Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 4, 2023

Ironically, as a startup investor and mentor, I have seen too many failures caused by just the opposite – too much money spent too soon, taking time to get product perfection, and assuming customers will wait. Subtraction leads to simplicity, better usability, and easier education of your customers. Rethink or reframe the challenge.

Resource 112

Resource Ideas Competition Entrepreneur 112

socalTECH

OCTOBER 11, 2017

The startups presented both to a group of venture and angel investors in the morning, as well as to a theater packed with a broader audience of mentors, startups, and community groups in the afternoon. READ MORE>>.

Class 100

Class Startup Mentor Education 100

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 13, 2021

In my role as mentor to many of you aspiring entrepreneurs, I often find you convinced that all you need to start is a unique innovation or idea , and now you are ready to jump in with both feet and enjoy the ride. Enlist a mentor and advisor who is not a ‘yes’ person.

Satisfaction 135

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Startup Mentor 135

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 14, 2023

When I heard a friend and business mentor say, “Your startup won’t fail if you don’t quit,” I realized that every entrepreneur should adopt “never give up” as their mantra. Yet if you already have some early adopters, that's a good indication that real marketing and education will likely bring your product or service mass acceptance.

Startup 135

Startup Entrepreneur Statistics Course 135

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 16, 2022

They couldn’t possibly understand the new social media culture, new technologies, or have the determination to beat their younger counterparts in the market. Pew says the Boomer demographic is the largest mainstream pool of experienced talent in the market today, and will be for the foreseeable future.

Technical Review 147

Technical Review Software Review Entrepreneur Report 147

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

In a bid to change that, there are a few groups working on helping women entrepreneurs, investors, and others, including the Pipeline Fellowship (www.pipelinefellowship.com), which recently launched itself into the Los Angeles market. My participation has been on the impact investing and education side, where I''ve been involved as a mentor.

Angel 276

Angel Invest Mentor Technical Review 276

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 23, 2021

Ironically, as a startup investor and mentor, I have seen too many failures caused by just the opposite – too much money spent too soon, taking time to get product perfection, and assuming customers will wait. Subtraction leads to simplicity, better usability, and easier education of your customers. Rethink or reframe the challenge.

Startup 164

Startup Resource Entrepreneur Competition 164

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 17, 2021

When I started mentoring entrepreneurs and startups a few years ago, I anticipated that I would get mostly tough technical questions, but instead I more often hear things like “Where do I start?” If you don’t market your business, you won’t have one. Marketing and advertising are business realties. The marketplace is a war zone.

Entrepreneur 138

Entrepreneur Activity Guide Patents 138

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 13, 2014

Thus began my marketing campaign. Wonderful human being who is civically engaged, mother of 3, mentorer of younger founders, hard worker and arguer extraordinaire (so says her current Twitter bio). Her network from her educational institutions alone has friends in all of the top tech, media & banking institutions.

Venture Capital 408

Venture Capital Startup Outsource Development CitySearch 408

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2021

But privately, as a mentor to many entrepreneurs, I see mindsets and attributes that may be equally critical to success, but are not readily admitted, for fear of being too wacky. At some stage of your education, you realize that you can learn faster, and get more satisfaction, in the real world than in a academic environment.

Entrepreneur 171

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Demand Customer 171

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 8, 2022

Most of these are predictable, like think big and create new markets, but I found a few, like the ten below, that will likely raise the hackles of many people outside this lifestyle, and many “wannabe” entrepreneurs. If you are already an entrepreneur, more education, including an MBA, will only slow you down. There is no turning back.

Entrepreneur 117

Entrepreneur Startup Customer Custom 117

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 18, 2020

When I heard a friend and business mentor say, “Your startup won’t fail if you don’t quit,” I realized that every entrepreneur should adopt “never give up” as their mantra. Yet if you already have some early adopters, that's a good indication that real marketing and education will likely bring your product or service mass acceptance.

Entrepreneur 121

Entrepreneur Startup Statistics Course 121

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2021

Thus, in my role as mentor to young entrepreneurs, I always recommend that you first take a hard look at your own values and priorities, before jumping into any new startup, as the founder, or even as a side hustle. You need complementary skills for marketing, financials, and operations. A business is never a solo operation.

Startup 159

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Equity 159

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2020

Also the same applies to dealing with the business elements, such as marketing, business operations, and finances. He invented BASIC and Windows, snagged Steve Ballmer for marketing, and Microsoft helped change the world. You may need a partner on this one. Your time is a critical limited resource.

Ideas 151

Ideas Entrepreneur Resource Knowledge Base 151

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2020

They couldn’t possibly understand the new social media culture, new technologies, or have the determination to beat their younger counterparts in the market. Pew says the Boomer demographic is the largest mainstream pool of experienced talent in the market today, and will be for the foreseeable future.

Startup 124

Startup Technical Review Software Review Entrepreneur 124

socalTECH

OCTOBER 14, 2019

We caught up with Michele and Dan to better understand why they founded the company, and why this market was such an interest to them. 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

Tech.Co

JANUARY 10, 2018

If you as a founder don’t think that appealing to women should be a part of your marketing strategy, you are wrong, and will lose. A company can have the best marketing message, tactile strategy, and more, for their product, but it’s important to gain a deeper understanding of the target market. Final Thoughts.

Tips 71

Tips Customer Custom Dollar Shave Club 71

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2021

Once you have learned, your top- priority task must be to educate others around you. In addition, he has often stated that his first priority is serving his employees and his extended business family, through coaching, mentoring, and effective communication. Lift: propagate your strength by teaching others.

Technical Review 123

Technical Review Coach Satisfaction Mentor 123

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 20, 2012

This year Startup Weekend is branching out towards driving solutions to be created for the education industry with Startup Weekend EDU. While this is different than the traditional Startup Weekend events , it comes at no surprise as the education industry continues to push forward on advancing learning with technology.

Education 71

Education Entrepreneur Startup Mentor 71

Tech.Co

FEBRUARY 22, 2018

With the rise in startup activity around the country, more local organizations are emerging to help provide resources, training, education, and funding to support underserved communities and their dreams to build a business. Part of the barrier lies in the messaging and marketing of these opportunities to diverse communities.

Resource 70

Resource Organization Mentor News 70

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2013

While I agree that successful company builders usually have a natural inclination to be entrepreneurs, a good education helps polish that apple. The entrepreneurial wunderkinds who find success without higher education "are exceptions to the rule," says Robert Litan, Vice President of Research and Policy at the Kauffman Foundation.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Course Education 105

InfoChachkie

MARCH 5, 2012

If you use the mentor-driven model that we pioneered at TechStars, you get entrepreneurs who are deeply connected with the broader entrepreneurial landscape. Many experienced entrepreneurs choose to go through an accelerator because of the network effect and the dynamics of the mentor help that they get. Probably not.

Startup 270

Startup Incubator Doc Mentor 270

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 7, 2012

Ultimately, we're build tools for marketers on top of that. The most attractive thing about it was the educational value. So, we were pretty excited to educate ourselves at TechStars. The program itself is incredibly daunting initially, but it was really valuable for us, especially as an educational experience.

Startup 242

Startup CTO Coach Blogging Social Media 242

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2019

When I started mentoring entrepreneurs and startups a few years ago, I anticipated that I would get mostly tough technical questions, but instead I more often hear things like “Where do I start?” If you don’t market your business, you won’t have one. Marketing and advertising are business realties. The marketplace is a war zone.

Entrepreneur 92

Entrepreneur Activity Guide Patents 92

socalTECH

OCTOBER 11, 2010

Mentors outside of the university will come and help the innovators and students who have come up with their new ideas, and help them to convert those into professionally prepared business plans. Here, the mentors come and focus on what the innovators want to do. Along with the prize, we also have the course, which is unique.

Competition 154

Competition Southern California Mentor USC 154

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2011

While I agree that successful company builders usually have a natural inclination to be entrepreneurs, a good education helps polish that apple. The entrepreneurial wunderkinds who find success without higher education "are exceptions to the rule," says Robert Litan, Vice President of Research and Policy at the Kauffman Foundation.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Course Education 105

socalTECH

APRIL 11, 2013

He said something that we''ve now heard over and over--he was good at music, but when it came to marketing and Internet, it was just not his skillset, and he didn''t know how to do that. Those factors have allowed us to take our market size from 3000 cities, to where we are now, to literally coverage in 30,000 cities across the U.S.

Startup 260

Startup Education Study Ideas 260

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 23, 2011

In a bid to help research from the University of Southern California reach the market, the USC Stevens Institute for Innovation said Wednesday afternoon that it is awarding $439,000 in gap funding to seven projects from USC, which have a high potential to spin out of the school.

USC 170

USC Funding Southern California Technical Review 170

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2014

I’m talking about volunteering to be on industry panels for visibility, participating in startup weekends for education, and talking to groups of distributors or potential customers on technology trends. Startup market research and focus groups. Mentoring and shared advisory board opportunities. Face-to-face time is key.

Startup 100

Startup Tips Mentor Conference 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2017

Solutions that imply a paradigm shift always take longer to sell, and more money for marketing and education than expected. Develop the right mentoring relationships. It’s easy to assume that your best friend is also your best mentor. Persistence and patience with timing mismatches. Use active listening to learn the most.

Technical Review 60

Technical Review Startup Mentor Study 60

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2019

Most of these are predictable, like think big and create new markets, but I found a few, like the ten below, that will likely raise the hackles of many people outside this lifestyle, and many “wannabe” entrepreneurs. If you are already an entrepreneur, more education, including an MBA, will only slow you down. There is no turning back.

Entrepreneur 92

Entrepreneur Startup Customer Custom 92

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 19, 2016

Rather than focus on negatives, let me summarize key positive attributes that I look for in people to move ahead, from my own experience as a corporate executive, and many years mentoring entrepreneurs. A capacity for education at the next level. Also, build mentoring relationships at the next level.

Startup 60

Startup Mentor Education Journal 60

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 16, 2012

When I started mentoring entrepreneurs and startups a few years ago, I anticipated that I would get mostly tough technical questions, but instead I more often hear things like “Where do I start?” If you don’t market your business, you won’t have one. Marketing and advertising are business realties. The marketplace is a war zone.

Entrepreneur 110

Entrepreneur Mentor Activity Guide 110

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

Every startup mentor has his favorite list of basic strategies to avoid pitfalls, and I’m no exception. Most startups I know have “refined” their target market several times during their rollout. Make marketing and sales a priority. You will be amazed at how many items you forgot to cover, and how fast the cash disappears.

Tips 102

Tips Help Startup Blogging 102

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 22, 2013

Professor Vijay Pande of Stanford University, Mohandas Pai, Chairman of Manipal Global Education and Vish Mishra, Venture Director at Clearstone and mentor to The Hive and The Fabric have joined CFI’s Advisory Board. and international markets, something great will happen. Mehta is not calling guys to join a gamble.

Clearstone 79

Clearstone Organization Education Google 79

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 12, 2018

As an advisor and mentor for many startups and small business founders, following my initial career in big business, I realize that the key strategies to achieve success in small businesses are often different from those that make larger businesses successful. Must learn to grow beyond initial traction and survival.

Sales 69

Sales Organization Entrepreneur Examples 69

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 15, 2018

When I heard a friend and business mentor say, “Your startup won’t fail if you don’t quit,” I realized that every entrepreneur should adopt “never give up” as their mantra. Yet if you already have some early adopters, that's a good indication that real marketing and education will likely bring your product or service mass acceptance.

Startup 56

Startup Entrepreneur Statistics Course 56