Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2011

Many believe that entrepreneurs are born, not made. While I agree that successful company builders usually have a natural inclination to be entrepreneurs, a good education helps polish that apple. We can all point to examples of successful entrepreneurs who dropped out of college, but still went on to make a big impact.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Course Education 105

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2011

You don’t need to invent an innovative product to be a real entrepreneur. Self-employed services specialists are just as important, and are a growing part of this new “ age of the entrepreneur ” that I discussed last week. Many of these new entrepreneurs were regular employees a few years ago, focused on a skill specialty.

Entrepreneur 89

Entrepreneur Services Product Search Engine Optimization 89

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

I hear a lot of entrepreneurs contemplating their great “idea” for several years with little discernable progress, and looking for money to start. Forcing yourself to write down a plan is actually the only way to make sure you actually have a plan. That means skip the jargon and include explanations and examples. Marty Zwilling.

Funding 112

Funding Entrepreneur Startup CTO Hire 112

socalTECH

JANUARY 18, 2011

What that did, is it helped us to expand the service to help publishers do the following: identify what content to write, how to distribute that content to various mediums, and how to monetize that content. Journalists are notorious for not wanting to write based on revenues or commercial intersts, or having anyone tell them what to write.

Marketing 232

Marketing Funding Content Writing 232

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 18, 2011

If you are an entrepreneur today, and not using social media to promote your business, you are missing out on a huge opportunity. Most social media outlets don’t require a subscription charge, but they certainly require an investment – in people, in technology, your reputation, and your time.

Social Media 93

Social Media Media Entrepreneur Platform 93

SoCal CTO

MARCH 18, 2010

Vince: On the consulting side we are working with a unique social network, a new television network and some original video content businesses. Example here: [link]. Vince: In addition to my management writing I’ve interview many CEOs and innovators.

Startup 225

Startup Los Angeles Twiistup Social Network 225

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 18, 2014

In my Twitter bio is says that I’m “ looking to invest in passionate entrepreneurs ,” which almost sounds like I was just looking for a cliché soundbite to describe myself. Passion is also the featured heavily in nearly every presentation I give to entrepreneurs or on college campuses or in talks with MBA students.

Startup 419

Startup Entrepreneur Design Funding 419

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 29, 2017

An informal writing style is generally recommended. For example, if you mention an article you read in XYZ magazine, make sure to include a hyperlink to the article. Don’t be shy, I don’t know many CEOs today that write their own speeches and marketing materials. Use the social networks, like Twitter, to ‘pull’ in the business.

Blogging 69

Blogging Search Engine Optimization Web Writing 69

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2010

Entrepreneurs who run startups have to be generalists to survive. Yet I’m seeing another critical group of entrepreneurs, self-employed specialists, who are a growing part of this new “ entrepreneurial revolution ” that I discussed a couple of weeks ago. Many of these new entrepreneurs were regular employees a few years ago.

Entrepreneur 48

Entrepreneur Search Engine Optimization Startup SEM 48

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 9, 2017

If you are an entrepreneur today, and not using social media to promote your business, you are missing out on a huge opportunity. Most social media outlets don’t require a subscription charge, but they certainly always require an investment, sometimes large, in people, in technology, your reputation, and your time.

Social Media 66

Social Media Media Tips Platform 66

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 23, 2011

One of the most frequent questions entrepreneurs ask about when they raise a little bit of money or are getting close to launching their first product is whether they should hire a PR firm. I notice, for example, that some CEO’s on Twitter never do anything but parrot their companies news. In a startup this is a mistake.

Startup 349

Startup Writing Press Blogging 349

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 8, 2017

If you are an entrepreneur today, and not using social media to promote your business, you are missing out on a huge opportunity. Most social media outlets don’t require a subscription charge, but they certainly require an investment to be hard hitting – in people, in technology, your reputation, and your time.

Social Media 58

Social Media Media Platform Tool 58

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2012

An informal writing style is generally recommended. For example, if you mention an article you read in XYZ magazine, make sure to include a hyperlink to the article. Don’t be shy, I don’t know many CEOs today that write their own speeches and marketing materials. Use the social networks, like Twitter, to ‘pull’ in the business.

Blogging 96

Blogging Search Engine Optimization Writing Social Network 96

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2019

Investor and customer attention spans are short, and both will write you off quickly. A winning USP example is the FedEx lead “When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight.” A new easier to use social network may not get anyone excited. You need evidence or a prototype to prove feasibility with credibility.

.Net 73

.Net Examples Customer Custom 73

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 14, 2014

Anyone can be an entrepreneur today, without a huge investment, bank loans, lawyers, venture capitalists, or Angels. In the early days (20 years ago), most new e-commerce sites, for example, cost a million dollars to set up. A simple example might be a mortgage calculator to add to your real estate sales site.

Startup 100

Startup Commerce Sites Blogging 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2017

They flocked to businesses like Apple, when influencer Steve Jobs was at the helm, and anxiously await the next moves from visible entrepreneurs, including Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. Entrepreneurs who are clearly willing to give as well as take in business become influencers because people feel the urge to reciprocate.

Social Media 58

Social Media Customer Custom Entrepreneur 58

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 22, 2012

If you are an entrepreneur today, and not using social media to promote your business, you are missing out on a huge opportunity. Most social media outlets don’t require a subscription charge, but they certainly require an investment – in people, in technology, your reputation, and your time.

Social Media 95

Social Media Media Startup Platform 95

socalTECH

APRIL 14, 2011

For example, you can add $AAPL to separate the post from regular posts, which we pulled into our own search around that ticker. An example is after the earthquake in Japan, you could see what people who follow the Japanese market were saying in real time, what are people trading those stocks saying right now. It's fun, I guess.

Ideas 248

Ideas Web Startup Content 248

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 12, 2010

Many believe that entrepreneurs are born, not made. While I agree that successful company builders usually have a natural inclination to be entrepreneurs, a good education helps polish that apple. We can all point to examples of successful entrepreneurs who dropped out of college, but still went on to make a big impact.

Technical Advisors 90

Technical Advisors Startup Course Entrepreneur 90

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

At the Twiistup panel last week, there was a debate over whether big companies could be created here, which is ridiculous--Demand Media is the latest example there, we've got Cornerstone OnDemand coming out soon, and there is no question there are market leading, large revenue companies coming out of Southern California. That's part one.

Redpoint 154

Redpoint Southern California Cornerstone OnDemand Invest 154

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 1, 2011

There have been a lot of entrepreneurs here in software and other industries, and interestingly enough there seem to be more self-funded, bootstrapped firms here, rather than those looking for venture capital to get off the group. Can you give a concrete example of how that might work? We have a very strong fan base.

Networking 214

Networking IBM IBM Pacific Palisades 214

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2011

An informal writing style is generally recommended. For example, if you mention an article you read in XYZ magazine, make sure to include a hyperlink to the article. Don’t be shy, I don’t know many CEOs today that write their own speeches and marketing materials. Use the social networks, like Twitter, to ‘pull’ in the business.

Blogging 91

Blogging Search Engine Optimization Services Writing 91

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 19, 2010

I’m writing this post as part of my series with Advice on Raising Venture Capital but will file it under Sales Tips as well since it applies equally to both scenarios. If one vocal person blurts out, “just give us the details, we all know social networking&# don’t assume that person speaks for the entire room.

Venture Capital 318

Venture Capital Startup Sales Writing 318

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 18, 2011

Anyone can be an entrepreneur today, without a huge investment, bank loans, venture capitalists, or Angels. A simple example might be mortgage calculator to add to your real estate sales site. Don’t expect that you can create a new social networking site in your garage, and steal all the users away from Facebook.

Commerce 99

Commerce Startup Sites Tool 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 10, 2013

Anyone can be an entrepreneur today, without a huge investment, bank loans, venture capitalists, or Angels. A simple example might be mortgage calculator to add to your real estate sales site. Don’t expect that you can create a new social networking site in your garage, and steal all the users away from Facebook.

Sites 78

Sites Commerce Startup Tool 78

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 15, 2010

An informal writing style is generally recommended. For example, if you mention an article you read in XYZ magazine, make sure to include a hyperlink to the article. Finally, if you don’t have the time, energy, or skills to write a blog, it may be a good investment to hire a ghost writer. Add outgoing links. Marty Zwilling.

Blogging 48

Blogging Search Engine Optimization Startup Writing 48

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

Anyone can be an entrepreneur today, without a huge investment, bank loans, venture capitalists, or angels. A simple example might be mortgage calculator to add to your real estate sales site. Don’t expect that you can create a new social networking site in your garage, and steal all the users away from Facebook.

Commerce 88

Commerce Startup Sites Tool 88

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

I’d like to explain as best I can my opinion on what is going on because most of what I hear from entrepreneurs is not only wrong but is reminiscent of what I heard in 1997-2000. ” “This will be great for VCs and bad for entrepreneurs.” Let me give you a non tech & thus non politically charged example.

Startup 150

Startup Company Companies Venture Capital 150

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 31, 2011

9) In Competing From The Fringe , I caution entrepreneurs to not alert their competitors when they are making mistakes. What are the primary differences between being a Founder, versus an early Executive, and which role would you recommend to an emerging entrepreneur? Beyond that we’re still nailing down roles. It’s fluid.”.

MyLife 160

MyLife CitySearch Web Technical Review 160

InfoChachkie

JANUARY 31, 2011

9) In Competing From The Fringe , I caution entrepreneurs to not alert their competitors when they are making mistakes. What are the primary differences between being a Founder, versus an early Executive, and which role would you recommend to an emerging entrepreneur? Beyond that we’re still nailing down roles. It’s fluid.”.

MyLife 157

MyLife CitySearch Web Technical Review 157

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2009

In most cases if you can’t get a prototype done you’re probably not an entrepreneur. Professional angels / former entrepreneurs / seed funds – In Silicon Valley there are people like Ron Conway, Jeff Clavier, Mike Maples and many more. The key to getting money is that the people writing the check trust you.

Angel 291

Angel Funding Venture Capital Startup 291

socalTECH

MAY 11, 2010

Jody--an experienced entrepreneur who was most recently co-founder of a firm he sold to the Virgin Group, and has been involved with such firms as Lycos, Buydirect.com, and Xoom--told us the story of EcoMom, plus how he connected with McClure on the investment. When raising money, you look to meet with people using your network.

Software Review 200

Software Review Commerce Startup Sites 200

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2012

I hear a lot of entrepreneurs contemplating their great “idea” for several years with little discernable progress, and looking for money to start. Forcing yourself to write down a plan is actually the only way to make sure you actually have a plan. That means skip the jargon and include explanations and examples.

Startup 104

Startup CTO Hire Press Customer 104

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 1, 2010

aka: An Open Letter to the Next Big Social Network) - 500 Hats , November 1, 2010 I've held off writing this post for a long time, because I couldn't quite get my head around all the issues. Want to know, for example, why Foursquare uses MongoDB to store check-in information? but: Something is Still Missing.

Technical Review 175

Technical Review Startup Product Technology 175

SoCal CTO

MARCH 22, 2007

Its also been interesting to see the interaction of tools involved - Social Networking, Blogging and a Discussion Group. See Five Things Meme as an example. as an example. I am in the middle of writing up some of my thoughts on this and will post about it and let you know. How do you use LinkedIn?

Blogging 150

Blogging CTO Coach CTO Hire Southern California 150

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

He blogs to 10,000 web entrepreneurs at Software by Rob and co-hosts the podcast Startups for the Rest of Us. We had to write a CRM to keep track of them all. They are: Fred Wilson: Lead Investors, Dipshit Companies, and Funding Every Entrepreneur. was once a wannabe entrepreneur, and then I was a first-timer.

Startup 191

Startup Venture Capital Blogging CTO Hire 191

socalTECH

JUNE 30, 2010

My partner is a documentarian and reports for the New York Times, Time, and Newsweek, and was given a story to write about for the New York Times, about the sounds that fish make , for their Science section. Tom Grasty: For example, we hadn't originally conceived using it as a white label product for corporate branding. READ MORE>>.

Journal 187

Journal USC News Startup 187