, 2018

One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” For example, professional investors put great priority on your previous experience in building a business, and they expect to own a portion of the business equity and control for the funds they do provide.

Entrepreneur 96

Entrepreneur Startup Equity Funding 96

InfoChachkie

JUNE 2, 2014

Doorey, Founder and CEO of Vow To Be Chic , believes that men have had it too easy for too long. When they are invited to join a wedding party, they simply roll into a tuxedo shop, rent a suit that (sort of) fits and off they go, fully equipped to sing bad karaoke and do shots at the wedding reception.

Design 208

Design Customer Custom Satisfaction 208

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 7, 2011

For example, Excel was able to read files from Lotus, and was able to save the file without losing any information. What do you think of Facebook’s privacy model? Joel believes that consumers don’t believe that the data that is stored in Facebook is very important. What did Juno do? Working at Juno.

Software Review 285

Software Review Software Blogging Startup 285

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 5, 2013

The Ask: "We love what you are doing so much that we have to work with you exclusively.". Once we do that, we''ll quickly lose interest in you.". Most startups cannot afford the opportunity costs of projects that do not generate near-term revenue. Exclusivity. Exclusivity can kill a small company.

Startup 236

Startup Resource Ideas Customer 236

SoCal CTO

APRIL 22, 2010

For example, do you match people with similar personality traits or complementary or opposites? Do opposites really attract? Without the research, you are in the position of making educated guesses at what makes a good match. For example, how far are you willing to travel, is that an important factor?

Startup 170

Startup Research Software Review Sample 170

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 26, 2015

Maybe starting a new business isn’t your passion, but in these days of rapid change, where everyone is dealing with uncertainty, I believe that thinking and acting like entrepreneurs will help you get ahead in any profession. In simple terms this means taking control of your life, going after something you love to do, and taking action.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Mentor Study Competition 105