Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 17, 2023

The honest truth is that I worked directly with him in the early days of Microsoft from my “safe” perch in big IBM, during the startup of the IBM PC. In retrospect, however, Bill Gates did a lot of things right as a startup that I still look for today in aspiring entrepreneurs and their companies: Build a strong team.

IBM 82

IBM IBM Company Companies 82

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2011

Other writers, like Guy Kawasaki, have irreverently called some of these “entrepreneur lies,” but I prefer to think of them as innocent over-enthusiasm or over-confidence that can kill your deal. No investor wants to wait that long for his return, or fund the years of waiting. Gartner says our market will be $50 billion in 2015.”

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Funding Innocal Competition 108

InfoChachkie

MAY 6, 2013

I was in a board meeting recently at Connexity when Dave Gross, the company''s Co-Founder and CEO, made an insightful observation regarding the shortage of Series A funds. The other primary factor contributing to the Series A shortfall is the concentration of venture capital funds in the hands of a shrinking number of large firms.

Entrepreneur 246

Entrepreneur Venture Capital Technical Review Capital 246

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 13, 2015

If you need funding for these early stage activities, I have some suggestions on better strategies to follow. Funding sources for this stage extend from grants to large private fund incubators, such as the IBM Watson initiative. Thus the best entrepreneur strategy for funding is to build solutions, not technology.

Develop 102

Develop Development Product Funding 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2021

If you need funding for these early stage activities, I have some suggestions on better strategies to follow. Funding sources for this stage extend from grants to large private fund incubators, such as the IBM Watson initiative a while back. Commercial product prototypes. Marty Zwilling.

Help 165

Help Research Startup Funding 165

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

Investing in entrepreneurs and startups is a fun but different world from investing in conventional stocks, bonds, and commodities. Since there are no bellwethers like Apple or IBM in the startup arena, your best bet is to pick one in a business area you know well. Fund an entrepreneur you know and trust.

Invest 89

Invest Entrepreneur Startup Equity 89

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 5, 2022

Every new entrepreneur who has not spent years in corporate life has the advantage of an unbiased look at business opportunities, but at the same time has the disadvantage of missing critical business experiences that can cost them dearly in their first startup venture. Startups don’t come with formal training courses.

Training 117

Training Entrepreneur IBM IBM 117

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2018

As an advisor to new business owners, and an occasional angel investor, I see new business proposals daily, many seeking investors to fund early research and development (R&D) of a new product idea. Funding new product research and development is just too risky, with a large time delay before any return is likely.

Research 57

Research Develop Development Funding 57

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 20, 2021

As I “grew up” in business in big companies, including IBM, I always wondered why the real innovations seemed to come from startups, while we had more resources and more experience. Of course, you have to propose solutions, request funding, and marshal peer support for credibility. Balance the focus on productivity versus creativity.

Marketing 117

Marketing IBM IBM Resource 117

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 16, 2014

It’s a jungle fight for survival out there for aspiring entrepreneurs of all ages and demographics. The best entrepreneurs work on making better time management a top objective. Treasure – Most entrepreneurs assume that treasure means funding. entrepreneur jungle startup survival' Marty Zwilling.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup News Framework 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 25, 2016

Every new entrepreneur who has not spent years in corporate life has the advantage of an unbiased look at business opportunities, but at the same time has the disadvantage of missing critical business experiences that can cost them dearly in their first startup venture. Startups don’t come with formal training courses.

Entrepreneur 64

Entrepreneur Training Startup IBM 64

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 2, 2013

New entrepreneurs often seem to confuse viability with fundability. Thus when an investor declines your funding request, you need to curb your anger and understand the real reason for this outcome. Investors know that entrepreneurs who start a business without a good written plan almost always fail. Inexperienced team.

Startup 97

Startup Funding Entrepreneur IBM 97

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 24, 2014

Unfocused entrepreneurs boast that their new technology will generate multiple disruptive products for consumers as well as enterprises around the world. If you really believe that IBM, Microsoft, and Oracle are your competition, you probably don’t have a business. business entrepreneur focus startup' Marty Zwilling.

Entrepreneur 103

Entrepreneur Competition Technical Review Oracle 103

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 8, 2020

Every new entrepreneur who has not spent years in corporate life has the advantage of an unbiased look at business opportunities, but at the same time has the disadvantage of missing critical business experiences that can cost them dearly in their first startup venture. Startups don’t come with formal training courses.

Training 144

Training Entrepreneur IBM IBM 144

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2021

Almost every entrepreneur and new business owner I mentor is certain that his/her idea has a very high probability of success, and all find it hard to believe that ninety percent of startups ultimately fail. I once met with an entrepreneur who had developed a new algae strain to cure world hunger and make him rich.

Technical Review 131

Technical Review Case Study Mentor Software Review 131

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Investing in entrepreneurs and startups is a fun but different world from investing in conventional stocks, bonds, and commodities. Since there are no bellwethers like Apple or IBM in the startup arena, your best bet is to pick one in a business area you know well. Fund an entrepreneur you know and trust. Marty Zwilling.

Entrepreneur 102

Entrepreneur Startup Invest Incubator 102

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2022

Investing in entrepreneurs and startups is a fun but different world from investing in conventional stocks, bonds, and commodities. Since there are no bellwethers like Apple or IBM in the startup arena, your best bet is to pick one in a business area you know well. Fund an entrepreneur you know and trust.

Startup 120

Startup Invest Equity Incubator 120

socalTECH

DECEMBER 23, 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. We also had our first exit for Moonshots Capital Fund 1 --Threatcare. We'll be featuring contributions all through the holiday season.

Capital 100

Capital Technical Review Truecar Venture Capital 100

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 24, 2022

The bad news is that it’s still a jungle fight for survival for entrepreneurs of all ages and demographics, with over 80 percent not having access to bank loans or venture capital. The best entrepreneurs work on making better time management a top objective. Treasure – Most entrepreneurs assume that treasure means funding.

Startup 112

Startup News Framework Outsource 112

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2013

Your funding request will likely go into the circular file. Competing with IBM, Microsoft, and other large companies is a very difficult task. Entrepreneurs who utter this line are kidding themselves. We have the first-mover advantage.” “No need to risk my own funds. We’re funded, now we can relax.”

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Startup Social Network IBM 111

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2019

In the entrepreneur world, it’s still a popular misconception that the “idea” is everything. For example, I grew up in IBM when Bill Gates was helping us deliver the first IBM PC. In a very real sense, we funded him, and he superseded even IBM. In a very real sense, we funded him, and he superseded even IBM.

IBM 87

IBM IBM Ideas Technical Review 87

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 27, 2017

Thus one of my key messages to entrepreneurs, as a business advisor and angel investor, is “focus.” For example, it’s all too common for a technology entrepreneur to highlight a new battery technology as the ultimate power for smartphones, medical heart pacemakers, and home lighting. Define no more than 3 to 5 goals and priorities.

Entrepreneur 63

Entrepreneur Competition Customer Custom 63

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2022

In the old days, every entrepreneur planned on taking their startup public, and making it big. Smart entrepreneurs are now starting to look at this option again, as well as the challenges of running a public company. The image of large public companies is negative.

Startup 98

Startup Report IBM IBM 98

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 21, 2019

Conventional business wisdom tells us that entrepreneurs are today’s main source of innovation. In fact, a Wharton Business School study in this decade of the “Top 30 Innovations of the Last 30 Years,” concluded that only eight were first conceived by entrepreneurs, and twenty-two were conceived by employees.

IBM 53

IBM IBM Java Google 53

socalTECH

DECEMBER 31, 2018

Editor's note: As we head into the new year, we've been featuring reflections on 2018 from notable investors, entrepreneurs, and others from Southern California's technology community. Raising money as a first-time VC fund is hard.In You'll be able to browse all of those contributions here.

Capital 113

Capital Venture Capital News Patents 113

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 8, 2019

“Decades ago, at the peak of Japanese growth as a technology competitor on the global stage, the US government sought to break up IBM. The reason is that if there is less M&A due to legal uncertainty, there is a reduced incentive for angels & VCs to fund those startups in the first place. — Balaji S. ” .

Technical Review 144

Technical Review Startup Chief Technology Officer Social Media 144

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2015

In my experience with entrepreneurs, there seems to a wealth of self-proclaimed “idea people” who aspire to start businesses, but only a few who are willing and able to dig in and get the job done. Only rare great entrepreneurs, like Bill Gates and Elon Musk, have proven to be both. Detailed product specifications and prototypes.

Ideas 115

Ideas Startup IBM IBM 115

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 7, 2017

Entrepreneurs will have a relative willing to devote time, a school friend with business experience, professionals who charge for the service, investors with a reason to promote your success and more. Photo courtesy IBM Business Coaching. Business coaches come in all sizes and shapes.

Coach 243

Coach Organization Resource IBM 243

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2020

As an investor, innovation is a term I certainly like to hear these days, but many of you entrepreneurs try to take it to the next level, by claiming to have a “ disruptive innovation.” The disruptive technologies in electric vehicles and artificial intelligence have taken even longer to see any dramatic payback.

Startup 129

Startup Artificial Inteligence Examples Google 129

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

Almost every early-stage startup who has approached investors for funding has heard the innocuous sounding rejection “I love your idea, but come back when you have more traction.” Signed contracts with big name customers, like IBM, AT&T, or Wal-Mart, is a strong indication of traction. First of all, a definition.

Startup 121

Startup Metrics Customer Custom 121

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. You are self funded too, we recall. The automation we provide is unique.

Networking 214

Networking IBM IBM Pacific Palisades 214

Xconomy

DECEMBER 27, 2018

startup CognitiveScale and managing director of The Entrepreneur Fund , which makes investments in early-stage machine learning companies, Saxena believes A.I. [ Updated 12/27/18, 9:54 am ] Manoj Saxena is bullish on artificial intelligence. As chairman of Austin, TX-based A.I.

Artificial Inteligence 106

Artificial Inteligence Tool Invest Entrepreneur 106

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2020

In my experience working with entrepreneurs, once they feel they have a winning formula for their business, they are often hesitant to change or update it. Don’t be the next Xerox who totally missed the personal computer market, even though they had the technology and the processes well before Apple, IBM, and others.

Customer 143

Customer Custom Examples IBM 143

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2019

The bad news is that it’s still a jungle fight for survival for entrepreneurs of all ages and demographics, with over 80 percent not having access to bank loans or venture capital. The best entrepreneurs work on making better time management a top objective. Treasure – Most entrepreneurs assume that treasure means funding.

Startup 94

Startup News Framework Outsource 94

socalTECH

JULY 20, 2010

One of Southern California's successful, serial entrepreneurs is Winston Damarillo , who founded Gluecode, which he sold to IBM in 2005. Earlier this month, his latest startup, El Segundo-based Morphlabs announced it had raised a Series B funding worth $5.5M. earlier this year, and then got it funded, raising about $5.5

Southern California 242

Southern California Startup Cloud Computing El Segundo 242

Tech.Co

MAY 25, 2018

If you’re an early-stage entrepreneur, technology has served you well. Still though, when founders are seeking funding, “ 75 percent of the venture capital goes to three states: Massachusetts, New York, and California,” said Steve Case in an interview with Recode. Watch our video series at SXSW 2018 with The Case Foundation.

Startup 141

Startup Technical Review Competition Software Review 141

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2019

In the old days, every entrepreneur dreamed of easily taking their startup public, and making it big. Smart entrepreneurs are just now starting to look at this option again, due to its unpredictability and the challenges of running a public company. The image of large public companies is negative.

Startup 84

Startup Technical Review Report IBM 84